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Habitat Enrichment
Your
bird’s cage is his home within your home. Making sure that it is properly
accessorized will greatly enrich your feathered friend’s life, making it more
enjoyable for him and you!
Perches
and toys are obvious additions to any cage. In the wild, perches are trees, and
no two trees are alike – their irregular sizes and textures exercise feet and
legs, and also trim their nails. For this reason, it is a great idea to provide
perches with varied diameters, textures and shapes.
A mix
of materials, colors and shapes is best when it comes to toys. Natural materials
are usually appreciated; sisal, woven leaf, wicker and coconut shells mimic what
is found in birds’ natural environments. Toy rotation will keep toys fresh and
birds interested, and will also prevent overcrowding, which can damage feathers.
Hideouts are another important natural habitat element to replicate within the
cage. In the wild, you can often find birds enjoying solitude in dense, covered
areas, such as trees or brush. Cage sacks, nest boxes or even real tree branches
are all excellent options for creating such a space.
For
females, nesting materials may also be necessary. If she displays destructive
behaviors, such as newspaper shredding or feather plucking, seasonally or year
round, providing nesting materials will allow her to create the cozy nest she
craves, without damaging her cage or herself.
A cage
cover is a necessity. All birds require a quiet, dark cage in order to get the
long, refreshing sleep they need for health and happiness. The cage cover will
cloak your bird from lights and distractions.