Natural enrichment

[Road2go]

Hi anybody got any natural enrichment ideas? Ive given my birds some rosehip plants and currant berries. Also i hang some unstable branches so they can practice being stabile and flying. But anybody have more ideas? They have a bunch of plants(very sure they are safe) and stuff also they like foraging but my macaws break literally everything in two seconds if there’s a nut inside. so if anyone have ideas pls share pics and stuff. I can share too just ask

 

[PeterNPipe]

We have green cheeks so our enrichment would look far different for your macaw. Ours love to forage in cork/sola/mahogany pods/jute sticks/basswood- all of which would take seconds for your macaw to go through. We drill holes the size of their safflower seeds into soft woods (like balsa) and that takes them a good amount of time to "dig" out. Perhaps you could drill a hole the size of your macaws fav treat in pine or poplar wood? Then they would need to chew through the wood to get to their treat.
There are some really cool caitec puzzles for large birds (stainless options) that I would love if they made in Green Cheek size. They are quite expensive but presumably would last indefinitely.

 

[Cloudburst]

You can use harder wood like manzanita or you can get 3 by 3 lumber ( untreated) drill holes for treats and use that.

To make it challenging use layers of puzzles.

1) make it hard to get too.
2) don't put treats in every component ( use decoy)
3) I used an empty advent calendar and hide treats in some boxes.

 

[Shezbug]

Good suggestions above. Mine will not all be natural but there are some and I will add some things I do for my beast to forage and be kept entertained (my macaw breaks everything too lol)

I do actually drill huge holes into lengths of timber and use a rubber mallet to jam some in shell nuts into it- have not made one for ages but usually when I make them they are a basic perch from a lump of pine with holes in them for goodies.
You can make a little wooden box with gum nuts, edible nuts or what ever else you want them foraging for- put holes in the sides so they can see there is stuff in there and they have a reason to want to break through the wood to get to what is inside.
I have a foraging bin (similar to the baffle cage but stronger) which I stuff full of fresh foods, nuts, chunks of wood for my guy and he loves it- easy to make it easy for them or harder for them.
My guy loves huge whole veggies so when they are cheap (or I grow them) he gets things like whole pumpkins, cauliflower etc (and if you are creative enough you can sneak holes into the pumpkin or use the gaps in the cauli and place surprise nut treat) to chew apart and it keeps him busy, happy and fed lol.
Instead of simply feeding them maybe stuff their food into a capsicum and let them eat from something other than a bowl.
Forage for safe branches with leaves and flowers etc and supply them for bark stripping etc. I choose gum trees as they usually have numerous textures and parts the birds like.
I reuse many food and postage boxes and pack them with bits of wood, food and paper for the birds to tear apart for entertainment but also to find their food.

 

[thedogtor]

I’ve ordered fresh eucalyptus forage, also dried gum nuts and other various Australian bush seeds for chewing. The gum nuts would definitely occupy a macaw. I also like the stuff from here: BIODIVERSITY FORAGING BLENDS & BOUQUETS

I also use the dog treat puzzle toys with supervision. This one has been holding up quite well: https://a.co/d/5VJjd42

 

[choplady]

I’ve ordered fresh eucalyptus forage, also dried gum nuts and other various Australian bush seeds for chewing. The gum nuts would definitely occupy a macaw. I also like the stuff from here: BIODIVERSITY FORAGING BLENDS & BOUQUETS

I also use the dog treat puzzle toys with supervision. This one has been holding up quite well: https://a.co/d/5VJjd42

Where do you order the frech ecualyptus and gum nuts from?

 

[thedogtor]

Where do you order the frech ecualyptus and gum nuts from?

Eucalyptus Leaves, Branches and Perches buy fresh cut for Sugar Gliders and Birds

Fresh Eucalyptus Leaves, Eucalyptus Chew Sticks, Eucalyptus Branches, Eucalyptus Perches, Eucalyptus Trees, Eucalyptus Wood, Eucalyptus Seeds, Eucalyptus for sale, Eucalyptus for Sugar Gliders, Eucalyptus for Birds. Always fresh, never sprayed, sold by the pound, shipped anywhere in the US...

eucproducts.com

Super helpful customer service! He sent extra seed pods.

Dried gum nuts I have ordered from Etsy (heat treated, no chemicals)

 

[rocky'smom]

busy boxes is what I use make as volunteer for a bird rescue. the vet clinic that was associated with the rescue with would get all their drug in large cardboard boxes, the individual drug came in smaller boxes. I would scarf up those boxes both larger and small. I would frankenstein those small boxes with hole punch and add wood shavings, crinkle paper, shredded paper and maybe a treat or two. cram jam those little boxes into another box filling the gaps with packing paper. and using hemp cordage or jute sew the big box shut. the busy box would either hang from SS carabiner or be at the bottom of the cage.

 

[Jan M]

busy boxes is what I use make as volunteer for a bird rescue. the vet clinic that was associated with the rescue with would get all their drug in large cardboard boxes, the individual drug came in smaller boxes. I would scarf up those boxes both larger and small. I would frankenstein those small boxes with hole punch and add wood shavings, crinkle paper, shredded paper and maybe a treat or two. cram jam those little boxes into another box filling the gaps with packing paper. and using hemp cordage or jute sew the big box shut. the busy box would either hang from SS carabiner or be at the bottom of the cage.

Can you send a few photos of your busy boxes?

 

[rocky'smom]

Pictures - Busy (knot) Boxes

I had a busy morning, making little busy (knot) boxes to show @cassiesdad . I made some little ones also. I am use to making these from a lot bigger boxes that I get from Dr. Barb's clinic. all of her meds in bottles come in little individual boxes packed into bigger boxes; some come 6 little...

forums.avianavenue.com

 

[Zilga]

busy boxes is what I use make as volunteer for a bird rescue. the vet clinic that was associated with the rescue with would get all their drug in large cardboard boxes, the individual drug came in smaller boxes. I would scarf up those boxes both larger and small. I would frankenstein those small boxes with hole punch and add wood shavings, crinkle paper, shredded paper and maybe a treat or two. cram jam those little boxes into another box filling the gaps with packing paper. and using hemp cordage or jute sew the big box shut. the busy box would either hang from SS carabiner or be at the bottom of the cage.

We do this, and the birds love it. We save any food safe boxes and refold/stuff them. Our birds are smaller, so it takes them a while, but it's less expensive than buying a bunch of stuff.