Things To Look Out For When Buying Budgie Toys
Safety
First of all, safety should always be your priority when buying a toy for your pet bird. Always aim to buy toys of the highest quality to avoid being disappointed or subjecting a budgie to potentially dangerous, poorly constructed toys.
The main things to avoid are toys with sharp edges, large gaps or dangling loose threads where they might get caught or trapped. You might think these are hardly a recipe for disaster in such a small cage, but the facts are that a stressed or panicked budgie can very easily die from fear or injury.
Colours
Budgies actually have incredible colour vision unlike a lot of pets, and so fantastically coloured ropes and swings may encourage them to play with a toy more frequently. However, don’t let this feature cloud your judgement when purchasing…
Be Cautious of Paints
Brightly coloured toys might well make your cage look pretty and appealing, but you do have to be careful when picking up rainbow shaded items. Avoid toys which do not advertise themselves as being painted with non-toxic or bird safe colours and varnishes, as nibbling on cheap, standard painted toys could be potentially hazardous for your pet’s health.
If you’re in doubt, go for a colourless option! Safety is more important than a jazzy swing!
Materials
Wooden or plastic toys are the best bet for budgies when it comes to material, although wood often offers more chewing and pecking options. Rope and ladder toys are alternatively often made out of cotton or sisal. Make sure to never use ropes constructed from nylon as they can result in injury.
Size
With so many different species of pet bird out there, toy manufacturers have a hard time categorising what toys are suitable for what bird.
And as it is so confusing, It’s quite often that most toys are just listed as suitable for every bird type, leaving you uncertain whether to go for a product or not.
Thankfully, in the main, this is more a problem for owners with larger birds, as finding out a swing or rope is far too small for them to even grasp with a talon can be very frustrating. Budgies on the other hand are unlikely to ever have the issue of something being too small for them!
The main issue with size for budgie owners instead usually comes down to how much room they have in the cage. Make sure to study the product dimensions and the dimensions of your own cage before buying, as you don’t want a huge obstruction stopping a budgie from spreading their wings.
However, even if it fits well, if it looks to be quite a big, boisterous toy, then it of course still might not be entirely suitable, as you don’t want something so large it might hurt your feathered friend.
Types of Toy
Swings
A toy that clips or attaches to the roof of the bird cage, they’re not too dissimilar from a classic garden swing seat.
Often in the form of either a platform or perch, they provide a gentle swinging motion for your budgie and can also have bells attached for added amusement.
Climbing
Things like ladders, hanging spirals and hanging rope all offer opportunities for your bird to jump from place to place, practicing their stability, coordination and balance by climbing up them.
Chewing
It might sound strange but budgies get just as much an urge to chew and nibble as say a hamster or a mouse. Therefore toys which offer foraging and pecking opportunities are often a big hit with birds. These will often be simple things like a collection of rattan, or perhaps a more complicated toy with various different chewable ropes and wooden blocks amalgamated together!