My new boy!

wilykit

They're all cheap lumps of plastic that are flimsy!! He has a mirror, a little house thing with dangly bits and a wood and rope toy which I bought for my parrot (sadly no longer with us) and never used.

I read that you can get either a towel or an old top and sew zips and buttons on and they will play with it! I have told my mum she is to save any toilet roll tubes too!

He loves sunflower seeds so I will use them somehow! I just want to make him loads of different things to keep him entertained when I am not there!x

Money_maker

We had one in our family which lived to 26! Seems 15 years which is commonly given as lifespan tends to be a little on the short side.

Pechow

Mirrors aren't really good for them, but the rest sounds great. He'll be happy playing with those What is the house thing? Mine might be interested in something like that.

Since you asked for tips, just to be safe, here's a list of dangerous foods and plants: http://www.avianweb.com/toxicfoods.html

And common household hazards: http://www.cockatielcottage.net/hazards.html

The last site, cockatiel cottage, is really good for all sorts of information

wilykit

The mirror is just something I had spare from when I had my ringneck - how come they're not good?

Oh it's a tiny house with decorations on, not a house they can go in haha, just a plastic toy!

xx

wilykit

Wow - that list of toxic things says pretty much everything is toxic - even toilet roll tubes?!

Pechow

wilykit wrote: »

The mirror is just something I had spare from when I had my ringneck - how come they're not good?

Oh it's a tiny house with decorations on, not a house they can go in haha, just a plastic toy!

xx

Here's a page about mirrors: http://feistyhome.phpwebhosting.com/mirrors.htm

I guessed, but wondered still if it was a fun little toy he might like pecking at

And yeah, a lot of stuff is dangerous and even lethal due to their much more sensitive respiratory systems. Much of that list though you won't really come across day to day. I wouldn't mess around with the food, fumes, and metals, but the little things like toilet tubes... well, I give tubes to mine and they mostly just tear up the end, not the parts where the glue is. You can always just cut out the bits with the glue, even make little cardboard rings.

wilykit

Oh! I feel awful now!!! I will take the mirror out in the morning (don't want to disturb him now) and I will just keep the bell that is on the bottom and use it as a toy I feel so mean!!!

On one page it said to attach buttons and a zipper to a towel or old top as birds love playing with it but apparently it is toxic?!

I'd much rather make him some toys and make it varied for him rather than sticking a lump of plastic in his cage - time to do some more research!x

Pechow

wilykit wrote: »

Oh! I feel awful now!!! I will take the mirror out in the morning (don't want to disturb him now) and I will just keep the bell that is on the bottom and use it as a toy I feel so mean!!!

On one page it said to attach buttons and a zipper to a towel or old top as birds love playing with it but apparently it is toxic?!

I'd much rather make him some toys and make it varied for him rather than sticking a lump of plastic in his cage - time to do some more research!x

Don't feel too bad about it, lots of people don't know about the mirror thing! Is it possible to find out what the zip is made of? Unless I'm reading a different part, I think it means older kinds of zips, that may contain lead or zinc? Plastic ones would definitely be okay, if that's easy to get a hold of.

wilykit

Well I will take it out first thing and keep the bell for him!

Ah yea, didn't think of a plastic zip - kind of obvious now! I haven't bought one yet, but I will raid my mum's sewing tin and if she hasn't got one I will buy one!x

wilykit

Just to update...I have bought some twine, assorted beads and lolly pop sticks off ebay so as soon as they arrive I can start making some toys!