Will Billy get bored?

[wonker]

I know I've read that Canaries don't bother with toys in the same way budgies do but I do feel the need to give him something to occupy himself. I do have a swing in there that he doesn't really bother with (unless I poke some Celery through the top of the cage!). I have also tied some string around the swing which he picks at from time to time but is there anything else I can provide for him to keep him entertained?

Cheers

Wonker

[alexandra]

:-/the only things i can think of is a long cage so he can fly to and fro (rather than a round or tall one, i hate round ones, wish they'd stop making them, no good for any bird!!) and millett!!! but go careful on that, he'll get fat if he has too much!

i did think of a mirror at first but i dunno if putting in a mirror is a good idea or not, it might make him sing more!

if i think of anything else i'll let you know

[wonker]

Cheers Alexandra,

My cage is a decent size, it's not that high and not round (I don't like those also, only good for cartoon canaries!). I was thinking of putting a couple of handfuls of the shredded paper from the shredder in work in his cage to see if he will play around with it but I don't know if that's dangerous or not. Surely he wouldn't eat the paper but until someone tells me different I will resist the temptation.

Regards

Wonker

BTW how long would you leave the Millet Spray in the Cage for. I replaced the honey stick thing that was in his cage for a week with the Millet spray but if it's that fattening then maybe I should remove it?

[Admin]

any treat is fattening but as long as he eats more food than treat he will be ok the millett will be ok in there till he has finished it - i doubt it will be in there go long lol

[wonker]

I think I will alternate between the Millet and the honey stick as you suggested, probably every 3-4 days. Do you have any ideas on my 'toy' question?

Cheers

[Admin]

erm no im really sorry i have no idea, ive never kept a canary so i wouldnt know what they like to do. although i would imagine maybe a climbing thing might keep him amused? are your children old enough to make scoobies? a few of those hung around the cage for him to climb/bounce/fly to and from might help?

my daughter spends hours making them for our birds, they play, climb, fly to and from, bite, chew, kiss and hiss at them all day long lol

[Berserka]

Funny enouogh, when I had Fido I put him in my spare budgie cage and he poked at the toys now and again but the thing he spent most time 'playing' with was a plastic bird that sat on the perch on a spring. He'd pull it back and release it letting it 'flop' around. He'd do this for about half hour a few times a day.

[wonker]

Cheers both,

Sal I've no idea what scoobies are (my eldest is only 4, so perhaps a bit too young) but I'll investigate!
Karen, thanks for the tip and your point just proves even more how contradictory this wonderful world wide web can be, I've read that Canaries are solitude birds and do not like anyone else in the cage with them but your toy clearly disproves this (unless, of course, the bird is clever enough to realise that it's a toy and not another canary!).

Do any of you have an opinion on my 'shredded paper' question, I'm sure he would love it but I don't know if it's dangerous.

Thanks

Wonker

[Admin]

my kaks like to play with shredded paper, but they only play with it when supervised (in the cage though otherwise it makes an awful mess) as they have occassionally got the paper wrapped round a foot. thats the only concern we have, they chew on it and rip it up but they have never tried to eat it - even they arent daft enough to do that, and are they ARE daft birds lol

Ooooh yes a bit young to be making scoobies, maybe i could put you an order in with my 8 year old daughter lol these are scoobies...



they absolutely love them! even if they use them as an extra perch they still cant resist a nibble to try and get them undone

[Berserka]

Couldn't hurt I guess, as long as you change the shredded paper regularly.

[wonker]

I'll give it a go then.

As for the Scoobies, I'd bet he'd love to have a couple of them in the cage. I'm sure my wife has friends with daughters of the right age.

Thanks again.

Wonker