Complete Survey Results may be found in the African ARK Vol. 9 # 4
Survey
Results: Birds Just Wanna Have Fun!
Charlene
Beane
Just like the Cyndi Lauper song, our toy survey was a big
hit. We got almost 100 responses.
As usual, about 20 percent were from our loyal members and the rest were
from non-members, but I'm trying to think positive and perceive them as
potential members, future members, members who will surely join now that they
can put their dues on their credit cards.
The average respondent has 10.3 birds, but statistics are misleading. The majority of respondents have two or three pet birds, but the numbers are skewed by a few breeders who have 50, 100 or more birds. Even so, lumping the breeders and pet owners together, the average respondent buys approximately 23 toys per year.
Most of our respondents, 95 percent, in fact, both make and buy toys for their birds. Nearly all of them shop at more than one place. Seventy percent buy toys at pet shops; 60 percent buy them on the internet, 50 percent order from catalogs, 35 percent buy toys at bird marts, and about 10 percent buy toys or the components to make them at craft stores.
Bird owners have their priorities straight when they evaluate toys. Ninety-five percent put chewing satisfaction first. Close behind, 90 percent look for safety. Clever design matters to 65 percent of the respondents, and long-lasting materials appeal to only 55 percent of toy buyers. In other words, almost twice as many people would rather buy a toy their birds will have fun chewing to bits than one that will last a long time with hardly a beak mark on it. In fact, one respondent had a good idea: She said that if she notices that a bird is not playing with a toy, she considers it an unsuccessful choice so she disassembles it and uses the parts to make other toys.
Toys for Pluckers
The question about whether or not toys discourage feather picking did not get a lot of response, but the comments are worth sharing because many people will try anything to divert their birds.
Jesse from Washington describes a toy made of leather with, "...thin wood chips hanging from the leather."
Karen Wingrove from Colorado said, "My clipping grey is intrigued by some but loses interest quickly--pinatas, hanging dried corn cobs, pony beads strung on shoelaces--things to pick at." When Karen says "clipping grey," I assume she has one of those birds that simply clips or snips parts of its feathers versus those who actually pluck or pull them out.
Debi Schmitt of California describes her birds' anti-picking toy: "It's made with curly shoelaces. It looks like an octopus. Also, any toy with sisal rope."
Safety First
I was a little surprised at the number of accidents described in response to the question about unsafe toys. However, there is no such thing as a safe toy. All of Murphy's Laws apply to bird toys. Every bird toy deserves to be accompanied by a fleet of disclaimers because anything can happen. I even know of not one, but two, scarlet macaws that almost committed suicide by tangling themselves in bed sheets. Whenever we leave birds alone with toys, we take a risk, but it would be worse if we didn't. As our readers describe their disasters, you will see that the accidents fall into a pattern.
Sharon Hole of Michigan said, "A piece from the hook that held the toy to the cage came off and got stuck in my bird's beak."
Sue Devenish of New South Wales, Australia, implicates a "...rope toy that they chewed heaps in one day and then got their feet caught in."
Jen Layton of New Jersey said, "Their toenails got
stuck in a rope toy that had been chewed up."
All I Want For Christmas...
As pet owners described their birds' preferences, it became clear that bigger is not always better. As Sharon Hole said, "They like smaller toys. They feel less frightened or stressed by the size."
Mona Delgado, Washington, said, "Most wooden toys are too big." Her birds like "rawhide, beads, cardboard--my Senegal likes things that go boing."
Karen Wingrove knows exactly what each of her birds asked Santa for: "Congo grey--loves bells; Jardine's--likes beads and leather/wood toys; Cape--wants nothing more than to chew wood and leather; Timneh--likes greens and newspaper to tear apart and hide under."
What About the Breeders?
Only a few breeders responded to our survey, but most of those who did give toys to their breeder birds.
Jesse in Washington said "I believe breeder birds are still pets and need time to relax away from the eggs."
Sue Devenish gives her breeders toys because it "...keeps them active and gives them something to do. It makes life more interesting, plus it helps keep beaks short."
Gary Blankenbiller said, "I give them chains to hang
from and swings I make. When they
are nearing nesting time I also give them pieces of pine boards (soft wood) that
they can chew up and throw around."
Final Thoughts
Debi Schmitt offered a great idea I've read about in other places: "Our bird club has a toy-making meeting once a year. It's fun." Wouldn't that be a welcome break to get together at big tables and make toys rather than listen to one more boring speaker?
Lee Robbins of California said, "Toys need to be rotated regularly because birds need mental stimulation and it makes them happy to explore."
Hilarie Jones said, "Be inventive! My birds love shoelaces, wooden clothespins with the metal spring removed, paper bags they can shred and hide in. It doesn't have to cost a lot; just be interesting and safe."
Next?
The theme for our Spring, 2003, issue is A
Room of Their Own. Go to the
APS website to participate in our survey on Bird Rooms. There will be questions for you to answer regardless of where
you keep your birds. There will be
questions for people who do and don't have bird rooms, and questions for
breeders as well as pet owners. Let
us know how your birds live.
© 2002 African Parrot Society
Last updated: November 17, 2002