Enriching African Grey Toys Your Bird Will Love

Best Toys for African Grey Parrots: Top Picks for Wellness & Fun

Keeping a smart parrot like an African Grey entertained can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. These clever birds thrive on stimulation and love to explore new things. Just like a curious, energetic four-year-old, your African Grey will want to be involved in everything you do!

African Greys are natural chewers and enjoy shredding paper and cardboard, gnawing on medium-density woods, and playing with plant-based materials.

They especially love toys that make them think, like puzzles that hide food. However, to truly keep your African Grey happy and healthy, you’ll need to offer more than just toys.

Here are some fun and engaging ways to enrich your feathered friend’s life:

Foraging Opportunities

Foraging is an excellent way to stimulate your African Grey’s mind and mimic their natural behavior. Create simple foraging toys using paper, cardboard, or wood, or try more advanced puzzles that challenge them to figure out how to get to the treats inside. For more ideas, check out my foraging book!

Time Outside of the Cage

Give your African Grey plenty of time outside of their cage to explore and interact with their environment. Supervised playtime in a bird-safe room can do wonders for their mood and health.

Exercise

Encourage physical activity with climbing nets, swings, and ladders. Flight training, if possible, is a great way for them to stretch their wings and get some exercise.

Multi-Sensory Stimulation

Provide toys and activities that engage all of their senses. Brightly colored toys, different textures, and even safe, bird-friendly sounds and lights can keep your Grey entertained. Parrot Town TV on YouTube offers a lot of parrot enrichment.

Interactive Play

Spend time interacting with your bird. Teach them tricks, talk to them, and include them in your daily activities. Your African Grey will love the attention and mental stimulation.

Remember, a well-stimulated African Grey is a happy and healthy one. With these tips, you can create a fun and enriching environment for your feathered friend. And if you’re looking for more ideas, don’t forget to explore my foraging book and stay tuned for a potential line of fun foraging toys designed just for African Greys!

What kind of toys do African Grey parrots like? 

According to the research by Irene Pepperberg, PhD, African grey parrots have the intelligence of a 4 to 5 year old child and they love problem solving and working puzzles. 

In addition to hanging wood bird toys, it will also be important to provide your pet with foraging toys for African Greys where it has to solve puzzles in order to get a prize. Superbird Creations and Bonka Bird Toys make a variety of foraging bird toys that my African grey’s love to play with.  

Another brand of bird puzzle toys is called Busy Bird. They hysterically call their toys,” toys that birds love to screw around with,” because your bird has to work at unscrewing long bolts to get at the prize inside.

My African Grey’s love toys that they can make noise with. Smokey, in particular, love's big bells.  He's learned to ring a big bell every time I enter the bird room.

How to Introduce New African Grey Toys

Start Slowly

Place the new toy outside the cage where your bird can see it but not touch it. Gradually move it closer over a few days to help them get used to it.

Positive Associations

Pair the toy with treats or playtime to create a positive connection. This makes the toy less intimidating and more appealing.

Play Along

Show your bird how to interact with the toy. Tap, shake, or move it around. Your involvement can pique their curiosity and reassure them.

Leverage Natural Instincts

Remember, African Greys are ground feeders. As Pamela Clark says, “Wild greys forage both in the canopy and on the ground.” Use foraging toys that mimic this behavior. Place them at lower levels to make them more enticing.

Monitor and Rotate

Watch your bird's reaction. If they seem scared, give them more time. Regularly rotate toys to keep things fresh and engaging, but keep a few familiar ones for comfort.

By following these steps, you’ll help your African Grey feel safe and excited about new toys. Check out our selection of interactive toys designed just for African Greys to keep your feathered friend happy and entertained. Happy playing!`check out my book called “Teach Your Bird To Forage.”

Top Safe African Grey Toys That Our Birds Love

Top Recommended African Grey Toys

Choosing safe, engaging toys for your African Grey is essential to keep them happy and healthy. American-made bird toys are a great option, as they meet my high safety standards and are designed specifically for medium-sized parrots with strong foraging needs. Here are some top brands and their recommended toys that your African Grey will love:

Superbird Creations

Superbird Creations offers a variety of toys made from safe woods cut thin enough for an African Grey's beak. They specialize in interactive foraging toys that stimulate your bird's mind and mimic natural behaviors. Here are some favorites:

• 4 Way Forager: A challenging toy that encourages problem-solving.
• 4 Way Play: Combines fun and foraging for hours of entertainment.
• Rainbow Bridge: Colorful and engaging, perfect for chewing and foraging.
• Coco Cornhusk: Natural materials that are safe and fun to shred.
• PVC Foraging Toy: Durable and interactive, great for hiding treats.
• Foraging Basket: A versatile toy that can be filled with various foraging items.

Bonka Bird Toys

Bonka Bird Toys are known for their variety of toys that require digging and shredding through safe materials. These toys are perfect for keeping your African Grey busy and entertained:

• Large Shred Roller: A big, fun toy for shredding and chewing.
• Solo Tea Cup: Unique and engaging, ideal for smaller treats.
• Taco Bird Toy: Fun to shred and explore, packed with safe materials.
• Touchdown: Combines different textures and materials for maximum engagement.

Busy Bird Toys

Busy Bird Toys offers very durable foraging toys that you can use as a base to rotate filling with nutritious foods. These toys not only entertain but also improve your bird's health:

• Busy Bird Gadget Toy: Durable and versatile, perfect for rotating treats.
• Busy Bird Barrel Toy: Sturdy and engaging, encourages foraging and play.

DIY Foraging Toys for African Grey's

DIY Foraging Toy: Paper Roll Treat Dispenser

• Empty paper towel paper roll
• Bird-safe paper or tissue
• Bird treats or pellets

1. Prepare the Roll: Take an empty paper roll and ensure it is clean and free from any glue residue.
2. Fill with Treats: Place a small amount of bird treats or pellets inside the roll.
3. Seal the Ends: Stuff bird-safe paper or tissue into both ends of the roll to keep the treats inside.
4. Introduce to Your Bird: Place the paper roll treat dispenser in your bird’s play area. Watch as your African Grey figures out how to get the treats out!

DIY Foraging Toy: Hanging Fruit Skewer

• Stainless steel skewer (bird-safe)
• Assorted fresh fruits and vegetables (e.g., apple slices, carrot sticks, bell pepper chunks)
• Bird-safe string or rope

1. Prepare the Skewer: Wash the skewer thoroughly and ensure it is bird-safe.
2. Thread the Fruits and Veggies: Cut the fruits and vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Thread them onto the skewer, alternating between different types for variety.
3. Secure the Skewer: Tie a bird-safe string or rope to the top of the skewer and hang it in your bird’s cage or play area.
4. Engage Your Bird: Watch as your African Grey explores and enjoys the fresh, healthy treats.

DIY Foraging Toy: Coconut Shell Foraging Bowl

• Cleaned coconut shell (halved)
• Bird-safe string or rope
• Bird treats or pellets
• Bird-safe paper or tissue

1. Prepare the Coconut Shell: Clean the coconut shell halves thoroughly. Make sure there are no sharp edges.
2. Add Treats: Fill the coconut shell halves with bird treats or pellets.
3. Create a Foraging Challenge: Cover the treats with bird-safe paper or tissue to make it a bit more challenging for your bird.
4. Hang the Foraging Bowl: Tie bird-safe string or rope to the coconut shell halves and hang them in your bird’s cage or play area.
5. Observe the Fun: Enjoy watching your African Grey forage and play with this natural, engaging toy!

In conclusion...

Providing engaging and safe toys for African Grey parrots is essential for their happiness and well-being. From top-rated American-made African Grey toys to creative DIY foraging ideas, there are countless ways to keep your feathered friend mentally stimulated and physically active.

Whether you buy high-quality toys or make DIY projects, variety and interactive challenges are key. Explore our wide selection of African Grey toys and discover more DIY ideas. For more in-depth tips, check out my foraging book to keep your African Grey thriving. Happy playing and bonding with your incredible feathered companion!

Related Posts:

Enriching African Grey Toys Your Bird Will Love

5 Bird Foraging Toys DIY

Top 5 Bird Enrichment Hacks for When You're Away

Discover the Optimum African Grey Diet & Help Your Bird Thrive

References:

Clark, P. (2019, September 26). The African Grey Parrot: Data and Deliberations. Retrieved from https://pamelaclarkonline.com/2019/09/26/the-african-grey-parrot-data-and-deliberations/#:~:text=Wild%20greys%20forage%20both%20in,and%20other%20low%2Dgrowing%20plants

Pepperberg, I. (2018, December 10). Ep. 4 – Irene Pepperberg on revolutionizing what humans think of bird brains [Audio podcast episode]. In When We Talk About Animals. When We Talk About Animals. https://www.whenwetalkaboutanimals.org/2018/12/10/ep-4-irene-pepperberg/

Link to this blog

Burroughs, D. (2024, July 17). Enriching African Grey Toys Your Bird Will Love. BirdSupplies.com. https://birdsupplies.com/blogs/news/enriching-african-grey-toys-your-bird-will-love

Diane Burroughs, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist trained in ABA therapy techniques. She specializes in avian anxiety disorders and is certified in Nutrition For Mental Health. Diane has written a number of bird behavior books and she offers behavior consultations. She's developed a range of UnRuffledRx Science-backed Parrot Wellness Supplies.

Diane's products have been featured in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery and at Exoticscon, a conference for exotic pet veterinarians. Her bird collars & supplements are stocked in avian vet clinics and bird stores throughout the US. With over 30 years in the field of behavior, Diane has created thousands of successful individualized behavior plans that help pets thrive.

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