Parrots comprise over 350 species of birds known for their bright plumage, curved beaks, and ability to mimic human speech. When kept as pets, parrots are very playful and benefit greatly from toys and activities that engage their powerful brains. Playing games provides parrots with needed mental enrichment and helps stave off destructive behaviors from boredom. It also allows for social interaction and physical activity to keep your parrot fit and happy.
Some key benefits of regular playtime include:
- Strengthens the bond between you and your parrot
- Provides mental stimulation to sharpen their cognitive skills
- Teach new skills like speech and tricks
- Allows exercise to maintain health and fitness
- Reduces stress and aggressive behaviors
- Keeps parrots engaged and entertained
With a bit of creativity, you can come up with many fun ways to play with your parrot every day. Here are 10 unique ideas to get you started.
9 Ways to Play With Parrots
Teach Your Parrot Fun Tricks
Parrots love showing off their intelligence by performing tricks for their owners. With regular short training sessions, you can teach your parrot all kinds of amusing behaviors:
- Teach them to talk – Start with basic words like their name, “hello”, “step up” etc. Give treats when they mimic sounds correctly. African grey parrots have a vocabulary of over 100 words!
- Teach them to dance – Play music and wiggle a treat to encourage head bobbing. Reward them with treats when they start “dancing” on cue.
- Teach them to fetch objects – Start with a light, easy-to-grasp ball. Give a fetch command, throw the ball, and reward with treats when it is returned. Work up to heavier items.
Training tricks provide mental stimulation, reinforce the human-bird bond, and impress guests when your parrot shows off their skills!
Provide Foraging Opportunities
In the wild, parrots spend much of their day foraging for food using their beaks and feet. You can recreate this natural behavior with fun foraging activities:
- Hide treats around their cage – Place nuts, seeds, and fruit pieces in nooks, hanging toys and puzzle feeders. Your parrot will have a blast hunting them down!
- Use foraging toys – Fill boxes with paper and treats so your parrot can shred and search for hidden goodies inside. Commercial foraging toys also work well.
Foraging satisfies your parrot’s innate need to search for food. It promotes natural behaviors and provides much needed mental stimulation. A food-filled play gym or treat-dispensing toy can keep your parrot happily occupied for hours.
Set Up Play Gyms and Perches
Create a playground full of fun activities by setting up an enriched play gym area and providing various perches:
- Add swings, ladders and ropes – These allow climbing, swinging and exercising their feet – important activities for parrots.
- Use different perch types and materials – Natural wood, rope, concrete and acrylic perches of varying shapes/sizes exercise feet and prevent pressure sores.
By rotating new toys into the play gym regularly, you can pique your parrot’s curiosity and prevent boredom. Perches add physical variety and allow natural perching postures too. An enriched play station makes for a fun hangout!
Offer Puzzles and Games
Games that challenge your parrot’s problem-solving skills provide great mental enrichment. Some fun options include:
- Introduce puzzle toys – Start with simple puzzles with large pieces, like children’s shape/color sorting toys. Work up to harder puzzles.
- Play hide-and-seek – Have your parrot close its eyes, hide treats around the room, then say “Find it!” so your parrot can search them out.
Games requiring logic and strategy Flex your parrot’s mental muscles. Start easy and work your way up to more difficult games as their skills improve. Your parrot will love showing off how smart they are!
Engage in One-on-One Playtime
Parrots are social flock animals, so they thrive on individual playtime with their owners. You can interact in many fun ways:
- Pet and cuddle your parrot – Gentle strokes and scratches help your parrot relax and bond with you. Have designated “cuddle time”.
- Play peek-a-boo – Hide your face behind your hands, then pop out with a “Peekaboo!” Your parrot will catch on quick.
- Have chase games – Gently chase your parrot around obstacles. Being “caught” and given treats is the goal.
One-on-one playtime is important for socialization and preventing behavior issues. Set aside periods each day to focus on your parrot for mutual enjoyment.
Let Your Parrot Play with Toys
Toys provide parrots with mental enrichment and physical exercise. Offer a variety of rotating bird-safe toys:
- Provide foot toys – Parrots love grasping and manipulating toys with their nimble feet. Give foot-held woven toys.
- Give shredding toys – Paper, wood, rope and cardboard toys satisfy chewing urges and allow foraging. Supervise to prevent ingestion.
- Use noisemaker toys – Parrots have a love of sounds. Bells, crinkle, and whistle toys add auditory fun.
Aim for 3-5 toys in the cage at a time, and rotate new ones in weekly to prevent boredom. Choose toys that appeal to parrots’ natural behaviors like chewing, foraging, and foot play for optimal enjoyment.
Allow Your Parrot to Play in Water
Many parrots enjoy splashing in water or getting misted. Supervised water play is great fun on hot days:
- Give birdbath access – A shallow bowl allows bathing, splashing and drinking. Remove after an hour to prevent fouling.
- Allow tub time (supervised) – Let your parrot flap and frolic in a shallow tub. Watch closely to prevent drowning.
- Use a mister bottle – A light mist provides cooling relief on hot days. Ensure proper drying after to prevent chill.
Parrots naturally play in rainshowers and bodies of water. Providing water to splash and play in allows them to indulge natural behaviors safely. It’s an enjoyable way for parrots to beat the heat!
Offer Mirrors and Pictures
Parrots are highly visual and love looking at colorful images. Hang mirrors and photos for your parrot to check out:
- Hang bird-safe mirrors – Parrots will stare at their reflections for hours. Supervise to prevent broken glass ingestion.
- Show pictures and photos – Parrots enjoy looking at bright images of birds, animals, nature scenes and people/places they know.
Place mirrors and picture frames where your parrot can view them safely. They make visually engaging toys to provide mental enrichment and occupy your parrot’s high curiosity.
Allow Outdoor Aviary Time
When weather permits, supervised time outdoors in an aviary allows safe sun, fresh air and new sights:
- Build an outdoor aviary – A wire enclosure provides containment while allowing outdoor access. Protect from predators.
- Supervise outdoor play – Even in an aviary, monitor for signs of stress, overheating, predators, escape attempts, etc.
The sights, sounds, and smells of the outdoors provide mental enrichment. Just be sure to provide ample shade/shelter and watch closely for any dangers. When done safely, outdoor aviary time can be incredibly beneficial.
Conclusion
Parrots are highly playful companions that require mental and physical enrichment to thrive. By regularly engaging with your parrot in games, training and playtime, you can strengthen your bond, prevent problem behaviors, and keep them active and entertained.
Aim to integrate several forms of play each day. Rotate new toys frequently to pique interest. Seek activities that allow natural parrot behaviors like climbing, chewing, foraging, and puzzle-solving. Your parrot will be a happier, healthier pet when their needs for play and enrichment are met. So get creative and have fun playing with your feathery friend!
FAQs
What are the best toys for parrots?
The best parrot toys allow natural behaviors like foraging, chewing, foot play and puzzle solving. Good options include ropes, wood/paper shredders, treat dispensing toys, foot toys and interactive puzzles rated for parrot intelligence levels. Rotate new toys weekly.
How long should I play with my parrot each day?
Aim for at least 2-3 hours of direct playtime and social interaction with your parrot daily. Additionally, provide enriching toys and activities in their environment when you cannot directly engage with them. Mental and physical stimulation should be a regular part of their day.
Are mirrors safe for parrots?
Yes, as long as the mirror is made from acrylic or unbreakable material. Supervise use to prevent chewing off shards if glass. Limit unsupervised access to prevent obsessive staring at reflections. But used properly, mirrors make great interactive toys.
Can parrots play outside their cage?
Absolutely! In fact, daily playtime outside the cage is crucial. Supervise closely or restrict access to one bird-proofed room. Parrots should spend most of their awake time outside the cage engaged in play and socializing.
What games do parrots like to play?
Parrots enjoy mimicry games like peekaboo, “find the hidden treat”, chasing games, foraging through shredded paper, solving puzzles, foot toys, noisemakers, “talking” games, and tricks like fetching objects. Engage their strong cognitive skills!