What kinds of toys do your Bourke Parakeets like?

[caspin22]

Hi everyone! A baby Bourke (he/she is the "normal" color variety, not a Rosy, although I had my pick of either) will be joining our chaos crew in a few weeks, and I'm working on getting a cage set up. I've read everything I can get my hands on about Bourkes, but there seems to be lots of different personalities when it comes to toys...some people say their birds like similar toys to Budgies, and others say they don't play with toys at all. For those of you who have or have had Bourkes, what did they like? I understand they don't climb the bars like a Budgie would, so cage setup might be a little different with lots of perches to hop/fly to and from.

I am totally open with being spammed with photos and stories...I think I've already read every post related to Bourkes on the forum. Thanks!!

 

[April]

Oh @Mizzely !!

 

[April]

Ah sorry I wasn't thinking congratulations on your new little one.. do you have any pics?

 

[caspin22]

Ah sorry I wasn't thinking congratulations on your new little one.. do you have any pics?

Not yet - silly me was too busy cuddling the sleeping baby and didn't think to take any. I will get some this weekend when we visit! Waiting on DNA before we come up with a name, but if it's a boy, I'm thinking Ripley is my first choice.

 

[April]

Not yet - silly me was too busy cuddling the sleeping baby and didn't think to take any. I will get some this weekend when we visit! Waiting on DNA before we come up with a name, but if it's a boy, I'm thinking Ripley is my first choice.

Ripley is a fabulous name for sure! Can't wait to see pics of him/her.

 

[Mizzely]

My Bourke's loves little bits of balsa and sola, shiny/plastic things to beak, corn husk, palm leaf, and thin pine.

Right now his favorites are:

Balsa Bite Me

Bite Me

Not everyone likes Valentine's Day - this toy is for them! A 3/4" thick pine or balsa heart with a "bite" taken out of it is the base of this toy. It is then embedded with 6mm beads and 8mm beads. Measures about 4" x 4" Comes with paper rope or stainless steel hardware to mount to the side of...

lilmonstersbirdtoys.com

Star Trails

Star Trails

A chunky acrylic star swooshes by on a trail of 2mm plastic chain! Also features a translucent star charm. Includes an acrylic ring that makes it easy to hang this toy for smaller birds! Colors will be random. O-rings are made of stainless steel but are not welded. Made by Tiny Conure Trinkets

lilmonstersbirdtoys.com

Teensy

Teensy

Teensy is the perfect toy for small birds! Made with 1/4" thin balsa slats and sola discs, it provides lots of chewing exercise for your feathered friend. Lightweight and easy to shred, it's sure to become their favorite playtime companion. Measures about 3" tall by 5" wide at the base...

lilmonstersbirdtoys.com

Palm Puff

Palm Puff

SMALL to MEDIUM BIRDS – The Palm Puff bird toy by Super Bird Creations is the perfect size for Parrotlets, Parakeets, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Ringnecks, Medium Conures, Quakers, Caiques, Pionus, Senegals, and similarly sized pet birds. DESIGN FEATURES - Colorful corn husk sandwiched between two...

lilmonstersbirdtoys.com

Leather Tassel

Leather Tassel

A leather tassel for preening! Made with vegetable tanned leather cut into strips, with Vitacritter dyed leather flowers and wood beads on leather lace. Measures about 10" by 1.5"Colors of beads will vary.

lilmonstersbirdtoys.com

He also really likes this calcium block:

https://www.chewy.com/hari-mineral-block-orange-peel-bird/dp/794158

 

[Mizzely]

Also, leave lots of room for flying in the cage! Quibble hard time with Bosco's cage because he doesn't climb at all while Bosco almost exclusively climbs lol.

Flying is by far Quibble's favorite enrichment. He could go without toys as long as he was out of the cage all day!

 

[caspin22]

Ripley is a fabulous name for sure! Can't wait to see pics of him/her.

I realized just after I posted that that you have a Ripley!!!

 

[caspin22]

@Mizzely thank you so much for the info. The cage and a bunch of natural perches arrive today, and I will be ordering some toys!

 

[Mizzely]

I realized just after I posted that that you have a Ripley!!!

It's me with a Ripley actually! But he's a Jardine's! Lol

 

[Mizzely]

@Mizzely thank you so much for the info. The cage and a bunch of natural perches arrive today, and I will be ordering some toys!

Don't feel like this was all marketing just wanted to give examples and right now most of his toys are made by me

 

[April]

I realized just after I posted that that you have a Ripley!!!

Ha yeah I was gonna say Shawna has dear Ripley.

 

[caspin22]

Ha, I knew in my head it was Shawna, and not you April, but I didn't pay attention to who I was replying to.....it's been that kind of morning.

And market all you want, I love your toys! I already placed my order!!

 

[April]

Ha, I knew in my head it was Shawna, and not you April, but I didn't pay attention to who I was replying to.....it's been that kind of morning.

And market all you want, I love your toys! I already placed my order!!

I know how that goes I've barely slept these last weeks so my brain is fried.

 

[Mizzely]

Ha, I knew in my head it was Shawna, and not you April, but I didn't pay attention to who I was replying to.....it's been that kind of morning.

And market all you want, I love your toys! I already placed my order!!

Thank you

 

[caspin22]

Ripley is a fabulous name for sure! Can't wait to see pics of him/her.

I visited today, and spent about an hour hanging out. He/she (gonna go with he since we don’t know yet) spent the whole time on my shoulder riding around the store was sleepy in this photo and tucked his head for a nap shortly after.


zzzzzzzzzzzzz


Here’s my baby with his rosy sibling.

 

[April]

I visited today, and spent about an hour hanging out. He/she (gonna go with he since we don’t know yet) spent the whole time on my shoulder riding around the store was sleepy in this photo and tucked his head for a nap shortly after.
View attachment 452752

zzzzzzzzzzzzz
View attachment 452753

Here’s my baby with his rosy sibling.
View attachment 452754

Ooooh my goodness what a precious little one.

 

[Mizzely]

Here's my Quibble. He loves to be on shoulders (and heads!) too!

 

[caspin22]

It's taken a couple of weeks for me to have the heart to write this update, but sadly my baby Bourke didn't make it. The breeder found him passed away one morning not long after my last post, cuddled up to his rosy sibling. The sibling (who had been purchased by another customer) was, and continues to be just fine. He had no signs of illness or physical trauma, and seemed to have passed peacefully in his sleep. As his cage here at home had been set up and filled with toys by that point, seeing it every day knowing he wasn't coming home to enjoy it was very sad.

They say every cloud has a silver lining, though, and I try to look on the bright side. The same local store got a 4 year old male Parrotlet who was intended to be a breeder, but they discovered he's actually really sweet, and would do well as a pet. The timing was almost magical, and when we met him, we knew he was meant for us. The cage we had set up and ready to go was perfect for him, so Squirt has now joined our flock. I'll post some photos in the Parrotlet thread.

 

[April]

It's taken a couple of weeks for me to have the heart to write this update, but sadly my baby Bourke didn't make it. The breeder found him passed away one morning not long after my last post, cuddled up to his rosy sibling. The sibling (who had been purchased by another customer) was, and continues to be just fine. He had no signs of illness or physical trauma, and seemed to have passed peacefully in his sleep. As his cage here at home had been set up and filled with toys by that point, seeing it every day knowing he wasn't coming home to enjoy it was very sad.

They say every cloud has a silver lining, though, and I try to look on the bright side. The same local store got a 4 year old male Parrotlet who was intended to be a breeder, but they discovered he's actually really sweet, and would do well as a pet. The timing was almost magical, and when we met him, we knew he was meant for us. The cage we had set up and ready to go was perfect for him, so Squirt has now joined our flock. I'll post some photos in the Parrotlet thread.

I'm so very sorry for your loss that's incredibly tragic. But that's wonderful that you were still willing to open your heart to another bird.