Variety is the Spice of Your Bird's Life, Too!

Ponder for a moment the life of the average parrot. You're in a cage. You have a few dangly toys, maybe even a mirror and a bell. You're fed and you've got water, fresh air, and the occasional spot of sunlight. Your mommy takes you out to play with you, and speaks to you in passing. Nothing to complain about, right? Wrong! You're bored!

Can you imagine living that way? You're in one room with the same furnishings, eating the same thing every day, and are allowed out from time to time. Would you be happy? The problem is that people don't think about it that way. They feel that giving their bird some toys, keeping them fed, and playing with them sometimes is all that is required to have a happy parrot. That just isn't the case.

Give your bird some variety! Spice up its life! It's such a simple thing to do, and it creates such a wonderful quality of life for your feathered friend. How do I break up the monotony, you ask?

Give your bird some new toys. Nothing makes birdie happier than a new shiny toy to play with, or in the case of my bird, deconstruct. Ladders, ropes, swings, mirrors, bells, dangly things... your little buddy will find no end of entertainment. Who has time to be bored when there's so much to do? Now, regardless of how many toys are in your bird's cage, he will tire of them eventually. Have extra toys, and switch them out every so often, It provides a nice fresh feel to their environment. Who doesn't love redecorating? If you're on a budget and can't afford to buy a lot of pricey toys, do not despair. You can still brighten your bird's day. Buy a ball of hemp rope-about five dollars in the craft section-you can make many simple toys and bridges with it that your parrot will love.

Mix up your parrot's diet. No one likes eating the same old thing day in and day out. Prepare a varied menu for your bird. Leafy greens, fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, and seeds are all healthy and delicious options. If your bird is as stubborn as mine, it may not take to fresh fruit right away. A good little trick I've found is to cut a very small piece of your desired fruit, dip it into some orange juice, and roll it around in birdseed. Get a nice thick coating on there. Once your birdie buddy gets a taste of the fruit underneath he'll be hooked! A word of caution: there are many types of food that can be toxic to your bird. Before feeding him anything new, be sure to check the internet to find out if it is potentially harmful. There are many great resources with this information.

Move his cage occasionally. A change of scenery is always nice. I'm sure many of you would agree. Moving the cage gives your bird a fresh perspective on his world. It's like a mini vacation for him. A chance to see the world, so to speak. I wouldn't recommend doing this too often, as birds don't take well to change and constantly being relocated can prove stressful. Every few months is a safe guideline to go by. Another fun way to keep him interested is to play some upbeat music near his cage-not too loudly, though.

Play, play, play! This one should go without saying. Give your bird tons of attention and love. Play with it several times per day, every day. Not only does it reinforce the bond you share with your avian companion, it alleviates his boredom and yours as well. I've found that playing with my parrot is a wonderful stress reliever. I can't stay mad at the world when he starts performing his silly antics or cocks his head to the side for a scratch.

With all of these fun activities and choices, how could your parrot ever be bored? Make your bird's life fun and happy, and I guarantee they'll do the same for you.