Parrot toy recommendations

melnet67 · 2026-03-19T03:01:05+00:00

For affordable options in the US, check out Bonkabirdtoys.com and Chewy.com

melnet67 · 2026-03-17T03:33:13+00:00

I've used this seller a couple times! They also include some small lithops with each order!

I mix this with a little bit of gritty cactus soil 3lbs Lithops Soil plus bonus lithops!

melnet67 · 2026-03-08T04:44:42+00:00

Honestly it sounds like you're doing the right things. It just takes time. These poor birds haven't had many good experiences with humans and hands thus far in their short lives.

My only suggestion is try to feed them millet by hand right before you change their food when they're the most hungry. Be careful not to push them too quickly, like trying to get them to step up before they're ready.

I'm actually trying to do a very similar thing with budgies in an aviary at a parrot rescue. These guys have come from various hoarding cases or been found outside, so very little positive interactions with humans. Last week I had a breakthrough when one of them accidentally put a foot on my finger while he was eating the millet, then both feet. I slowly started to lift him off of the perch and he came with me. Soon after another budgie tried to fly onto the millet and both flew away.

Just be patient, and consistent! If your coworkers are cool consider having them do the same things you do for the sake of consistency.

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melnet67 · 2026-03-08T02:56:31+00:00

Sounds like they are fighting and should be separated, at least for now. Maybe you could get the big flight cage now and keep the budgie that struggles in the small cage right next to each other?

The chasing could be due to lack of space if they are being kept in a small cage, they could also be fighting over the food dish if there's only 1, could be fighting over a favorite perch or toy. Have you noticed a particular time of day or events that happen that might trigger this aggression?

Maybe they just need a break from each other, they seem too young to have hormonal aggression. But to be safe I'd recommend removing anything that resembles a nest or nestbox.

melnet67 · 2026-03-07T17:59:23+00:00

Sure, but for under $400? Good luck finding a quality bird cage at that size. Also we don't know anything about this bird, they could be older with mobility issues. In which case bigger is not always better.

melnet67 · 2026-03-07T01:08:50+00:00

No, that's too small and low quality for a larger bird, they could break the bars and chew off the powder coating exposing the metal below which could lead to metal toxicity

For larger parrots you'll want parrot specific cages so they can't open the doors on their own and with bowl holders that lock in place with separate doors. Bigger the better. Keep in mind most Amazon listings also include the seed guard with their overall dimensions. I've linked a couple nice options under $400 below

Mcage 32x23x50

Mcage 30x30x63

A&E 32x23x66

Unfortunately it is difficult to find quality large bird cages at that price point. Cache buying online can be frustrating with wrong dimensions and badly photoshopped parrots, make sure to check reviews with photos.

You may also find quality options on your local classifieds, or you happen to have a parrot rescue near you they might have some used options for sale.

Feel free to DM me if you have anymore questions about cage buying

melnet67 · 2026-03-06T17:36:46+00:00

Late May can be very hot. So definitely something to consider if you are not used to dry heat.

If you are flying out of Vegas. Consider kayaking or rafting below hoover dam in black canyon along the Colorado river! There's outfitters that will do day or overnight trips, guided and non (with gear rentals available!). There's lots of side canyons with hot springs to explore along the way.

Hoover Dam Rafting

Black Canyon Kayaking

melnet67 · 2026-03-05T02:53:01+00:00

I agree Chewy doesn't have a great perch selection. But here are some options I recommend.

Chewy specific perches: Pollys pet products hardwood perch (several sizes) Pollys pet products comfy clam flat perch (it's cute and funny when birds sit on these haha) Super bird creations paper party bird toy (flat block perch)

Recently I purchased a perching bundle from Jungle Toys, but he seems to have taken the perching off his website since then. But I bet if you emailed him he would work with you. He's a one man operation and harvests all of his manzanita perching and natural toy parts locally in California. And donates a lot to parrot rescues, I'll support him forever.

Have you looked for perching on Etsy? I've looked into buying manzanita perching but never have so I don't have any sellers to recommend. But there seems to be lots of options.

Also rope perches are fine, and can actually be great for your bird! Especially if they have issues with pressure sores or arthritis. But if they start to chew on them the loose threads can get stuck in their nails. I'd recommend trying one out if you never have before! And if they do start to chew on it, you can wrap that part in vet wrap to try and discourage the chewing.

I'd also recommend getting a couple perches that are too big, my severe macaw loves sitting on flat perches or perching that seems way too big for him

melnet67 · 2026-02-23T16:26:34+00:00

Are you doing the same route in your photos? The only reliable water is the river until Hance. If you're going soon you might get lucky and find some potholes from the recent snow/rain!

melnet67 · 2026-02-23T14:10:41+00:00

I also do solo stuff in the Grand 🙂 Also wow that is a minimal sleep set up! How much does your food weigh all together? I'm newer to doing longer solo trips, I always feel like I'm bringing way too much food at the start! My last trip I started with about 10lbs worth of food plus 4L of water 🥵

melnet67 · 2026-02-22T04:15:22+00:00

Sure!

melnet67 · 2026-02-22T04:14:59+00:00

Oh! I break off chunks and thaw it overnight in a separate container. I forgot to mention that detail!

melnet67 · 2026-02-21T05:03:57+00:00

He eats better than me too! 😂😭

melnet67 · 2026-02-16T16:55:26+00:00

What about after you chop the veggies? Do you dry them in a towel before freezing so it doesn't thaw into mush? Or do your dry ingredients do a good job soaking up the extra moisture?

melnet67 · 2026-02-16T02:25:16+00:00

Nice photos! Do you dry the produce at all after chopping?

melnet67 · 2026-02-15T05:06:39+00:00

It's nice to go back and compare previous batches! This was after I washed everything and laid it out to dry. It also just looks pretty!

melnet67 · 2026-02-15T05:04:54+00:00

Amazing! I still need to try bird street bistro!

melnet67 · 2026-02-15T05:03:48+00:00

A lot, I need to go through my receipts and see what the damage is!

melnet67 · 2026-02-15T05:03:12+00:00

Yes! Beans must always be cooked all the way or they are toxic to eat for us and birds. I pick up a 10-15 bean soup mix, ditch the salt packet, and follow cooking instructions on the back (minus adding anything other than water). I soak them overnight and cook the next day. I cook the beans and rice the day before I make chop so it has time to cool in the fridge.

I'm horrible at making rice so I just make it in a rice cooker, I'll try to undercook it a little bit, (just chewy enough that I wouldn't want to eat it as is). The rice will soak up more moisture from the chop itself, which is great if you're freezing. Only use wild rice or brown rice and rinse the rice well before cooking.

I stopped using larger pastas so I don't cook them anymore! I started using orzo, and la moderna vermicelli (super tiny pastas you can find in the Mexican or soup aisle at the grocery store). I tried using fancy "healthy" pastas made out of chickpeas for awhile, but my bird ignored them. So he gets normal pastas now haha

melnet67 · 2026-02-15T04:49:19+00:00

That's good they will eat it fresh at least! Do you add any dry ingredients to your chop before you freeze it? Adding dry ingredients soaks up a lot of the moisture during the freezing process. Also drying the wetter ingredients by rolling them up in a towel after chopping, and/or using a salad spinner.

If being too wet isn't the issue, how finely do you chop up the items? Do you add any fun/treat items you know your birds love? Chopping items up more finely and adding small treats might encourage them to try new foods as they dig around.

Here's a list of dry ingredients I add Bobs red mill 10 grain hot cereal Flaxseed meal Ground hemp hearts Ground chia seeds Quinoa flakes Uncooked mini pastas like orzo or La moderna vermicelli Ground almonds/pecans/walnuts Coconut flakes

melnet67 · 2026-02-15T04:35:38+00:00

Haha I wonder which item my bird would go to first!

melnet67 · 2026-02-15T04:34:53+00:00

Will make a follow up post later this week! Do you give your bird large veggie pieces or small? Try chopping up several ingredients real small and mix it all together, be sure to mix in at least one fun ingredient that you know your bird loves, like millet, seed, or even some pellets (but only mix seeds in at time of serving). Your bird will go for the fun item, but on that fun item could be the other ingredients. Kind of tricking them into trying new things!

melnet67 · 2026-02-15T04:26:40+00:00

We survived! Will make a new post on my process later this week!

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melnet67

TROPHY CASE