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Coco laid eggs

Nayablanco

Sitting on the front steps
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Naya hachemm
Hi everyone! I've had blanco for a year and a half now. We thougjt he was a male but turns out its a female but i think its gonna be hard changing his pronouns now lol. SHe laid an egg a couple of weeks ago that was empty since there is no other male. Then another a couple of days after and now again. I changed the cages a couple of times but im not sure else i should do. Im travelling soon and he's a gonna be at my aunts for a whole so maybe that will help since he wont be in his normal environment.
 

Zara

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Im travelling soon and he's a gonna be at my aunts for a whole so maybe that will help since he wont be in his normal environment.
That will likely throw her off laying :)
Go on your trip and see what things are like when you return.
Prepare some foraging activites for your absence, try to do non shreddable stuff if you can. If you can't prepare in advance, leave the items for your aunt to do (like foraging cups (plastic), or trays with plastic beads etc and treats).
 

Dantesbeak

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Violet
That will likely throw her off laying :)
Go on your trip and see what things are like when you return.
Prepare some foraging activites for your absence, try to do non shreddable stuff if you can. If you can't prepare in advance, leave the items for your aunt to do (like foraging cups (plastic), or trays with plastic beads etc and treats).
I'd like to know more about non shreddable foraging trays.
 

Zara

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I'd like to know more about non shreddable foraging trays.
Non shreddable foraging is quite easy as everything can be washed and refused.
It isn't limited to trays either - there are other options too to mix it up.

For trays it is super easy! Get your tray, something with a lip/raised rim, like the IKEA picnic plates, or a plastic flower pot plate, or a small stainless steel baking sheet, or a porcelain rabbit food bowl, any thing you have that can contain the things you want to include. And throw in a couple of handfuls of anything like small plastic beads or other toy parts, then sprinkle over some treats and voilà, easy peazy. If your using a bowl on the side of the cage (not on the cage floor) you should use lightweight plastic items, beads and other shapes - things that won't break or damage, or hurt anyone if thrown. If you will place the tray on the floor, you can use glass marbles.

Keep in mind that as much as we're talking about non shreddable, you could add in pieces of cork, sola or mahogany pods as they chip off in pieces, if your lovebird is Roseicollis they won't be able to take the pieces to build a nest. If your bird is Fischeri or Personatus I am unsure whether they will take it in their beaks.

Other options for foraging, foraging cups! Another suuuper easy one. Buy or make a foraging cup, add in some treats and hang it up. I like to move it around to keep it interesting. I have some I have bought from various places, I also have some I've made with toy parts, and if you're on a budget or stuck for cash, you can make a great foraging cup toy with just bottle caps and string (two caps facing each other, then a big knot or beads if you have them, then another pair of caps and so on - you can have a toy of 3 or 4 spaces and add in treats to just two and let the birds find them).

Another one, a foraging carpet/mat/rug whatever we're going to call it. You can buy these from various places especially Etsy, or you can make your own, they're so easy and fun to make ( I have made one for myself and also for a fellow member here).
Lay the mat down, sprinkle over treats and toy parts to play with.

There was a member who was active a while back (@Wardy) and he used to get paper straws, cut into small pieces, then stuff a sunflower seed in some and then mix then into a tray. As the pieces are small, I think this would be ok for an activity that won't exasperate laying.

On top of these activities, you can include some non shreddable toys like SS toys, jingle jingle type toys, small cat balls, chippy pine toys (the ones that chip into bits not strips - you will have to observe how the wood is cut and which way the grain goes).
 

Zara

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I am using my phone so with a quick look here are some pictures,

Examples of foraging cups;
I bought these from BeMore bird supplies
Screenshot_2025-06-19-09-18-22-277_com.google.android.apps.photos-edit.jpg Screenshot_2025-06-19-09-18-38-120_com.google.android.apps.photos-edit.jpg

Screenshot_2025-06-19-09-17-32-383_com.google.android.apps.photos-edit.jpg this is a type of foraging cup toy, a plastic croc that you can stuff with things.

Mats;
I made these, a simply DIY,
Screenshot_2025-06-19-09-17-50-568_com.google.android.apps.photos-edit.jpg Screenshot_2025-06-19-09-16-20-211_com.google.android.apps.photos-edit.jpg

and if you're on a budget or stuck for cash, you can make a great foraging cup toy with just bottle caps and string (two caps facing each other, then a big knot or beads if you have them, then another pair of caps and so on - you can have a toy of 3 or 4 spaces and add in treats to just two and let the birds find them).
Here is a thread, I was going through a heavy laying phase so all shreddables had to be removed :arghh:


Some non foraging non shreddable toys,

SS bells,
Screenshot_2025-06-19-09-19-16-278_com.google.android.apps.photos-edit.jpg

Jingle jangle toys,
Again, I made this,
Screenshot_2025-06-19-09-17-10-248_com.google.android.apps.photos-edit.jpg

Another non shreddable toy,
A little floaty fish to play with, I bought these from Kazoo bird and company,
Screenshot_2025-06-19-09-18-57-710_com.google.android.apps.photos-edit.jpg

I do have pictures of other examples but I will have to come back. Hopefully you can understand the text and get an idea of things to make and try :)
 

Zara

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Another one I forgot to mention is skewers with whole veggies on. Not quite the same as a "puzzle" to work out, but great enrichment.
 

Dantesbeak

Meeting neighbors
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Violet
Non shreddable foraging is quite easy as everything can be washed and refused.
It isn't limited to trays either - there are other options too to mix it up.

For trays it is super easy! Get your tray, something with a lip/raised rim, like the IKEA picnic plates, or a plastic flower pot plate, or a small stainless steel baking sheet, or a porcelain rabbit food bowl, any thing you have that can contain the things you want to include. And throw in a couple of handfuls of anything like small plastic beads or other toy parts, then sprinkle over some treats and voilà, easy peazy. If your using a bowl on the side of the cage (not on the cage floor) you should use lightweight plastic items, beads and other shapes - things that won't break or damage, or hurt anyone if thrown. If you will place the tray on the floor, you can use glass marbles.

Keep in mind that as much as we're talking about non shreddable, you could add in pieces of cork, sola or mahogany pods as they chip off in pieces, if your lovebird is Roseicollis they won't be able to take the pieces to build a nest. If your bird is Fischeri or Personatus I am unsure whether they will take it in their beaks.

Other options for foraging, foraging cups! Another suuuper easy one. Buy or make a foraging cup, add in some treats and hang it up. I like to move it around to keep it interesting. I have some I have bought from various places, I also have some I've made with toy parts, and if you're on a budget or stuck for cash, you can make a great foraging cup toy with just bottle caps and string (two caps facing each other, then a big knot or beads if you have them, then another pair of caps and so on - you can have a toy of 3 or 4 spaces and add in treats to just two and let the birds find them).

Another one, a foraging carpet/mat/rug whatever we're going to call it. You can buy these from various places especially Etsy, or you can make your own, they're so easy and fun to make ( I have made one for myself and also for a fellow member here).
Lay the mat down, sprinkle over treats and toy parts to play with.

There was a member who was active a while back (@Wardy) and he used to get paper straws, cut into small pieces, then stuff a sunflower seed in some and then mix then into a tray. As the pieces are small, I think this would be ok for an activity that won't exasperate laying.

On top of these activities, you can include some non shreddable toys like SS toys, jingle jingle type toys, small cat balls, chippy pine toys (the ones that chip into bits not strips - you will have to observe how the wood is cut and which way the grain goes).
Thank you for all the ideas. I have tried making toys and foraging bins. My lovebird (creamino female) is not interested. Not sure what to do about that. She just wants to tear stuff up and/or be on me. Lots of times she is only interested in something if I am holding it. Thoughts? :sglb: :loveshower:
 

Zara

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Pique her interest by holding the foraging activity, show her how it works, show her where the treats are. Once she's comfortable doing it with you, try offering it her when she's in her cage or you're not there/busy. If you use millet spray as treats then you can monitor if she's played with it as it's so messy you can't miss it.
 
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