10 Best Parakeet Toys Of 2019

Parakeets don’t play the way cats and dogs play. You might be able to teach your parakeet to fetch a small ball, but don’t hold your breath. Parakeets love activities such as chewing, climbing, and swinging. Some parakeets like noisy toys like bells, while other parakeets like fluffy yarn toys for preening.

You’ll notice that many parakeet toys are brightly colored. Vision is the parakeet’s strongest sense. In fact, parakeets can see more colors than humans can! Parakeets see in the ultraviolet spectrum. This special vision allows them to see their friends’ feathers in special colors. If you look at a parakeet under a black light, you’ll see that her cheek patches glow! This glow is how parakeets see every day.

Another interesting fact about the ways parakeets play is their appetite for destruction. Parakeets love tearing apart paper, cardboard, or wood. Many parakeet toys are designed to be chewed up by your birds. No matter how much you pay for a parakeet toy, remember that it may end up in pieces on the cage floor. This isn’t a bad thing; it just means that your parakeets had a lot of fun!

Keep these facts in mind when you choose toys for your parakeets. Look for parakeet toys that encourage natural play such as chewing, climbing, making noise, or preening. Pick colorful toys, and don’t be surprised if the toy ends up in pieces a few days after you buy it.

You might also consider setting up a playgym or playstation outside of your parakeets’ cage. You can buy a parakeet jungle gym at a pet store or online, or you can attach a perch on the side or top of the cage. Hang or place some toys in this special outside-of-the-cage area to make “outside time” extra special.

If you Google 'parakeet toys,' you’ll find that many people have strong opinions about the topic. In the past, mirrors and bells were very popular parakeet toys. Today, some parakeet owners argue that if a parakeet spends too much time looking at a mirror, he’ll become obsessed with his reflection and stop playing with other toys. Bells are also controversial because very destructive birds can remove the clappers and potentially hurt themselves with the metal pieces.

In addition to the mirror and bell controversy, parakeet owners are also divided over offering hideouts or nests to their birds. There are many small tents or enclosed hideouts made from materials such as coconuts. These enclosed, nest-like spaces can encourage a female parakeet to lay eggs. If she has a male friend, then you could end up with surprise babies.

Parakeet owners also have very strong opinions about plastic toys. Some prefer all-natural toys such as sisal ropes and tree branches, while others argue that plastic toys are more colorful and offer different opportunities for play.

No matter what kind of material you choose for a parakeet toy, remember to look for products designed for parakeets, rather than for larger birds, and examine the toy to be sure it’s sturdy and high-quality.

In the end, it’s up to you to decide what kind of toys you’ll buy your parakeet. Every parakeet is different; and as you are the only one who truly knows your pet, you have a better sense of what type of toy is safe and appropriate for him.

Unlike cats and dogs, which will play with a new toy right away, parakeets need to be introduced to a new toy gradually. Remember that birds are prey animals; they are naturally nervous about new things. To help your parakeets enjoy their new toys, try the steps below:

1. Place the toy outside the cage.

2. Let the parakeets see you “play” with the toy.

3. Let the parakeets explore the toy when out of the cage.

4. Finally, move the toy into their cage

Your parakeets might ignore new toys for a long time. Don’t feel disappointed. It’s not uncommon for parakeets to ignore a toy for months at a time, only to suddenly “discover” it one day and make it a new favorite.