Keeping Your Bird Entertained

Just like us, birds need to be entertained. Unlike dogs and cats, that have free reign of the house, birds are often confined to their cages. Thus, they’ll need a lot of extra help to fend off boredom. Here are some tips for keeping your birds happy and entertained:

Proper Housing:

Just like us, a bird’s habitat goes a long way in determining how happy or entertained they’ll be. Try following the guidelines below to provide your bird with accommodations that will please him.

• Size: A small cage is no fun for your bird. Make sure your bird has room to roam and exercise.
• Features: Try to vary the landscape of your bird’s cage, so that he can explore to keep himself entertained. A variety of perches is nice and the more natural they seem the better.
• Toys: Like all animals, birds love to play with toys. A multitude of toys should be available at any pet store. Just make sure the toys are safe and have no small parts that could cause choking.

Social Interaction:

Birds are very social creatures, and they need a lot of interaction to be happy. Here are some ways to keep your bird company:

• Placement of Cage: Make sure your bird’s cage is in an area of the house where he will be able to interact with your family. Your bird will love watching you and your family and he will brighten your day as well.
• Play Time: Make sure you take time out each day to play with your bird. Getting out of the cage will help the bird fight boredom. A well-trained bird can be a fun playmate, and it will help get your bird the exercise he needs.
• Companions: The best way to entertain a bird is to keep more than one. Birds live in flocks in the wild and love company. Even if they don’t share a cage, seeing each other across the room will keep them occupied. You could even give your bird a non-avian companion. Birds love watching fish in aquariums and other small pets in the house.

When You’re Away:

When you are out of the house, your bird will still need to be entertained. Here are some things you can do so an empty house is not a boring house for your bird.

• TV/Radio: Leaving one of these on while you go out can help your bird cope with the boredom of an empty house. Try not to leave your television on a nature channel though, as images of predators will scare your bird.
• Foraging: Hiding a seed or other bit of food in a box or under a toy will provide a game for your bird while you’re gone. The adventure of chasing food will give him a taste of the wild.