Why wont they play?

[RoyalSeekr]

Hi there! We bought 2 parakeets on the 9th and the 10th. We bought them from different places and I believe one is younger and the other is maybe young adult to adult. We have them in separate cages and the older one is definitely more at ease with us and doing much better at hand taming. I know they need plenty of interaction and toys and we have a few different ones per cage. However they haven't even seemed remotely interested in any kind of toys. Is this just because they are still new and uncomfortable or am I doing something wrong?

 

[Mizzely]

Most likely they are still settling in. Sometimes they just have never been offered toys before and don't know what to do with them. Some birds can be really picky too about what kind of toys they like, and a lot of pet shop toys just aren't fun!

Try putting some millet in the toys to see if you can encourage them to check it out

 

[Emma&pico]

Could you post so pictures of toys you have as @Mizzely says pet shop bird toys are rubbish 70% of time the woods too hard for even a beaver to chew

even my blue crowned conure who can chew harder wood will more likely go for balsa wood sola basswood than anything else seagrass mats are a favourite to chew too

@Mizzely
As a brilliant section of toys in her shop

seriously nuts is brilliant too


this is a massive hit with all my flock


so is this from mizzely shop

Etsy as some brilliant shops too with softer wood

 

[Pixiebeaks]

Could you post so pictures of toys you have as @Mizzely says pet shop bird toys are rubbish 70% of time the woods too hard for even a beaver to chew

even my blue crowned conure who can chew harder wood will more likely go for balsa wood sola basswood than anything else seagrass mats are a favourite to chew too

@Mizzely
As a brilliant section of toys in her shop

seriously nuts is brilliant too

View attachment 453942
this is a massive hit with all my flock

View attachment 453943
so is this from mizzely shop

Etsy as some brilliant shops too with softer wood

I want all of these !!!!

 

[Pixiebeaks]

But yes, it can take time for them to discover the fun . And yes I use food like millet to help them investigate toys! I just bought a huge supply of millet spray because Santa is coming and sure helps overcome fear of new toys

 

[Emma&pico]

I want all of these !!!!

Hint hint secret Santa

 

[Sparkles99]

My go to for a standard pet store toy that budgies actually like is the ubiquitous bird kabob. Other than that, yes, the vendors here are the best!

 

[RoyalSeekr]

But yes, it can take time for them to discover the fun . And yes I use food like millet to help them investigate toys! I just bought a huge supply of millet spray because Santa is coming and sure helps overcome fear of new toys

I'll definitely try some millet. He goes crazy for that lol

 

[RoyalSeekr]

Most likely they are still settling in. Sometimes they just have never been offered toys before and don't know what to do with them. Some birds can be really picky too about what kind of toys they like, and a lot of pet shop toys just aren't fun!

Try putting some millet in the toys to see if you can encourage them to check it out

They love millet so I'll definitely try that. I've tried giving them other treats like dried/fresh fruit and veggies and they just look at me like I'm nuts lol.

 

[Shannan]

Some birds also don't know how to play with the toys so be sure to play with the toys yourself to show them how. Once they get the idea, they will take off. My Walter was like that. I didn't realize he didn't know how to play until he was in his teens. Once I showed him how, he loved his toys.

 

[babypepper]

Hi there! We bought 2 parakeets on the 9th and the 10th. We bought them from different places and I believe one is younger and the other is maybe young adult to adult. We have them in separate cages and the older one is definitely more at ease with us and doing much better at hand taming. I know they need plenty of interaction and toys and we have a few different ones per cage. However they haven't even seemed remotely interested in any kind of toys. Is this just because they are still new and uncomfortable or am I doing something wrong?

I remember feeling this way when my pepper wouldn’t touch her toys either. Everyone is giving very good tips, I recommend getting a variety of different toys (noisemakers,shredding,preening) I bought my toys from lil monsters bird toys.