Its come to my attention how astonishing few people supply enuf of play toys for our birds to relieve stress and boredom in their cages or play time out ...some birds dont even get much out time and still dont have enuf toys to divert their stress levels while in their cages

birds need toys in the cage ALL THE TIME...and they DONT need to have favorite toys removed to present new ones ...that also causes stress its like losing a best friend...leave favorite toys in.... the ones they DONT use swap out or give to someone whose bird might like it..

but dont just for asthetic purposes have little to no toys in a cage...

you do things to stay busy during a day well they need to be doing something as well probably the busiest creatures right off the top of my head are ants ...bees...and BIRDS...

supply them with toys keep them happy and occupied its every bit as important as a large cage....clean cage...good food...clean water...and a safe zone...

if your bird is bored its gonna sooner or later develope health or stress issues...

the toys they like best are the noisey ones...bells or hanging something against the bars of the cage so they can bang them...toys they can flip about and toss...

watch out for toys with chains make sure the links are not so tiny that a toenail or toe can get caught up in them...or certain types of bells where this can happen also....if your worried about some toys go to a CRAFT STORE like MICHAELS or something and buy beads an sisal string and things to make your own its cheaper that way too then buying just a few off the internet ..get bells ...beads...popsicle sticks ..buttons but for gosh sakes put toys in the cage for them...SEVERAL and DONT REMOVE them unless they are something they never play with

also give them a month or so to figure them out if your not showing them what to do with a toy daily ...they dont see toys in the wild...or a nest box...or fledgeling cage.... remember that you need to teach them how to use them....

buy a few dowels drill holes in the ends of them then thread some sisal with beads and make a swing ...if you use your imagination and build something in front of them they will watch and almost right away want to investigate what your doing making that toy interesting right from its inception...so much you can do...with very little money or effort ...no reason our birds shouldnt be happy and playing and active constantly....

if your bird is mostly sulking or puffed up or just not active and dont seem to have much of a appetite its not the birds fault...ITS YOU.......make life a joyful place for your friend...and it will pay you back with many hours of silliness that will make YOU happy too.

now if your bird is SPOILED ...GIGGLE...THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO YOU!!!!

P.S.
id rather have a cage overcrowed with toys where you have to look for the bird thru the toys and find a chirping happy bird then not to see much for toys at all

I totally agree. As you can see in Bob's pic a variety of toys. I NEVER take that swing out. It is so much a favorite. I have 10 toys and I rotate them. We swap out once a week, sometimes twice a week.

Bob gets so excited and he jumps on the toys coming into his cage before I can even attach them. Cage cleaning or rearrange or toy swap out days are his favorite.

I try to make sure he has 4 toys plus the swing and we rearrange the rope perch and the cement perch for different play angles and he loves it.

When his cage is open he has floor toys and a ladder in the door opening to swing on, and boy he goes at it.

I do believe that is one of the reasons Bob is such a little pistol and is so well adjusted. Toys and play make a very happy bird!

I'm with ya'll on this! I need to get Yoshi some more toys! Right now, I think I'm his favorite one! LOL

Yessss! good one illusive. TOYS TOYS TOYS!!!
Toys are so very important. Our birds are so intelligent and active. They NEED lots of toys, different types, to keep their busy minds and bodies happy and stimulated.

I too leave a couple of their most favorites in their cage at all times. One of which is the same swing Bob is so in love with, of which we have 2 of. Their other fav is a shiny disco ball with a bell at the bottom, and a toy made from weaved palm leaves in star shapes i hung a bell from. They ARE like old friends, things they can depend on to be there when they are locked in their cage and bored.
Other toys I switch out every couple days.
Another thing they really like is an old birdy tub that they never liked for a tub..it's tub shaped and has a mirror at the bottom. Waaay too small for an actual BATH i put cat balls n beads and wads of paper in it and they love to toss everything OUT of it.

Here is a very easy homemade toy that my 2 enjoy. http://www.budgieplace.com/diy_cloud.html Yu might want to start out with a small "cloud" so as not to scare them
There are other toy ideas on that site also if you click on back to DIY page at the bottom.
I DO NOT endorse all the toy suggestions. Some I DO NOT like for safety reasons. Be responsible and use good judgement when choosing materials!!

Another simple thing they enjoy is a few pony beads wrapped in a little piece of paper and twisted closed to hold the beads in. They like tearing in to the paper to get the beads out.
Use your imaginations to come up with entertaining and mind stimulating activities/boredom busters. Makes for happy buddies

I made the cloud for Cheeko and he never touched it but Yoshi loves it!

One question about favorite toys. I recently gave Chippy a fake plastic bird on a spring. He immediately fell in love with it. I was happy about that till I saw that he was showing his love in a very physical way. Now if it was the occasional love fest I wouldn't care, but he became nearly obsessive with this little bird. Waaay too much for my thinking. What to do???

nothing ...its normal...let him work out his frustrations and be a normal male...better to it than to you and good he is a HE instead of a she...its like regurging ...its normal ...Cappy has had a few toys thru the last 18mos ive had given him that he showed his affections too...first one being a little plastic bubble toy that comes from those kids vending machines with a couple beads in it and a string thru it that kksuns sent to cappy...

another was a bird like you describe...but he has had a few is my point...

this is him in moult with a stumpy tail butt giggle getting down loooowwww and jiggy and just doing the happy dance HIS STYLE

LOL Yeah, jiggy is a good word for it. Ok then, I feel better about it. I knew he was behaving in a normal way for a young male, but I wasn't sure he wasn't doing it a bit too much. Thanks Illusive. Can you tell me if they grow out of this?

yep when they die lol

rofl @ Gettin jiggy HA! Yep, Levi has a thing for that swing I mentioned above. mm hmm good times. LOL
Anyway, that started when i think he was around 8 or 9 mos old? And he is now going on 3 and still at it so....
Don't be surprised Jeanne if Chippy starts regurgitating to certain toys soon if not already. IDK if they alll do,I think not, but Levi certainly does.. and that started at around 8 or 9 mos also.

Ziggy on the other hand does neither so go figure

Shup illusive