Oh, birds just want to have fun! Toys are a staple in any birdcage, but they are not all created equal. As an avian owner, it is important to get what’s best for your bird. This article will be your guide to the 6 best bird toys you can give to your conure.
But before you fly into that product list, you’ll find some general information on the importance of toys, how to maintain them, and how to be safe about it.
Why do conures need toys?
When it comes to birds, toys are a necessity. Some owners may be surprised to learn that toys serve a variety of functions for your bird. Make sure your conure’s cage is fully stocked with toys to ensure both mental and physical well being.
It’s apparent that toys are fun for your bird. They provide lots of entertainment that helps to combat boredom. This is especially important if your conure will be left alone quite often. (We recommend to not leave your parrot alone. Here is why!)
These intelligent creatures need mental stimulation, and if you’re not there to provide it, toys will fill that role. (A second bird could also fill that role – Here are birds conures get along with!)
In addition, toys are necessary for your conure’s physical health. A bird that sits on its perch all day doing nothing will not only be bored but be inactive as well. Conures usually like to be on the move. A variety of engaging toys makes sure this will happen.
Inactive birds are at risk of losing muscle mass and developing disorders such as arthritis. Provide your conure with toys that promote lots of physical activity.
Finally, it’s important to mention that playing is a natural behavior for birds in the wild. If they are deprived of toys it inhibits their natural instincts. In nature, birds often play in puddles, toss around branches with their beaks, and chase one another.
Lots of toys, including the ones listed below, mimic this kind of behavior and will leave your bird feeling happy.
How to maintain toys in your conure’s cage
Good bird owners know that it’s not as simple as accessorizing your bird’s cage with toys and leaving it that way forever. Bird toys need care and attention as well. Listed below are some tips on how to properly maintain the toys in your conure’s cage.
Swap them out
Would you like to watch the same three episodes of your favorite TV show every time you turn on the tube? Probably not. The same goes for conures with their toys. Eventually, your bird will grow bored with the toys in its cage.
To prevent this from happening, have a rotation of toys available. So if your bird gets tired of the toys in its cage, swap them out for some old favorites or brand new ones.
Keep the toys sanitary
It’s no secret that birds are messy critters. Old food, discarded feathers, and excrement quickly end up back on those toys you just cleaned. It’s nearly impossible to keep your conure’s toys spotless at all times. However, you should regularly clean the toys to prevent excess germs.
A little dirt never hurt anybody, but try to keep the mess to a minimum.
Look for signs of wear
If your conure loves a certain toy, you’ll know because it will probably wear it down. Some owners think this means their bird has aggression but do not worry- this behavior is completely normal. However, be mindful of how worn down a toy is.
If it is more than broken in (frayed rope, wire poking out, cracked plastic) it could be hazardous to your conure. It must be removed from the cage.
Acclimate your bird to new toys
It happens all the time- you’ve ordered the perfect toy for your conure but when you put it in the cage your bird flies to the opposite side! It is discouraging, but do not accept defeat. Often birds need to be acclimated to toys. Start by placing it outside of the cage.
This allows your bird to explore its new toy without feeling overwhelmed. When your bird overcomes its fear, move it into the cage and surely your bird will take to its new home addition.
5 things to avoid when buying toys for your conure
Safety is equally important as fun when it comes to purchasing conure toys. You want to ensure your bird is enjoying its toy with no hazards. So before we delve into the list of the 6 best bird toys for conures, we’ll look at some red flags that often arise when toy shopping.
1. The product is painted
Conures find colorful toys irresistible. Make sure the colored toys you buy for your bird are dyed and not painted. Besides being toxic, paint does not permeate the toy. Instead, it leaves a coating on the outside of the toy.
Odds are, your bird will chew on the colored parts and ingest potentially toxic paint.
2. The product is constructed with glue
Similar to paint, glue should never be used in bird toys. It will also sit on the surface of your conures toy. If it’s exposed, your bird will surely chew on it and ingest those toxic parts.
3. The product is poorly made
It is best to look for top-quality products for your feathered friend. It is easy for cheaply made products to break in the middle of a play session. The toy can splinter or break into tiny bits that your conure may ingest. This is extremely dangerous since it could lead to
4. The product is the wrong size
It is important to purchase appropriately sized toys for your bird. Toys designed for smaller breeds of bird often cannot withstand the strength of larger birds. These toys can quickly break into small, hazardous pieces. In addition, make sure toys are not too big for your bird.
One major issue with too large toys is that they often contain chain links that your bird can stick its head into.
5. The product contains treated leather
Plenty of conure toys on the market contain leather parts. Be cautious about what kind of leather is on the toy. It should be vegetable tanned or untreated. Regular leather is treated in chemicals that are not safe for birds.
The 6 best bird toys for conures
Now that you have a better understanding of conures and their relationship with toys, it’s time to get into the list of the best types of toys for your pet.
1. Swinging Toys
No one is certain as to why conures love swings. Some think it is because the motion is reminiscent of swinging on a tree branch. Some think the birds just love the feeling of wind passing over their feathered bodies. Or maybe they love it for the same simple reason that we do- because it’s fun.
Whatever the reason may be, it’s known that conures go crazy for swings. Complete your bird’s cage buy purchasing one as soon as you can. We recommend the highly-rated swing set from RYPET.
This loved product is a great value because it comes with two different types of swings- a hanging rope swing and a swinging wooden platform. This is great for conures that love a variety of toys to play with.
This product comes in two sizes so it can be suitable for conures in small or large cages. The dimensions are listed on the website so it is always best to measure to make sure you are purchasing the appropriate size for your bird.
The rope swing is firmly woven which means it will not wear down quickly, as lots of rope toys do. It is crafted out of non-toxic cotton rope. If your conure loves to chew on its toys, you can have peace of mind that it will not be ingesting dangerous chemicals and dyes. The soft rope also feels great on your bird’s feet.
The swinging platform is made of natural wood, which is also safe for conures that love to chew. It is durable, easy to install, and brightly designed with non-toxic coloring. The bright colors will entice your conure to give this toy a try. To learn more about this toy, click here.
2. Noise Making Toys
Conures enjoy toys that make lots of noise. They are vocal creatures that react strongly to sound since it is natural to them. Again, think of how birds act in the wild. They sing, call to one another, and are constantly listening to the noises of the world. Naturally, conures are entertained by sound. This is why so many toys cater to this characteristic.
Noise making toys keep your bird stimulated when you are not there, and while you are there, conures often use noise-making toys to communicate with you. They use these noisy toys to grab your attention. It’s as if your conure is asking you to look at it.
While many noisy toys exist, nothing beats the classic bell toys. One exceptional bell toy from Mrlipet takes the spot on this list for its high customer satisfaction. Lots of conures adore this toy, and certainly, your bird will as well.
This product is made from high-quality stainless steel to keep your bird safe. This also makes the toy easy to clean. It can be washed with soap and water and will never rust.
The best part about this toy is that it contains not one, but three bells. Your conure can experience different quantities of sound by ringing one bell or all three. Also, each bell features a different color to provide your conure with variety.
Another bonus is that this toy is easy to install and can easily be used as an addition to other toys. To view this great toy, click here.
3. Climbing Toys
You’ve probably noticed your conure scaling the side of its cage before like Spiderman. These birds enjoy climbing all over the place- forward, backward and often upside down. This is the behavior you want to promote. This is where climbing toys come into play.
Of course, they provide your bird with enjoyment, but your conure’s bodily health will also benefit from a climbing toy. Physically interactive toys ensure your conure’s muscles and bones stay strong.
The Prevue Hendryx rope ladder is an excellent choice if you are looking for a ladder that does it all.
This toy is made of all-natural materials and offers different textures for your conure to enjoy from wood and twine. The different textures are great for your bird’s sensitive feet since they need different materials and diameters to hold on to.
Your conure will have the benefit of swinging with this toy since it can be suspended inside of the cage. For more of a challenge to your bird, hang this toy at an incline. Additionally, you can attach it to the cage by one clasp only and let it hand like a more traditional ladder.
Bird owners say this toy is durable and can be easily cleaned. To learn more about the Prevue Hendryx rope ladder, click here.
4. Enrichment Toys
One important thing to know about conures- they are highly intelligent. This means that basic bird toys don’t always cut it. Conures like toys that offer a bit of a challenge and a whole lot of mental stimulation. Let your bird use its brain power by purchasing an enrichment toy.
Enrichment toys should have a goal for your conure to achieve. It just so happens your bird can get some goals with the Womdee Bird Training Toy
This toy replicates a basketball hoop and comes with a variety of balls that your conure will love to throw through the hoop. It is made from durable plastic so it can withstand aggressive play.
This toy is excellent for your bird’s mental health since it is stimulating. It promotes creative thinking as well as entertainment. Furthermore, your conure will get lots of exercise playing with this toy. They can use both beak and feet to pick up the balls and make some slam dunks.
The toy is brightly colored and will attract your conure. Once it figures out how to get the ball in the hoop, your conure will not stop playing with this toy.
You can get the Womdee Bird Training Toy here.
5. Chewable Toys
Some conures have a knack for shedding and chewing. It’s common for birds in the wild to shred leaves and branches. It’s a great way to keep those beaks healthy. But bird may also love to chew because it is fun.
If this sounds like your conure, it is best to get a toy that fosters this behavior. It can also prevent your bird from chewing on toys that aren’t meant to be chewed, or tearing up paper that wasn’t supposed to be torn. If you don’t want to use the excuse that your bird ate your homework, then invest in some chewable toys, like the Wesco Bird Kabob.
Pet parents rave about the Wesco Bird Kabob. These shreddable, biodegradable wooden blocks come in a four-pack, which is useful since these toys obviously won’t last forever.
It is made from soft yucca wood that appeals to your conure’s natural instincts. Since it is soft, it is not to harsh on your conure’s beak.
A tip for this toy is to not hang a whole stand of wooden blocks in the cage at one time since your conure may chew through it in a day. Instead, cut the toy into smaller blocks and offer your bird one to three blocks a day. It will fulfill your conure’s daily chewing needs while making the product last longer.
You can get the Wesco Bird Kabob here.
6. Foraging Toys
One way to combat boredom is to work, and if you’re a bird, nothing is better than working for some treats. This is the exact purpose of a foraging toy. It is a feeder and a puzzle all in one.
Conures benefit from the mental stimulation of trying to figure out how to obtain their tasty treats. They can spend hours examining foraging toys and working to get the reward inside.
Vets recommend foraging toys in combination with a regular food bowl. Those standard food bowls can become too routine and boring for your bird. Foraging toys, however, emulate searching for food in the wild.
If you’re looking for a mildly challenging foraging toy for your conure, then look no further than the Tropical Chickens Boredom Buster Forage Box.
This toy features three acrylic containers with varying cut-outs for your bird to access treats. The first container features a lid your bird must remove to get to its food.
All the materials used are bird safe, so your conure can chew on this toy all it wants.
Also, this toy is enjoyed by conures so much that they choose to play with it even if there is no food inside. You can get the Boredom Buster here.
