Foraging toys for beginners

[magicalmartha]

I just got Dizzy, my GCC, a brand new foraging toy from Birdy Booty and he's having a little bit of trouble figuring it out.  It's shaped like a clear plastic mug with a lid that moves up and down a chain, and Dizzy doesn't really get that there are tastybits inside.  I've got Lafeber's Nutri-Berries in there right now (which he normally goes

Comments

[officialbizness]

Playing with the toy yourself? Monkey see, monkey do. But I say this as someone with two birds that share a half dozen brain cells between them, so it's never worked for me.

[cyaneus]

He might not be hungry. XD But I find that highly coveted items like peanuts and cashews get a bird's attention right away. Maybe try leaving the top off and having him fish one out on easy mode first!

[luxylyx]

Leave the lid open until he figures it out and then slowly lower it until its sitting on top of the mug. My tiel had the same problem. I held the lid up with a pin, but depending on the material that the mug is hanging on you may have to use something else. He will find it eventually, it just might take a week or two.

[zandperl]

I agree with propping the lid open somehow. Some birds take a bit longer to figure out foraging. If that still doesn't work, go back another step, and just put a piece of paper or toilet paper over his food bowl.

[magicalmartha]

Thank you everyone for the advice! I've got the lid fastened so it's open, and Diz has definitely been showing more interest - he looks inside it, and while he hasn't pulled anything out of the cup yet, he's been running back and forth on his perch to investigate. So his curiousity is definitely peaked!