A great way to keep cockatoos entertained and mentally engaged is to offer them ways to forage for food. In the wild cockatoos are very creative in the ways they find food. Domestic cockatoos can also have fun 'hunting for treats'. Here are a few great ways to keep your feathered child entertained while you are gone.
Intertwine Millet In Cage Bars: Millet spray is one of the most popular bird treats on the market. The great thing about millet is that it comes in long 'sprays' which can be intertwined into the cage bars. Take one spray and wrap it through as many of the cage bars as you can. Make it very 'tangled' so your bird will have to work to get all of the seeds.
Intertwine Greens In Cage Bars: Just as with the millet spray, you can also intertwine certain vegetables into cage bars. Things like loose-leaf lettuce, sprigs of bird-safe herbs, spider plant leaves, and even celery that has been peeled into strips can be intertwined into cage bars to create a fun eating experience.
Band Herbs To Perches: We don't recommend using rubber bands with birds, because they can easily be ingested. Rather opt for cloth hair ties or zip-ties. Even bits of sisal rope would work well for this idea. Take a few bird-safe herbs and attach them to different perches around the cage. You'll have your cockatoo eating from an entirely new angle!
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Intertwine Millet In Cage Bars: Millet spray is one of the most popular bird treats on the market. The great thing about millet is that it comes in long 'sprays' which can be intertwined into the cage bars. Take one spray and wrap it through as many of the cage bars as you can. Make it very 'tangled' so your bird will have to work to get all of the seeds.
Intertwine Greens In Cage Bars: Just as with the millet spray, you can also intertwine certain vegetables into cage bars. Things like loose-leaf lettuce, sprigs of bird-safe herbs, spider plant leaves, and even celery that has been peeled into strips can be intertwined into cage bars to create a fun eating experience.
Band Herbs To Perches: We don't recommend using rubber bands with birds, because they can easily be ingested. Rather opt for cloth hair ties or zip-ties. Even bits of sisal rope would work well for this idea. Take a few bird-safe herbs and attach them to different perches around the cage. You'll have your cockatoo eating from an entirely new angle!
Make Fruit Kabob Toys: Kabob toys can be found at almost any pet supplies store. They're great for foraging! Simply cut appropriately sized bits of fruits and veggies and then make a kabob with them using the toy. Hang anywhere in the cage where your bird can access it and let them munch!
Hang Foods From Ceiling of Cage: Cut a little hole in the end of a carrot, piece of celery, or other long fruit or vegetable and use a zip-tie to connect it to the top of the cage. Let it hang down near where your bird can work on eating it. This is a great way to inspire your bird to try new foods- because the way it hangs so closely mimics a fun new toy!
Cut Slits In Fruit And Place Them Around Food Dish: You know how many fancy pool-side services cut a slice of lemon or strawberries and place them on the edge of your drink cup? You can do the same exact thing to your birds dish with almost any fruit or vegetable. Yet another great way to change up their eating habits!
Sisel And Veggie Strips: Take a few long-shaped vegetables and slice them with a vegetable peeler. Carrots, celery, green beans, and pea pods work well for this. Then use a bit of sisel rope and tie them to different perches around your bird's cage and play stand. This not only allows them to eat at a new and unique angle, it promotes them to use their feet to grab onto food and bring it to their mouth.
Fruit Puree: People often don't think of pureeing fruit when feeding their birds, but pureed fruit can be used in so many ways. It can be filled into coconuts and other open-ended toys. Other fruit can be dipped into a fruit puree to add new and exciting taste-mixes to your bird's pallets. And fruit puree can also be placed in small dishes around your bird's cage as a fun treat. It can even be frozen, so on hot days your bird can nibble away at their own birdie popsicle.
Drilled Nuts On Hemp Rope: Whole walnuts, peanuts, and acorns make great items for this simple craft. Invite the handy-man in your life over for a quick favor- or if you're handy with a drill, try this activity yourself. Simply drill small holes through different kinds of nuts. Then bead them onto a piece of hemp rope and hang the new creation in your birds cage or on their play stand. It can be tied virtually anywhere and is a great way to add protein to your bird's diet! For smaller birds this can also be done with sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
Hole-Filled Coconuts: Again this one takes a bit of handy-work, but it's well-worth the effort for larger birds. Drill a few holes in a whole coconut. Drain the milk, and then hang the coconut in your birds cage. The delicious fruit within will have your bird spending hours trying to get every last bit out of the husk.
Add Dried Fruit To Toys: Unsweeted dried fruit can easily have holes poked through them with a knife. Take thin slices of banana, apple, kiwi, and other fruits and then add them onto homemade toys. Bead them in with other wooden and chew-worthy items. They'll make a fun delicious surprise treat for your bird that they can discover while playing with their new toy.
