Christina Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 Okay, I confess, I bought the video on active foraging, I think the vets name is Scott Echols who made it. I wasn't overly impressed with the video but he made alot of sense in that we just give our birds food in a bowl and then wonder why they are bored. He suggests a foraging tree, if anyone is interested I will explain this concept (which is the only thing this video is about, so if you want to know, I'll explain and you can save your money on the video if were thinking of buying it). Although I don't have one of those I did decide to "hide" food throughout the birds cages and see what they do. I use plain tissue paper and paper cups. I have to say, at first Finnigan didn't touch this stuff. Now, when she watches me place things in her cage, she is all but fighting me to get in there and search about. Some items have a nutriberry, others a grape or a piece of broccoli, maybe a peanut hanging from a string she has to pull up to retrieve. She seems very excited to get in there and search and destroy the paper to get to her "prize". she has gotten to the point that she goes to her food bowl as a last resort and seems to be very busy all day. My blue and gold also fights to get into his cage since we started this process. He climbed on the outside of his cage this morning and pulled his prize to the outside of the cage through the bars and tore open his cup and got his french fry. Yes, I do put some junkie treats in there too...its nice to shake it up! Has anyone else tried this? If so, what were your results? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kibibi Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Why were you not impressed with the video? It sounds very interesting and beneficial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Birds love to forage, hiding treats & nuts for your greys is a good activity for them & keeps their minds active Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BondsMom Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 My vet had me watch that same video on my last vet appointment. He was explaining to me how important foraging is for the Greys. I save the paper towel and toilet paper rolls just for this. I put treat, veggies, etc in the roll and fold in the edges so nothing comes out. Then I either hide them or string them up inside my cage...Also I find small cardboard boxes and fill up stuff and place at the bottom of her cage...My bird loves these things... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Great tips Bondsmum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Yeah, I like the paper towel roll idea. I had been putting treats in a coffee filter, then twisting up the top to make it a small challenge. Thanks for the tip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kibibi Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 I do the paper towel roll and tissue roll too. The coffee filter idea is a good one. I'll have to try that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chapala Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 I have been doing foraging for several years with Kali. He much prefers to search out the food rather than just eat from the bowl. It is fun and stimulating for them. We have these smart Grey birds, and it really helps their quality of life to make every day interesting. Cool toys, a good cage set-up, a play stand in a different part of the house, daily attention, and foraging = a happy bird. I have a lot of different foraging toys where food can be placed/hidden. Kali loves to race around the cage looking everywhere. He likes a challenge, and keeps me on my toes looking for new ways to use foraging in his cage. I also do the same when he goes out in the aviary. Those mesh-like rubber ball or sphere things are great to hang and stuff with toys or treats. Those are sold at places like PetsMart - if for birds, they have a hanging piece, if for dogs, just tie a quick link on with a piece of sisal or Paulie rope. I do use coffee filters, cupcake liners, and Dixie cone cups too. If you search on-line at good bird toy companies for foraging toys, you will find lots of possibilities. In the aviary I have a 3' piece of 2" link plastic chain hanging from a rope perch. Below it is a plastic stool, and the chain reaches within maybe 6 inches of the stool. I put a wrapped almond or walnut on the stool. Kali climbs down to get it. You can encourage your bird to utilize the whole cage by placing fun items and foraging bits in different parts, top to bottom. A tray at the bottom (out of poop range from any perches!) can be filled with smooth pebbles (large enough that they can't be swallowed), scrunched paper, various toy parts, and some hidden treats. Lots of ideas out there, and so rewarding for the birds! Reta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah_Rae Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 I am having an awesome foraging tree built for my CAG. It is six feet tall and will have multiple branches and two platforms. I am excited to get some foraging toys...but will start off with more simple methods...according to a Piaget study, CAGs develop object permanence at about 16 weeks... so some toys would be too advanced for really young birds. I will post a picture of the tree when it's done. -Hannah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie Posted December 23, 2007 Share Posted December 23, 2007 Those mesh-like rubber ball or sphere things are great to hang and stuff with toys or treats I just picked one of those up for Klaus today. Unfortunately, he hasn't been back into his cage yet to check it out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted December 27, 2007 Author Share Posted December 27, 2007 What is "object permanence"? I agree 100% on the foraging. I was surprised how quickly Finnigan took to it. It seems she would rather search her cage for well hidden food rather than go and eat out of the bowl. I was very surprised. Everyone here has great ideas...and this forum basically gives you even more ideas than the video. That is the only reason I didn't care for the video. I am very interested in seeing your foraging tree Hannah_Rae. I made Finnigan and Loki both nets that they can climb on that I hung outside on the lanai...I am going to rig up some way to hang some food, foraging materials, from the net, so they feel compelled to use the whole thing to find food. I imagine that would expend alot of energy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 These are some real good foraging ideas and I need to employ some of these to Josey's cage for a little more entertainment with her meals. Thanks a bunch, Christina, Deby, Tracy, Hannah, Laurie and Reta for the wonderful ideas, keep em coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 Im sure Josey will love her mom for making her new foraging toys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 Lets hope so Tracy, I know I love you all for the suggestions and wonderful ideas.B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah_Rae Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 object permanence is a fancy phrase we use in child psychology. Basically, it means that they realize objects are there even when they can't see them. It's why babies develop separation anxiety at about 9 months, because they realize that mom is gone, instead of just thinking she has ceased to exist. Parrots need to have a sense of object permanence before they can search for food, because they realize that it exists even though they can't see it. There, your parrot psych for the day. -Hannah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 Thanks Hannah for that lesson for the day, I had an idea that was what it was but you explain it so much better than I ever could. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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