Easy Foraging Tips and Toys For ALL Parrots 101

I'm not sure who had more fun filming this video! Who do you feel did?!
The free download I mention is here: birdtricksstore.com/products/... and comes straight to your email upon checkout. It contains 14 Fun Foraging Tips and Tricks you can use right away with your birds at home. Please consider leaving a review on how it helped you so it can help others!
My 5-toy foraging toy bundles are available as one time purchase (or save 15% with a subscription) here: birdtricksstore.com/products/...
A big thanks to Katie for collaborating with me on this video! To learn more about Katie and her work with birds in Perth, Australia, check her out on Instagram here: / katies_birds
For the cages KatiesBirds is using for feeding, check them out here: www.ebay.com.au/itm/113901736583 however please be aware these are designed for WILD bird feeding and may not be suitable for parrots whom can actually destroy the bars/parts.
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217 CEDAR STREET #401
SANDPOINT, ID 83864
MY BIRDS (Oldest to Youngest) 🐦❤
BONDI 💗 Galah | hatched 2005
CRESSI 💗 Congo African Grey | hatched 2007
BANDIT 💙 Galah | hatched 2008-2019 💔
JINX 💙 Blue Throat Macaw | hatched 2008
COMET 💙 Yellow-Dominant Camelot Macaw | hatched 2008
TUSA 💙 Blue-Green Dominant Camelot Macaw | hatched 2008
ROCKO 💙 Toco Toucan | hatched 2011
LILY & PHOEBE & DETKA 💗 Sun Conures | hatched 2011
BLUEBERRY 💗 Budgie | hatched June 2019
😍 ABOUT US 😍
BirdTricks is a husband-wife team; Dave and Jamieleigh Womach specialize in parrot training and companionship.
#birdtricks #birdtraining #parrottraining

[@amalau2472]

Sorry, Jamie... You know this is Jinx's channel! 😂 What a precious boy 💙

[@gbhil-yo]

I thought adding bit and pieces into Pipi's (my 8YO amazon) food bowl looked like an awesome idea and tried it. 5 minutes later Pipi grabs the bowl, pulls it out of the holder, dumps it on the floor, and hops down to grab the nuts and pellets screaming Pipi good girl Pipi good girl the whole time. Aren't birds wonderful :P I'll keep doing it because dumping the bowl and then scratching through the bits and pieces on the floor of her tree to grab a pellet seems much more fun and engaging than just sitting there and eating them.

[@karenpeatey6226]

Hahahaha they are so smart #That is one solution

[@charliek9895]

I love seeing you with Jinx because he makes you extra bright and bubbly

[@BirdTricks]

Charlie K I love a guy who can make me laugh 😉

[@charliek9895]

BirdTricks and who can “wooo” you ;)

[@Avocetexotics]

I think something fun to do is, find large bird safe piece of wood and drill a bunch of holes in it in all different directions. Make sure to get some in on a slant to make it harder for your bird. Then take some treats, pellets, or even chop and stuff the holes with the food and let the parrot have at it. You can even include this idea into a tree stand for you bird.

[@leahwilson56]

My Eclectus is in love with foraging. His favorite at the moment is my paper bag treats. I fill a small paper bag with whole nuts in shells in scrunched up paper, some icy pole sticks some wicker balls and crinkle paper. All mixed together to make it hard and then I scrunch the bag closed and tie it together with hemp string and he spends hours with it. He loves all the different textures and makes an absolute mess which I love to see. For some extra incentive I show him a small amount of dried fruit and hide it in green paper, as green is his favorite color lol and it's so sweet watching him talk to these bags and tell them off like a bossy bird lol

[@daratheresa]

Awwwww that's sooooo cute!!! I love ekkies

[@lbearwald]

I can't express enough how happy I am to have found you BirdTricks. Your information and teaching I'm sure is a Godsent for many now happy bird owners. Thank you for all you do ❤️

[@TriciaBridgesKoontz]

Corn husks used in ethnic dishes are great for disguising food and for shredding fun. They come in big packs, are food grade, and very cheap. Also love to use bamboo leaves for tying up foraging packages. I clean them by vigorously dunking in GSE water.

[@jirahjashmiermacalino7556]

Honestly I don’t even plan on having a bird but watching you with Jinx and Bondi being cute and fun is just cool to watch Sending love💕💕

[@solarflare4345]

Jinx is the single cutest bird I’ve ever seen in my life. BUBS!

[@MacsUsername]

My bird would just dump the bowl and eat the pellets off of the table lmao. But this is an awesome idea for salvaging some toy scraps that would otherwise be thrown away! I'll definitely give this a try (in bowls that can't be dumped lol).

[@sonjawilliams989]

Iused a heavy piece of metal and drilled it to the bowl! haha

[@juliusroman8616]

Some metals aren't safe for birds. They made a blog on it.

[@MrJdubz100]

Where I live stainless steel in various grades are readily accessible. I live by the ocean and the silicon valley.

[@nancylightfoot4207]

Our smarty-pants Grey is waaaaay too advanced a forager, and has all our tricks figured out. She will definitely forage for a treat she has no interest in otherwise. Thanks for the new ideas! I would say it's a little extra work to clean up after a forage fest though. :) And so worth it for the happiness and sense of accomplishment. She loves getting praise for her wins too. Way to go, Jinxy, Jamie, and Bondhi!

[@lottierhodes334]

You are the best. You have changed my African greys life

[@mehere8038]

One I've recently stumbled onto that's working well for my rescue birds who don't forage or play with anything is popcorn :) I bought a couple of $2 human serving dishes from Kmart (they look like chip friers but in miniture & human/bird food safe coatings) & the holes are just small enough to hold foods like popcorn & grapes, so I'm putting the grapes in & then covering in popcorn & hanging on their cage wall. They want the grapes, so were able to see them & nibble them through the wire, then one of them clicked to the fact that he could just rip all the popcorn out of the top & get as many grapes as he liked without obstruction lol so sucsess :) He also goes back & nibbles at the popcorn from the ground & throws it around for extra fun, but he's not that into it, especially when there's better treats to be had by removing it, so now we're onto little pieces of apple & pear (that are white & so blend with the popcorn in colour) & also totally filling it with popcorn, rather than just a layer of popcorn like I started with. The second I put it in, he now starts throwing popcorn around to find what's under it. My other bird hasn't started playing with it yet, but I think mostly cause the first one loves it so much that he won't let her. Definitely a great starter foraging toy though imo :) At a later date I might start covering the top to make it harder, but we're not at that point yet

[@Miffny]

Thank you for this, I am lifelong carer to 2 rescue unreleasable Australian Magpies I made the foraging dish with the paper and my girls loved it . Ohh Bondi is an Aussie pink galah so gorgeous and clever Xx

[@carwash345]

Additional caution about plastic. Unknown to me my 25 year old Gray managed to brake in to my computer cabinet and eat plastic parts on a printer. When he did not eat for 2 days I took him to the vet. They put him to sleep so they could get x-rays and they showed an infected proventriccules (It's between the crop and Gizzard) with plastic stuck in it. After a three day stay at the vets and antibiotic treatment he was able to go home I continued his antibiotics for another 3 days at home. (What a challenge) That was 2 years ago and he is fine now. SO ABSOLUTLY keep you bird away from all plastic. Given a chance they WILL eat it. PS. I lock all plastic things out of his reach now.

[@BirdTricks]

It shocks me companies still make bird toys out of plastic parts. I wish people didn't buy them. So sorry for your experience!

[@Avocetexotics]

@@BirdTricks Doesn't Marlene Mc'Cohen use plastic toys for her birds? I have seen her give Brando these little toys that look like plastic icicles.

[@ChrisGuiver]

I put -30 [plastic] pegs on the backyard clothes line, and each day visiting [little] Corella pull them off the line. I may have to find an alternative (for my daily visitors)

[@didee86]

I feel so bad for you that must of been very stressful

[@juliusroman8616]

@@Avocetexotics I'm not sure, but on her recommended Amazon page she recommends plastic.

[@littlemidwestrebornsdolls]

You and Dave do such a great job teaching people about enriching the lives of the birds they keep. It's always a pleasure watch your videos.

[@vlhz69420]

I don't even have any birbs but i absolutely love watching these videos!!

[@cherilvernon5030]

I learned so much from this video and now I have a new channel as a resource! Grateful to find you!

[@MissRuthina]

Been consuming your videos again because we're getting a budgie (soon ish). I've wanted a bird for a long time. But we either couldn't because of renting in a no-pet zone, or as in our current predicament... Have a territorial cat that would decimate any bird that comes near (he came with the place we bought). I was pretty keen to get a big bird but can honestly say we couldn't offer a bird 50-80 years of commitment. You guys made me aware that unless I'm willing to find an older one that needs rehoming in my area (not likely in NZ tbh), it's not happening. Project bird as a first bird wouldn't be impossible... But certainly not easy. Wouldn't want to traumatise it further. 15-20 years I can do though! So I've been trying to remind myself about diet, entertainment, body language, and training essentials so I can be prepared for when my old angry cat dies (I love him, but he's a bit of a turd!). My mother in-law used to have an aviary and big birds and little birds the whole thing when she lived in Australia... Since we're neighbours she's keen to join me. We're going to do a part of the year outside situation. Pretty excited!!! Only a few more years of swatty cat to go!

[@HGCUPCAKES]

We’re binge watching also. We are also getting a budgie soon. We are normally a dog and bunny family. The good thing is the bird toys are pretty safe for bunnies too

[@SouthpawZer0]

Drinking Game: Take a shot every time Jinxy says WOOO!

[@daratheresa]

FOX NEWS: LOCAL COMMENTER CAUSES WIDESPREAD ALCOHOL POISONING

[@PlainOLIcecream]

@@daratheresa 😂😂😂

[@miriammcenroe3975]

@@daratheresa 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jamesabel7320]

Nice, lemme try.

[@33tjgarza]

@@daratheresa 7

[@barbarawilder2956]

I can hear him saying, "Get this and this out of the way. Ah-ha. There's the good stuff!" Loved this video. HUGS from Austin, Texas.

[@khendricks2647]

Seeing Jinx so calm and content gives a new appreciation for macaws.

[@bigislandchickens6747]

My love birds were so niclected for so long that foraging has been difficult. I had to start with dried flowers, guava wood chips and guava leaves. I just sprinkle them on top of the food, my budgie has been great in teaching the love birds to forage. And I will definitely be following Katie since one of the rescued love birds is a self mutalator.

[@Cicipuki]

So cute how Bondi is walking around😭❤

[@MyJAG12345]

I love this! I have two extra food bowls in my ringnecks cage that I use for foraging sometimes its just for foraging for a foot toy he loves. I mix it up. I have a little hanging basket for my parrotlet and he loves it. Then for my green cheek he loves to play at the bottom off his cage so I put paper down and then a bowl or toy he can forage in. I just love when my birds are just quietly entertained which honestly is most of the day!! Thanks Jamie!

[@micheledavis3735]

I love this bird. I think he’s my soulmate.

[@prosesroses]

This was exactly what I did for my cockatiels! Around Easter, paper fillling/crinkle paper were on sale so I brought a whole bunch to fill their ceramic bowl. I used tissue paper to cover to make it easier and rubber band to keep it on. Still on poking holes for them tho lol.

[@lonelycactus848]

I love jinx so much hes so bubbly and happy and his woo is so cute ♡♡

[@muffinbunch]

we need this video!🤩 so helpful! thanks jamie

[@dollybelledendrobium813]

What a fabulous idea! Thank you!

[@k8h991]

This was awesome. Thank you. Good job, Jinx

[@rickabrams3422]

my CAG absolutely loves dixie cups and paper towel rolls that i've put onto a skewer. i'll then hang that in the cage in the middle on the ceiling.

[@DailyMyChildhood]

That’s so cool ! He's​ so talented 😍

[@1KITIG]

GREAT! I’m a creative guy so I LOVE creating foraging activities! SO FUN!!!

[@MCrvngraddip2013]

Love this video. Love seeing them have fun.

[@Artofthevulture]

Thank you so much for sharing all these awesome foraging ideas! I'm so inspired!

[@yamunadevi68]

Excellent, given me some great fresh ideas to try tomorrow 👍🏽

[@randomaggie6455]

Jinx is a riot! Thanks for the valuable info. Thank you for motivating everyday to be a better parront! Have a great day and you and your family stay safe!

[@jomama5186]

So nice to see so many happy babies! Another great informational enrichment video! Awesome job !!!!

[@user-ql5vz8op4p]

I’m a big fan of you and your parrots! Love from Japan💕💕💕

[@nickizcool20]

I love love love Jaime and her happy self! You are the best! Stay awesome!

[@jagathdesilva6236]

Always useful videos. 👏👏👏

[@aleblogs3348]

I love your videos!💙 It helps me so much with my little guy☺️

[@karenbrown4524]

Jinx's noggin is floofed! ❤️ Such a gorgeous dinosaur.

[@bunnytail1370]

I love that your birds are a part of the view of the toys. Its cute! And wonderful to see that they really do like the toys. Wow the toys are great!!

[@missluna]

Thank you for these amazing videos

[@cuzican1902]

This whole video just brought a smile to my face. Jinx is my favorite. He is such a character!

[@lynnspeight1609]

Great ideas!

[@terry4265]

Hello > First time I've watched you. Subscribed & Liked I use to live in Florida and had all kinds of Birds and my favorite was my African Grey which is now at Jungle Gardens in Sarasota as a Greeter. Her name is Jitters. I do miss her but hope to get another one one day. I'll be watching and Thanks for the Videos. PS : I use to raise Canaries to. :)

[@conniemuttart8601]

This is an awesome video! Thank you so much Jamie and Katie and drinks and one Bondi. You look like you had extra fun with this video Jamie.

[@sherrigodbey9244]

You are a brilliant bird trainer and bird mom!!! Thank you for this excellent demonstration!!!

[@Xen-s_dreamagination]

This is so educative. Thank you! And Jinx is so adorable 🤗 What a handsome boy 🦜 So cute how Bondi walks up to the camera and just stares 😊 💜

[@MaroArmoni]

God, I just LOVE these videos!! I'm so glad I found this channel, keep up the amazing work. Your videos are so darn addicting 😅😂😂

[@jomama5186]

This is really cool! Jinx is such a good sport and super good at doing these tutorials!

[@justbirbvideos1701]

I love these ideas! Jinx is the cutest!😊 thanks for the ideas😁

[@conniemuttart8601]

Jinxi is do adorable! I love and appreciate the knowledge! So creative

[@penelopeworsham3590]

I love learning about birds and how to care for them. Your channel is favorite.

[@lhmcd5538]

I live vicariously as I don’t have a bird and can’t have a bird. Thank you. You help me control my craving.

[@sehrishnidaimran1798]

I like your sweater, my favourite Disney movie is lion king 1 and 2

[@annarupert1465]

Thank God for you guys! I've learned SO much watching all of your videos.

[@loriw2661]

OMB!!! That Galah is absolutely gorgeous!! Also……WOW!! Her Nina Ringnecks are beautiful!

[@oscarc.2705]

You are doing a great job for the parrot owners community. Thank you

[@esterakovnatska3944]

Thank you sooooo much for the video!! I have a cockatiel and he really likes foraging boxes. I would really recommend these for smaller birds. It gives him something to chew on and me little time in peace😁 Hope you have a great day!!

[@DyannCallahan]

thanks great vid. the top of plastic coffee cups have a well for water plus a rim to sit on for babies

[@Ansonidak]

Thanks for the ideas! I've been putting a couple handfuls of aspen shavings meant for small animal bedding in a shallow 2 sq ft box and then tossing in some seeds. My green cheek conure and 3 budgies spend a lot of time rooting around in it looking for the goodies. Now will try your ideas.

[@drNadine111_MagMine]

thank you .. very helpful.

[@ellenoc50]

Thank you for these great ideas for foraging toys! I gather up bits of old foraging toys and put them in egg cartons along with some nuts. Now I'll add my Jardine's pellets in there too;) My guy loves ripping apart the egg carton.

[@cjclanwillclapyou509]

I got one of these guides they really do help

[@mikekoch9859]

thank you so much for this video! it helps alot! :)

[@keytakunce5642]

Yes! I love Jamie’s shirt 👚

[@mrsashlievlog]

I definitely will do this. ♡

[@Bianca-gx8hb]

So awesome!! Would love to see videos of blueberry !

[@ErnestineSantiago]

I have 12 budgies and 2 cockatiels, they always make me laugh and feel so grateful I also have two cats that are family to birdies lol my budgies are friendly born here but my cockatiels are new finally learning to go back in the cage after I let them get air! The girl picks at one of my budgies while he’s in the cage don’t trust her yet

[@racheladkins6060]

Love Jinx! Greetings from England! I need help with our wild flighted budgies, to tame, and help them be not afraid to sit on our fingers and come to us. We used to have tame birds, it was a great life in my youth.

[@BirdTricks]

birdtricksstore.com/collections/behaviors-and-training/products/the-budgie-bundle-budgie-course-only

[@kavinsart1655]

I have a conure and I take paper straws that don't have any dyes and I jam it with pellets and safflower seeds and she spends ages breaking them, and they r super easy and quick to make

[@staceyroberts3468]

That was a cute video ☺️☺️

[@katiebacchus3699]

Thank u so much.

[@Yunfei81]

Nice idea, parrot unboxing! 👍 🦜

[@Gupadodo]

OMG Bondi at 16:37 HAHA! It was like she was staring right at me and asking me if I was paying attention lol. Seriously though, very informative as always. Thanks for sharing!

[@dianawilson13]

Lost our grey that we had for 30 years. Really miss her and all the prep stuff like this.

[@jorgecanales798]

When I had budgies, I made a foraging for them. I intentionally made it just for them to chew on. It was made of paper, cardboard and corn husks. I simply just rolled paper, punch a hole and string it. One day I decided to put spray Millet inside some of the rolls and 20 minutes later, there was tiny pieces of paper in the floor because my budgies were looking for the millet. I also added some shredded paper just for them to pull out and they liked it a lot.

[@LadyDianeH]

Jinx looks like he is totally enjoying this

[@cyberxolim]

Jinx is so cute I love your vids

[@martinalindner8660]

Thank you, this has been so good for me to use and I love all your training tips 🥰 I have just adopted a green cheeked conure, not knowing the background makes it hard but he is definitely tame but does not know how to forage or play! Foraging is my big goal to teach because i worry that once i have to go back into the office full time (working from home atm) he will get bored and may get unhappy 😔 Could you please have a topic on how to teach playing with toys and other ideas to keep them stimulated when we have to go to work full time. Thank you so much 🌺🦜

[@crystalwashburn3611]

i love your videos and all your birds I'm a bird person usually small birds but I really want a Caique or Quaker I love the ideas on this video and thanks for all your videos love watching

[@sandraraituma]

Jinxy was such a good boi :D less distracting than usual. :D :D His mind was on the fun things on the table I guess :)

[@wwaniyaaa]

jinx is so cute❤🥰love all your videos

[@moofie1262]

First video I watch and subscribe

[@sisterluke]

Ooo great channel for birb families. I have my younger brother Sierra(before we knew it was a boy) who is a Goffins Too I’ve had since I was a child and an elderly boi(30 plus years old) Red Crowned Amazon for 10 years I adopted.

[@KathRob1994]

I need that device! 😲

[@weart1media364]

So so beautiful

[@phoebezhang1190]

I don't have a bird, but I do something a lot of rat owners do: Pea fishing! You put peas, or whatever safe vegetable for the animal you're using in a bowl of water and the rat or bird will have to slowly take out the vegetables.

[@sapphire7302]

I just came across your 2009 video with goffin cockatoo... Your little one's face resembles with your then footage face.. like mother like daughter..🥰😍

[@Dossness]

this channel is gonna pop off, as soon, as logan paul calls in because he needs help with his african grey

[@THEE.apples]

Lmao

[@imanelagami7897]

Thought I was the only one thinking this loll

[@didee86]

Lol

[@victoriapschen]

Logan paul, like most impulse-buy bird owners, will likely just sell the bird to someone else or dump it in a rescue if they find they cant handle it. I don't think someone like Logan paul would put any effort into keeping such a high maintenance animal for 60+ years.

[@abrahamlugo9582]

interesting points ,if anyone else wants to learn about how to teach a parrot try Parrot Ploy Plan (just google it ) ? Ive heard some incredible things about it and my friend got amazing success with it.

[@yolouwu5440]

9:19 He was like: uh...I don’t have anymore seeb in here, i need more mum

[@chichirodriquez5857]

I wish you sold individual I love that 3 coconut foraging Macaw toy

[@madisonsimons3058]

My Macaw was not amused by me “tricking” him. He just kept yelling hey and treat. These ideas are so much fun

[@petergiske2597]

I try this forging method but my bird is to smart som it was more forging for me hehe. He just take all stuff out of the box as fast as he could because he was so hungry🤣 Love your vidoes

[@jamilalee6722]

I often hide pellets all over my birds cage, so my bird has to search for the food and it really keeps him entertained🙂

[@BirdTricks]

jamila Lee such a great idea!

[@miriammcenroe3975]

@@BirdTricks I used to do it with my too cockatiels but well sunny would try and get mint to see where they were so then when mint found them sunny would just steal them😂😂😂😂😂I stopped cause it wasnt fair for mint

[@ShelbyTheMacaw]

Love the tips! I’m bringing home my baby macaw on Sunday. I’ve finally reached a point in my life where I’m ready to introduce one to my family having wanted one for 10 years! Currently she has 24 hour access to food, and is around 5-6 months old. I’m wondering if she will be ready for moving straight from 24 hour food access to two meals per day when she’s so young?

[@muurrarium9460]

NO! 2 meals a day is insane! They feed the birds 2 times a day (aka add food to the aviary), not just eat 2 meals! -> there will be food to find for them always (and are monitored very closely) NEVER starve a growing baby-bird. Not meant to put you down but just in my utter amazement: How can anyone have been reading up on macaw-care for 10 years and not know this? (Glad you asked though!) Birds always need to have acces to fresh drinking water and are never supposed to be completely without food! Birdtricks birds work for the extraas, not the basics to survive! Those should be there always and freely available.

[@incanusolorin2607]

muurrarium Yessss! Thanks for stating that. You should give them one or to meals of fresh vegetables, but keep pellets available throughout the day. If you can, make them forage for those pellets!

[@leef7112]

@@muurrarium9460 Free feeding parrots can have a very large negative effect on their mental and physical health. What it means to free feed is providing food all parts of the day, this includes pellets. Why is this harmful? Parrots are built to forage and work for their food but when given a large or unlimited amount of food at all times of the day or most times of the day it can do one or more of these things. • Cause major hormonal issues due to having a large access to food. If you’re doing it right you’re providing a large habitat for your parrots filled with enriching activities. Along with that, you are providing a beneficial bond. This is all spectacular, however, if you add a constant supply of food to the mix you are creating the perfect environment for a parrot to get ready and want to breed whether it’s trying to sexually bond with you, creating nests, masturbation, constant contact calling for a mate, etc. this can lead to sexual frustration in parrots which results in extreme distress which then leads to an extreme amount behavioral issues such as excessive screaming, aggressive tendencies, or even feather mutilation, feather plucking, self harming, etc. • Creates a picky bird. Providing a constant supply of food (especially the wrong types of food) can create extremely picky birds. This makes transitioning your parrot onto a new diet or a feeding schedule extremely challenging and honestly a fight. • Low motivation. Like I stated previously, parrots are made for movement, problem solving, and overall foraging. They work for their food so putting a full bowl of food in front of them eliminates the important aspect of working for their food. Whether this is through training or foraging it’s very beneficial and needed. _ _ • Health problems. Constantly providing food can lead to mental problems and physical problems. Behavioral problems like stated above (plucking, screaming, aggression, etc) become far easier to develop along with health problems such as obesity, fatty live disease, heart problem, and much more. Adding onto potential deficiencies if your diet isn’t formulated properly, like Vitamin A deficiency, Iodine deficiency, and much more. On the mental side, free feeding can lead to birds that are bored because eating is all they have and want to do, or can also lead to actual anxiety and panic if there isn’t constant access to food. Like humans, parrots too can develop eating disorders which leads to a lot of the physical issues as well. Overall, free feeding has little to no benefits. The only benefit to free feeding is the ease to us handlers because we don’t have to take the time to formulate, and create a feeding schedule and set up an abundance of training sessions or foraging opportunities. We are actually doing our beloved feather friends more harm than good with 24/7 access to food. Your parrot will not starve if you’re portioning food correctly and providing opportunities to actually work for their food. These guys are built to work for their food and providing them constant access is hindering far more both physically and mentally. I do not advise unless told BY A CERTIFIED REPUTABLE AVIAN VETERINARIAN, that you free feed. It’s far more cruel than a proper meal based system. by ap#1231

[@muurrarium9460]

@@leef7112 Thanks for the lecure, but I do not believe in half-starved parrots, just to make them more biddable and force them to give in to our demands. Mine are almost always willing to "work" because I make interacting fun for them, not because it is their only chance to "win" food and not starve. Desperation is poor motivation. I agree on the crappy, low quality food, but people should (also/ first) invest in large enough cages so birds can actually move around in them and burn of energy. Only frustrated, bored to the gills parrots overeat /scream their heads off etc.etc. Yes, feeding them in abundance (and lots of natural/artificial lights) will get them in breeding-modus, that's how nature works, we have known that for centuries. They love to explore, they will also do that without food-rewards ;) (One if mine dit a thourough inspection of the small bathroom/toilet this morning, commenting on everything he saw, having a blast! And yes, he found some toys: half a clothespin and 2 carboard rolls. And got a lot of attention as well. Did I have to 'buy/ force his coorperation with fooditems? Of course not! He had a non-stop rewarding experience and let me share it.) My rescue macaw had the weirdest (and semi-agressive) reaction to being offered a little snack. I can only assume she was offered food regularly only to have it snatched away from her last second: she used to almost pounce (even through the bars of the cage) with all the force she could muster. She flipped the moment she saw something edible on offer. It took quite a while (and quite a few bandaids) to make her understand that if I offered food, it really would end up in her beak. That nobody would be teasing/tormenting her that way ever again (well, as long as I live anyway), and nobody would starve her into submission either. Now she will happily "earn" extra special snacks for playing along, but also: there always will be some basic food in her cage / no more anxiety or food agression. I will never "make" her work for food, though of course everybody deserves a snack once in a while, some times earned, sometimes 'just because'.