Enrichment for a bird that dislikes touch?

[Sniv]

Hi, looking for advice for my lovebird. I'm worried he isn't getting enough enrichment- He has plenty of toys and an indoor aviary, but he doesn't like being handled (hands only, he's very friendly and loves climbing on me, i just can't get my hands near him- if i pick him up i gotta use my arms instead), and he isn't food motivated, and he can't have a partner, because according to the place we got him from he doesnt like other birds (and i don't want to risk testing that!) so it's kind of gotten to a state where... I just don't know how to add enrichment to his life? He doesn't seem distressed or actively bored, but i still feel bad- i know theres got to be more i can do for him, but aside from just adding more toys and sitting in there with him so he can climb on me, im just... stuck on ideas, i guess.

TL;DR: Does anyone have enrichment ideas for a bird that 1: wont let hands touch him (other body parts are fine), and 2: isn't food motivated (ive had a little luck with spray millet when i tried to train him but he didn't care enough for it to really stick)? He seems happy enough, but "happy enough" isn't enough for my standards, i want him to be living his best little birdy life.

 

[Shannan]

think about the environment for ideas about enrichment. What can he see? Could you move his cage to different areas of the house (or give him other perches, landing spots? What about music, tv, other sounds. I have even heard that some like fishtanks. Enrichment could also be offering different foods in different ways. Rotate and give him different toys and different types of toys. @Mizzely has some wonderful articles on toys as well as a wonderful selection in her store. What you are doing is also enriching. Do you talk to him, tell him about your day, let him hang around while you talk on the phone.... meet new people (even if it is just when the bird is safely in their cage). Basically seeing hearing and participating in all of the household activities in a way that is safe. Even putting him in a travel cage and going for a ride.....(if it doesn't freak him out). all of these things are enriching. Heck even changing his schedule can be enriching. I suspect his world is a lot more enriching than you think because you seem like you really try to engage him. Walter used to enjoy it when I read kids books to the kids so maybe something like that. They are smarter than we often give them credit for. Good luck and try not to over stress.....

 

[Sniv]

I can't really move his cage- His room's the only one where the dog isn't allowed, and I don't think he'd appreciate going from a big quarter-room floor to ceiling flight aviary to his old birdcage enough for a change of scenery to be worth it lol. I try and get him new toys whenever I can, but the variety in all the local pet stores hasn't changed... pretty much since i got him, i've bought him most of the toys that are even worth getting. He's got someone with him most of the time from afternoons onwards (mornings are tough 'cause im usually the only one who can be with the dog then, but as soon as someone else can take dog duty the bird gets attention)- since his aviary is in the computer room he's rarely alone, lots of keyboard sounds and game talk and voice calls for him plus the actual time i spend interacting with him directly (usually lots of talking, imitating his noises and chucking him into the air when he lands on my arm, he likes that).
When i say it out loud, it really does sound like he's pampered, but i still can't help but feel like something's lacking... Though I suppose a lot of the bird stuff you see online tends to come from people whos birds are their whole lives n hobbies, anything's going to feel inadequate if you're comparing yourself to people who spend every waking hour doting on their featherbabies lol.
I might have to look into ordering more toys online, though, there really isn't enough variety locally to be able to cycle out toys without leaving a ton of barren, boring space in the aviary .

 

[Mizzely]

Most of my birds don't like to be touched So I try to ensure they are fulfilled in other ways.

Foraging is a big one but easy. Even with birds that aren't food motivated, if you can feed in multiple areas around their cage vs all in one dish, that helps engage their body and mind a lot. You can use puzzles for an extra layer of engagement.

Opportunities to exercise- room and time for flying, lots of ropes and swings. Different types of perches.

Natural shreds like oat sprays, safe dried floral arrangements, etc, can also be a lot of fun!

And yes toys! Especially if you can target different types - noisy, shreddable, chippy, etc. Different textures definitely help!

Finally, a companion can be a good source of enrichment. My Linnie is strictly hands off and isn't really keen on me so getting a Bourke's to help keep him company has absolutely improved his quality of life

 

[Shannan]

So I hope you feel better knowing you are doing a lot already for your bird. Do not compare yourself to those online. Remember they only show you the good parts and not all the parts in between. There is always give and take and it will change day to day, month to month and year to year. (says the person who owned an African Gray for almost 40 years). Also remember that birds do need to also entertain themselves so some quiet alone time is helpful for their education as well. There are several vendors listed on this forum under forums, marketplace.... maybe someone (like @Mizzely or @Macawnutz ) could attach it as I am not sure how. Toys can also be made. Our conure loves playing with cupcake wrappers and willow balls and baskets.... There is a forum on making toys and other enrichment ideas on the forum as well. Sounds like you are doing amazing. My bird wasn't a big hands either but enjoyed being around people. Of course we would LOVE to see pictures of your bird and maybe if you wanted to post a picture of his set up, others can make suggestions as well....

 

[Mizzely]

List of Vendors and AA Store Profiles

Bird Stores ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Bird Toy AA Member: abirdtoy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Avian Organics AA Member: Danita ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Birdfolk AA Member: Birdfolk...

forums.avianavenue.com

 

[Parutti]

I recently adopted a 25 year old cockatiel who is scared of me (after giving him medication the first few weeks), doesn't seem to have any favorite treat/food and has eaten only small seeds his whole life, and hasn't shown interest in the different toys I've tried.

I started out by cutting little pieces of paper to mix in with his food, for him to pick around.

Then I sprinkled it on top of his food another day.

Then I put a little food bowl in a corner of his cage so he had a different place to look for food.

Then I made a little tray at the bottom (since he's a cockatiel and likes to go down there a couple times a day).

Now that I've seen him check these different places, I feed him in a different spot every morning so that he at least has to explore the spots in his cage where he's found food before. I'll also try different add-ons that he has to pick through, like chopped up spinach or carrots, or little pieces of balsa from my other birds.

I also play Parrot TV live streams on YouTube, or a long video with songbirds that get him whistling along right away. I think music is a good enrichment for all species

The person who had inherited him said he mostly just hung out on the bottom singing or on one perch, so even though compared to my other birds he seems under stimulated, I know he's getting a lot more enrichment and mental/physical exercise.

You're doing great by thinking of new things to try! It can be tough to feel like we're giving them enough with a bird that isn't hand-tame. (only one of my three is).