Foraging – Keeping your Bird Entertained A day in the life of a
wild bird consists of finding food, preening feathers, building
nests and sleeping undisturbed at night. These activities ensure
that birds remain active during the day and that they get the
necessary exercise they need to prevent obesity and health
problems that result from being overweight. Birds that are kept
as pets spend most of the day in their cages, while their owners
are at work, and many birds develop bad habits due to boredom.
Foraging is therefore a recommended activity for caged birds.
Birds are inquisitive by nature, and enjoy new challenges and
exploring new toys. For mental stimulation, birds should be
encouraged to play and do a little problem solving during the
day. Reducing a natural instinct, such as foraging, from hours a
day to a mere few minutes can lead to behavior problems such as
pulling feathers, destructive behavior and being unsocial. So
instead of waiting for their food bowl to be put in their cages,
foraging toys an