Environmental Enrichment for Pet Birds

Why Environmental Enrichment Is Important for Birds

Birds in the wild have freedom of movement, live in flocks with many other members of their species (why it’s wise to get more than one), and experience an environment that’s always changing. Pet birds in captivity don’t have these things, so the goal is to mimic their natural environment as best as possible with enrichment strategies.

Without the chance to safely explore, play, and exercise, birds will become bored and stressed, and could develop physical and psychological ailments and behavioral problems. After all, these animals are intelligent, active, inquisitive, and playful. They thrive on attention and interaction, and don’t do well when left alone without stimulation, activity, and affection.

Make Your Bird’s Cage Safe and Comfortable 

One way you can help keep your bird happy and relaxed is by finding the perfect location for their cage. Choose an area in your home where they won’t feel stressed by too much foot traffic or noise, and where they won’t be alone most of the time either.

It’s also a good idea to put the cage against a wall so it won’t be exposed on all sides. And placing the cage near a window can provide your bird with some sunshine during the day—just be sure they won’t be exposed to drafts and will have access to shade if they need it.

Once you’ve found the right spot for the cage, add a variety of bird-safe perches that are a suitable size for their feet to ensure they’ll be stable and comfortable. Examples include perches with pumice, colorful perches with varying thicknesses and curves, and natural wood perches that mimic branches in the wild. Plus, you can purchase ladders to give your bird something fun to climb.

Provide Various Toys That Your Bird Prefers

Another way to enrich your bird’s environment is by providing them with multiple toys that they can play with and chew on. For example, some toys will hang from the top of the cage while others are made for holding with their feet.

Different birds will have varying preferences when it comes to the types of toys that get them excited to play, so finding the ideal items might take some trial and error. 

When shopping for bird toys, keep the following in mind:

• Make sure the toys are made of high-quality, safe materials that are non-toxic to birds (e.g., stainless steel and lead-free plastic).
• Toys with bright colors tend to be more enticing to birds, but make sure any dyes or paints are safe and non-toxic.
• Toys with various textures and sounds are appealing, which is why you’ll find items with accessories like bells or crinkly paper.
• Consider your bird’s species when selecting a toy, as this will help you choose one that’s the right size and has the right features.

In addition to purchasing toys made by reputable brands, you can make homemade bird toys with basic items like ice pop sticks, paper, and cardboard.  

One example of the many different bird toys that are available is the Prevue Pet Products Mr. Mustache, which is designed for birds like canaries, finches, parakeets, conures, cockatiels, and parrotlets. It has attention-grabbing colors and a bell, along with a variety of textures with corrugated carton paper, ribbed papers, and burlap. Simply hang it in your bird’s cage so they can chew on it to play and relieve boredom. 

Use Food Enrichment Strategies

No one wants to eat the same food every day, so another way to enrich your bird’s environment is by giving them a variety of tasty treats in addition to their daily nutritious diet. You can find bird treats in pet stores and, again, the best options for your bird will depend on their species.

Some pet birds will delight in eating fresh or dried fruits and vegetables, nuts, and spray millet. Plus, there are treat sticks that feature multiple types of seeds that they can grab and pull off with their beaks.

Foraging is a natural behavior, so giving them the opportunity to forage for food is also a great way to keep them occupied. Puzzle toys and foraging toys are designed to give your bird the task of finding food on their own, and feeling the satisfaction when they do. An example is the Super Bird Creations Bottom’s Up, which is a foraging toy made for medium to large birds. It features bird-safe materials, a bell, colors, and cups you can fill with treats.  

Give Your Pet Bird Loads of Attention

Even if you give your bird a spacious cage with various foods, toys, and perches, you shouldn’t just leave them alone in a room. And even if you get your bird one or more companions to interact with, you should still spend time with these pets.

As you get to know your bird, you’ll learn what thrills them. For example, your bird might love sitting on your shoulder, or they might enjoy listening to music and might even dance and sing along. Training your bird to do tricks is yet another way to provide enrichment through interaction. And many will enjoy taking a bath in a shallow bowl filled with water, or you can gently mist them using a spray bottle.

A product like the PawHut Parrot Stand is a great option when you have birds who spend time outside of their cage. It has a wooden perch, stainless steel bowls, multiple levels they can rest on, a hook for hanging a toy, and ladders for climbing. Wheels make it easy to roll this into place so your bird will be near you even when you’re doing other things in the same room.  

Bottom line: birds make wonderful companions, but they have many specific needs, and if those needs aren’t met, they can become unhappy and ill. With some simple environmental enrichment strategies and plenty of interaction, you can keep your adorable feathered friend healthy and happy for many years.

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