First Playtimes

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Bird - New Pet

First Playtimes

Birds have an innate need for routine, from the first morning screech and squawk to the evening's "good night" vocalization. Playtime can't occur just anytime you can squeeze it into your activities or on a whim. She may be eating, amusing herself or napping, and not in the mood for fun and games.

A daily schedule of supervised out-of-cage playtime is vital to your bird's well being. It stimulates her body and mind and gives her an opportunity to explore her new surroundings and socialize with her human friends. Play is the kind of intimate activity that creates a bond between bird and owner, making it easier and more fun to learn positive behaviors and more complex games and tricks, possibly turning playtime babble and squeaks into human words.

Generally, the best time for play is during the evening, after your and your bird's dinner, when you are usually ready to relax and both you and your bird need to release tension, tight muscles and built up energy. Playtime will usually help cancel out your bird's potential for destructive behavior, along with the biting and screaming that accompanies bird frustration and lack of attention. You and your bird will begin to look forward to the pleasures of regular play, some cuddling and probably a tasty snack before settling down for the night.

A young bird who is given a variety of toys with touch, taste and texture appeal will need no encouragement to play with them. Her intelligence and curiosity take care of the learning-to-play process both inside and outside the cage. Foot toys of various colors and shapes that roll, bounce and make noise are as irresistible to young birds as they are to young children. If you gently roll a toy on the floor, your bird is bound to chase it, and she will catch onto the fun of pushing it, catching it, lifting it and dropping it as she flaps her wings and squeaks, squawks and babbles with glee. Young birds do tire quickly, so a rest should follow a good game of fetch-catch-drop-retrieve, either on a T-stand or, preferably, on your chest for a cuddle and scratch.

Flap-the-Wings

A good aerobic game of flap-the-wings is played by holding your bird on your finger, hand or arm, depending on her size, and gently dropping your hand or arm to encourage her to flap his wings. This game might be embellished with a slow dance around the room.

Climb the Mountain, Get a Cuddle

This game reinforces your bird's confidence in you while practicing the step-down command. Wearing pants, slowly and gently place your bird on your foot and call to her to encourage her to climb up your leg to your chest for a cuddle. If your foot frightens her, place her on your bent knee, gradually lowering it as she moves up.

Games designed according to your bird's body language and personality are learned more quickly and provide early interactive experiences. The following games are favorite playtime activities for many young birds.

I Feed Me, I Feed You

While your bird looks on, put a piece of her favorite fruit in your mouth and make a show of how good it is. Offer your bird the next piece. If she shies away or takes it and drops it, repeat the process until she accepts the food from your hand and eats it.

Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better

If your bird wiggles her tongue, wiggle yours. If she scratches her head, scratch yours. If she stretches her wings, stretch your arms (in a slow downward movement so she is not frightened). If she yawns, do the same. Your bird will easily join in.

The Blinking Game

Establish eye contact with your bird, then close your eyes and open them. Your bird will usually copy this movement and blink whenever you do, and sometimes she will start the game.

Peek-a-Boo

When you leave the room, your bird will probably climb to the highest perch or cling to the cage bars and stretch her neck to see where you went. Peek around the doorframe and let her know you are there. This game is also fun as an out-of-cage activity. Place a towel or light cage cover over yourself while you are on the floor. Your bird will either burrow under it or pull it off to peek at you. You can also hide her under the towel or cover and she will move to the edge of it and peek out. Each time she does, reward her with a cuddle or some head scratches.

The Yoo-Hoo Game

If you are somewhere else in the house, your bird will whistle or call for you. Whistle "yoo-hoo" or call "Hi there" each time she does. She'll soon learn the same cheery "yoo-hoo" whistle or "Hi there" and know to whistle or speak rather than scream for attention.

Drop and Pick Up

Just as a young child delights in dropping a toy from the crib, carriage or high chair, birds delight in repeatedly dropping a foot toy and watching you pick it up.

Tug-o-War

Your bird will grab the end of a small towel or a paper towel roll while you gently tug on the other end. An aggressive little bird should be allowed to win a few times, while the odds of winning should favor a shy bird.

Hanging Upside Down

Many birds enjoy hanging upside down from the top of the cage or a perch, sometimes with a wooden barbell or other favorite foot toy clutched in her beak. While in this position, your bird will also twist her body around, flap her wings and screech with delight. She'll also happily hang from your finger or arm while doing the twist. Reward her with high praise, a good scratch or a treat.

After a short period, usually up to fifteen minutes, of fun and games, testing the limits of what she can do and where she can go while out of the cage or playing solo on a play gym, your bird will want to rest. At this point, she might decide to perch on a T-stand, the back of a chair or his owner's knee, chest, arm or big toe, and contentedly take in a TV show or listen to some music. She may also decide to cuddle with her trusty "mate."

During playtime you must control the level of joy and exuberance. Allowing games to get too rowdy encourages undesirable behaviors. For example, a game of tug-o-war may get so out of hand that your bird growls, hisses, screams and tries to bite if she loses. Too much peek-a-boo might spoil her, and a "yoo-hoo" may turn into a scream if your voice is too loud.

With patience, consistency and inventiveness, playtime will become a rewarding and enriching experience for both you and your bird.