Foraging

Foraging
Foraging is simply the act of finding food. Very simple in definition, but great in the impact it can have on the lives of our birds. Having our parrots work for their food is one of the best stimulations that we can provide. It does not matter if you have a budgie, lovebird, amazon, or a macaw, behavior problems will diminish if a parrot has the opportunity to forage for their food rather than eating straight from a bowl. In the wild, a parrot will occupy 60%-80% of their time searching for food. During their mission, a parrot will fly, use problem-solving skills, and manipulate their environment to find that prized morsel. This is a very heart-wrenching revelation considering our parrots, according to recent scientific studies, on the average spend only 15 minutes eating from their bowls and the rest of their time waiting for us in their cage for eight hours while we are working. Our beloved birds want more and deserve more. Our feathered friends have provided richness, stimulation, beauty, and love in our lives; should we not also provide them with anything less? A parrot needs to work for their food to stimulate both body and mind; their health will reap from the benefits also. Providing foraging opportunities is more work on our part, but the rewards are far greater with the antagonists of our selfishness. As our Avian Veterinarian Dr. Burkett states, “We put them in cages, the least we can do is provide the absolute best for them.”

Foraging opportunities for parrots include, but are not limited to, the following: natural foods and treats such as nuts, Nutri-Berries or Avicakes; foraging toys made specifically for birds; shredded paper, paper towels, or toys in a food bowl; supervised foraging on a playgrounds, trees, toy boxes, or baskets; hiding treats wrapped in carrot leaves or dark leafy vegetables, placing food in pinecones or stuffed in children’s toys such as a small dartboard from the local dollar store; taking treats and arranging them in the cage in a sheskabob; shreddable cardboard boxes with hidden treats; wrapping treats in paper and hanging them inside the cage, perch, or playground; placing food bowls in different locations in the cage providing several feeding stations. Wrap food in paper, paper towels, or paper bags and place in some stations while leaving others empty. Then, tape the top of the feeding stations with paper, or a destructible toy, so your parrot will first have to punch through the barrier and then remove the wrapped morsel; placing food in the holes of a cholla perch or destructible toys such as finger traps; hiding food in bird safe, untreated pine toys or cardboard boxes found in a craft store; foraging trays with hidden food and toys placed on the bottom or top of cages, playgrounds, or trees; having your parrot climb a branch, rope, or chain to his food, having your parrot lift a bucket or string to retrieve his food; sticking food in plastic waffle balls, teach flight training and retrieving, and my favorite: either hiding food in your clothes, making a birdie edible necklace, or holding your parrot’s food up high so he has to climb up you to receive his treat and the rewarding positive stimulation of his favorite sound, your voice.


SBC Pod Cup Forager
8 x 3.5"; Medium Birds
$6.48
Shoes & Crocs!Paradise Toys XL Loadable Firecracker
5 x 1"; Large & Extra Large Birds
$3.97
Paradise Toys Lg Loadable Firecracker
3 x 1"; Medium & Large Birds
$2.97
SBC Seagrass Foraging Wall
4x14"; Small, Medium, & Large Birds
$20.79
SBC Mini Foraging Pouch
8x8"; Small & Medium Birds
$15.97
SBC Balloon Fest
13x4"; Small Birds
$10.49
SBC Mini Flying Trapeze
9x7"; Small Birds
$10.97
SBC Flying Trapeze
14x13"; Small, Medium, & Large Birds
$20.79
SBC Waffle Stuffer Chain
13x4"; Small, Medium, & Large Birds
$11.49
SBC PVC Forager
8x5"; Small, Medium & Large Birds
$11.49
SBC Sundae Cup
13x5"; Small & Medium Birds
$9.97
SBC Twisted Fun
12x4"; Small, Medium, & Large Birds
$17.97
SBC Waffle Ball Stuffers (3)
3 inches
$6.97
SBC Bagel Forager
18x8"; Medium & Large Birds
$21.97
PT Large Triple Foraging Box
30" X 4" X 4"; Large Birds
$4.97
PT Medium Triple Foraging Box
22" X 3" X 3"
$3.97
BBT Whatchamacallit
Small, Medium, and Large Birds
$13.97
BBT Sitting Duck
Small & Medium Birds
$4.97
PT Party Ball 5 inch
5" Foraging Ball; Medium & Large Birds
$9.97
PT Polycarbonate Foraging Ball 5" and Kabob
5" Foraging Ball on Skewer; Medium & Large Birds
$23.97
PT Polycarbonate Foraging Ball 5" with Chain and Bell
5" Foraging Ball on Chain; Medium & Large Birds
$13.97
PT Small Triple Foraging Box
17" X 2" X 2"; Small Birds
$2.97
SBC Foraging Pail
TLA uses this!

9 x 3.5; Medium Birds
$6.97
SBC Spring Basket
7.5 x 3; Small Birds
$6.97
PP Pineapple Foraging Toy Small
TLA uses this!

4 x 1 1/2
$3.97
PP Pineapple Foraging Toy Medium
7 x 2 1/2
$5.97
PP Pineapple Foraging Toy Large
9 x 4
$10.97
PP Pineapple Foraging Toy Xlarge
12 1/2 x 6
$15.97
 PP Mahogany Flower Color Small
7 1/2 x 4
$7.97
PP Mahogany Flower Color Large
8 x 4
$14.97
PP Coco Forage Mini
6 x 3 1/2
$8.97
PP Coco Forage Large
4 1/2 x 5 1/2
$15.97
PP Crazy Clown Small
6 1/2 x 4 1/2
$6.97
PP Crazy Clown Large
12 x 6
$14.97
PP Coconut Corn Puff
10 1/2 x 6
$16.97
Foraging Ball with Chain and Bell
This foraging ball is clear in color and can be filled with foods or treats. It twist opens real easy. The bell hangs from a chain and the ball protects it from the bird. The dimensions for this toy are 3.5" x 3.5" x 11".
$11.79
PP Basket Foraging Toy Small
9 x 4 x 4; Small and Medium Birds
$7.97
PP Peanut Foraging Box Small
14 x 2.5 x 2; Large Birds
$10.97
PP Peanut Foraging Box
3 x 3 x 13; Large Birds
$19.97
PP Star Foraging Box Large
15 x 5 x 2.5; Small and Medium Birds
$22.97
PP Star Foraging Box
3 x 6 x 12; Large Birds
$16.97
PP Basket Foraging Toy Large
4 x 4 x 11; Large Birds
$10.97
SBC Foraging Pouch
$23.97
PT Shred and Find Large
15 x 3.5; Large Birds
$3.97
PT Shred and Find Medium
$3.79
PT Shred and Find Small
*TLA uses this!!*
8.5 x 2; Small Birds
$3.15
PT Seek and Chew Medium
13.5 x 2.75; Medium Birds
$3.79
PT Seek and Chew Small
*TLA uses this!!*
9 x 2; Small Birds
$3.15
PT House of Treats
7 x 7; Large Birds
$14.89
For The Birds Box of Nuts and Bolts
10 x 3 x 3; Large and Extra Large Birds
$10.97
For The Birds Box of Nuts and Bolts Small
8 x 2 x 2: Medium and Large Birds
$8.97
Super Bird Creations Tea Party Forager
9 x 5"
Medium Birds
$9.95
Super Bird Creations Bottom's Up
17 x 2.5"
Large Birds
$17.95
Super Bird Creations 4 Way Forager
11 x 7"
Large Birds
$24.95
JungleTalk Shreddable Cubes
$4.99
Paradise Toys Cagemount Buffet Ball
3 inch ball
Medium and Large Birds
$18.95
Paradise Toys Cagemount Buffet Box
4 x 5"
Medium, Large, and Extra Large Birds
$18.95
Paradise Toys Fillable Buffet Ball
3 inch ball
Medium and Large Birds
$7.95
Paradise Toys Buffet Ball and Kabob
5.5 x 13"
Medium and Large Birds
$18.95
Paradise Toys Chipboard Treasure Box Small
7 x 18"
Large Birds
$3.49
Paradise Toys Chipboard Treasure Box Large
5 x 12"
Medium and Large Birds
$9.95
Paradise Toys Foraging Sphere
$11.99
Paradise Toys Foraging Capsule
$18.99
Paradise Toys Foraging Wheel
$18.99
Paradise Toys Foraging Box Feeder
$9.97
Paradise Toys Refill Box for Foraging Box Feeder
Paradise Toys Refill Box for Foraging Box Feeder
$2.97
Paradise Toys Foraging Seesaw
$13.97
Paradise Toys Foraging Push and Pull
$15.97
Paradise Toys Foraging Windmill
$23.97
Paradise Toys Foraging Wheel Generation II Extra Large
$27.97
Paradise Toys Foraging Wheel Generation II Giant
$47.97
Paradise Toys Foraging Starter Kit Small
$14.99
Paradise Toys Foraging Starter Kit Large
$18.99
Paradise Toys Foraging Refill Small 15 Day Supply
$9.99
Paradise Toys Foraging Refill Large 15 Day Supply
$14.99
Paradise Toys Foraging Vertical Holder Small
$5.99
Paradise Toys Foraging Vertical Holder Large
$7.99
Paradise Toys Foraging Horizontal Holder Small
$5.99
Paradise Toys Foraging Horizontal Holder Large
$7.99
Paradise Toys Four Big Drawers
$28.99
Paradise Toys Foraging Treat Box Small
$6.99
Paradise Toys Foraging Treat Box Large
$7.99
Paradise Toys Creative Foraging System Seek 'n Find Small
$8.99
Paradise Toys Creative Foraging System Seek 'n Find Large
$8.99
Paradise Toys Creative Foraging System 3 Door Cubes
2 x 2 x 6"
$12.95
Paradise Toys Creative Foraging System Foraging Carousel
2 x 6 x 6"
$23.95
Paradise Toys Creative Foraging System 3 Drawer Cubes
2 x 2 x 6"
$15.95
Planet Pleasures Nature's Nest
$3.99
FiberCore Eco-Foraging Pak
$6.99
FiberCore Eco-Nest 1.5lb
*TLA uses this!!*
$6.99
FiberCore Eco-Nest 4.5lb
*TLA uses this!!*
$14.99
FiberCore Eco-Nest 10lb
$33.99
Nature's Instinct Party Ball 2" Single
$2.99
Nature's Instinct Party Ball 2" 3 Cluster
$4.99
Nature's Instinct Party Ball 4" Single
$3.99
Nature's Instinct Toss-n-Chew
$3.99
Nature's Instinct Foragewise Parrot's Treasure
$15.95
Nature's Instinct Foragewise Turn'n Learn Logs
$19.95
Nature's Instinct Foragwise Tiki Takeout
$19.95
Nature's Instinct Tiki Take Out Refill Large
$3.99
Nature's Instinct Tiki Take Out Refill Small
$3.49
Nature's Instinct Foragewise Rings of Fortune
$19.95
Nature's Instinct Barrel of Fun
$8.95
Nature's Instinct Snack Rack
$13.95
Nature's Instinct Zig Zag
$19.79
Fun-Max Crazy Leather Box Medium
6" x 6" x 3"
$36.95
Stanley's Snack N Play Foraging Toy
4 x 5"
$13.95
Chicken Fun Toy
$3.97
PWP Pete the Parrot
Large and Extra Large Birds
$9.97