Macaws and Foraging

Kendra

Regular Member
Lucy a B&G macaw is, in general a very strange girl in many ways. I have been trying to increase her foraging methods but seem to have hit a brick wall. Easy things like paper bags and lidded tubs, fine, no problem and sorted quickly and quickly becomes bored with them.. Move onto something a bit more complicated, a ball with holes (too soft and she just wrecks the ball), wooden "cage" type thing and she becomes cross and will not try. Can anyone suggest some alternative methods that are not too hard please.
 
The main foraging we use are the large metal gastronorms filled with beech chips and wooden blocks that we serve breakfast in. The trays are in their cages all day, and they go back to them periodically over the day (we can hear them playing in them, and have seen them on the cctv). We might mix in some extra pine nuts or power treats in the early afternoon which gives them the idea that they may have missed something, so they keep trying. We taught Bebe to use this as she stood on the side if it looking bewildered. Other than that, egg boxes stuffed with screwed up plain paper, or we've used small cardboard boxes (size of ring boxes) that I bought off the internet stuck in a toy or buried in their tray as an extra treat. We've also used plain paper to 'wrap' their bowls with but that lasts 2 seconds! Also giving them occasionally a full boiled egg ,or a tangerine for example, that they must peel themselves. Bebe is very methodical and will take the time to peel so precisely, that she will leave 3/4 of the egg shell or tangerine skin in tact but hollowed out. She will also leave the egg boxes mostly in tact with small holes chewed in strategic places. Gary eats like the cookie monster off sesame street and just leaves destruction behind! Bebe isn't really one for the fancy toys, and just prefers to chew up paper, leather and wood. She gets bored if she can't easily do something and walks away. Gary will have a go at the fancy foraging toys, but ultimately loses his temper and throws them about or slams them against the cage bars till they give up their prize or break! He has smashed 2 allegedly indestructible foraging puzzle toys. :nut: Other than that, there is a hanging coconut that we switch around and can stuff with paper, the problem we tend to have is that Gary angrily throws things about and any treats tends to end up lost on the very bottom of the cage. Good luck! I know they can be very difficult to please! If I think of anything else I'll add it on.
 
Thank you, you have provided plenty of ideas @MGJB, sorry but my brain had frozen. I have thought about the trays you use but where to put them has been a problem.

I did try making a ball harder for her @Michael Reynolds but she soon polished that off, shame really as it was for Chorley and I am finding foraging toys for macaws limited, but definitely going to try the suggestions, thank you
 
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