Toys!


	Table of Contents Back Next Toys! Very little is more important to a 'too than toys, except maybe even more toys. Cockatoos love to chew and play with their toys. Without them, life is dull and a poor 'too has nothing better to do than to pick and chew it's feathers, and maybe even itself. Good toys are as essential as food and water. Most pet stores sell a variety of bird toys, but often they're suitable only for small birds. When buying a toy, make sure it's of proper size for a cockatoo. Something labeled medium to large or labeled for cockatoos and or macaws should work. A good toy should be made of chewable, shreadable materials for maximum 'too enjoyment. Any toys should also be inspected daily for safety. Make sure there's nothing to strangle or catch your 'toos claws, neck, or wings. A good toy must also be judged by your 'too. If the bird don't like it, it's not a good toy. Some 'toos prefer many small objects, others large blocks. Some like certain colors. I personally like the chewy rawhide-like toys. They last a long time, too. I also like wood blocks, although large toys sometimes throw me for a loop at first. There are other toys made of heavy plastic and acrylic. While some toys like this are fine, they're fun and often very intriguing, they lack the chew factor we enjoy so much. Switching to these only has caused instances of feather plucking, so consider yourself warned! It's a tempting way to save money, but not worth it. Instead, try making your own toys. Woods must be clean, untreated and of the unpoisonous variety. You can also buy bird toy fixings. Any hardware should be stainless to avoid metal poisoning and rust, and not zinc plated (Zinc is very harmful to birds, even in small amounts). Leather strips are also fun to chew as is thick cotton or sisal rope. Even clean-boiled pine cones I've heard are good. There are even companies that sell the parts and hardware to make toys. There are even places to buy in bulk, and even slightly blemished pieces at very low cost. They don't look as pretty, but hey, they wouldn't five minutes after your 'too got it, anyway, am I right? Do some looking and see what you can find. Bird publications often have listings, and the internet is always a great place to look for stuff. All in all, either expect to spend around 20- 30 dollars a toy (any less and it's probably not 'too tough), or become very skilled with a skill saw.