Introducing your parrot to foraging is an excellent way to keep them mentally engaged and physically active. Encouraging them to search for their food mimics their natural behaviors and provides essential stimulation.
Beyond enrichment, foraging helps curb problematic habits such as pacing, excessive vocalization, bar biting, and feather plucking. Whether your parrot is just beginning their foraging journey or has hit a plateau, these strategies can support their progress.
Foraging isn’t meant to replace your parrot’s regular meals. Instead, it should be an additional activity that incorporates treats, providing both nourishment and mental stimulation.
Choosing the Right Foraging Foods
Selecting the appropriate foods can make a significant difference in your bird’s interest in foraging. Start with a highly desirable treat that your parrot absolutely loves. This could be a particular type of nut, dried fruit, or seed. Observe what your parrot eagerly reaches for during meal or treat times—this will be your best choice for an enticing foraging reward.
For instance, if your parrot goes crazy for almonds, slice them into tiny pieces and reserve them exclusively for foraging activities. Once your bird becomes accustomed to the process, you can gradually introduce a wider variety of foods.
Here are some excellent options to include in foraging toys and trays:
Dehydrated/freeze-dried vegetable blends
Freeze dried fruit mixes
Avian-safe herb and leafy green blends
Edible dried flowers
A limited quantity of seeds and nuts
Nutri-Berries
Small pieces of pellets that differ from their regular diet
Teaching Your Parrot to Forage
Not all parrots instinctively know how to forage, so introducing the concept gradually is key. This involves shaping their behavior by taking incremental steps toward the final goal. If the challenge is too difficult from the start, your bird may become frustrated and disengage. In such cases, take a step back to a simpler version of the activity.
Step-by-Step Foraging Progression
Begin with the simplest form of foraging—a treat placed in an uncovered cup. Show your parrot the cup, drop a treat inside, and encourage them to retrieve it. Repeat this in different locations within their cage to reinforce the idea.
Once they master this step, progress to a covered cup. Gradually make it more challenging by increasing the level of obstruction. Here are a few creative ways to build difficulty:
Placing small objects like beads or toy parts over the cup
Wrapping the treat in paper before putting it in the cup
Nesting the cup inside a small box
Hiding the cup within a dish covered with shreddable materials
Securing the treat in a foraging cage surrounded by toy pieces
If your parrot ignores a new challenge, revert to an easier version until they successfully complete the task.
Increasing Foraging Difficulty
Once your bird has grasped the basic concept, you can take foraging to the next level. For example, if your goal is to make a treat cup more challenging, try placing it in a food dish covered with paper. If your bird struggles, modify the setup by poking small holes in the paper to give them a visual cue. If that’s still too difficult, simply drape a sheet of paper over the dish without sealing it. The idea is to gradually increase complexity while keeping it achievable.
Another engaging way to make foraging more advanced is by using small boxes filled with paper shred, beads, and dried food items. To introduce this, let your parrot watch as you pack the box. Start by leaving it open so they can see the contents, then gradually progress to closing it. You can also enhance the challenge by placing the box inside a larger container or a foraging cage.
Encouraging Persistence and Engagement
If your bird doesn’t immediately take to foraging, don’t get discouraged. Some parrots need more time to adjust to new objects in their environment. Keep introducing the activity consistently, and they will likely begin engaging with it over time.
We’d love to hear about your experiences! Share which foraging ideas worked best for your parrot in the comments.
For an incredibly simple way to get started, check out our post on Easy Foraging Bird Toys.
Monika Sangar is a dedicated bird rescue and author with a lifelong passion for pet bird care and bird health. As both a bird owner/rescuer and a molecular biologist, she shares her knowledge and experiences to help others become better bird owners. She is also an author who wrote, The Science of Avian Nutrition: https://a.co/d/f14lNl3
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