Something happened today that has prompted me to write this post tonight. I met a lady who told me she doesn't need to give her birds toys as they enjoy each other's company. That may be so but what I want to explain here is that toys are not just for entertainment.

If you find your bird is not playing with its toys, you should try different types of toys until you find one he will play with. There are many different types of toys on the market and some very simple alternatives to toys that you can make at home.

Toys are for more than just entertainment. Yes they are great to keep our birds occuppied while we tend to our daily lives but they also have other purposes. They also provide much needed exercise and stimulation for our feathered friends. Depending on our birds needs there are preening toys, foraging toys, swings, ladders, string and rope toys, beads and wooden block toys, the list is endless.

The most important thing toys provide is exercise for our birds. They help keep their feet nimble and well toned. They help with beak conditioning to help them from over growning and to get rid of the enamel buildup that should shed off.

Toys also can stop certain negative behaviours from developing and can assist is removing over preening and plucking as it can be a substitute to those behaviours.

Foraging toys help to keep their little minds occupied and helps by imitating a more natural environment for them as they would have to forage for food in the wild.

An easy foraging toy would be to take a small bowl of clean pebbles and mix their hard food in with the pebbles. The birds will have to move the pebbles around to access their food. This helps with beak conditioning. It is also good for birds that show a fear of toys as this can be done right in their food bowls. The pebbles should be easily moveable by the bird but big enough that they can't swallow them accidently. You also want to make sure that they can see some of their food through the pebbles so they know the food is there. Make sure to observe your bird to ensure he is getting enough food to eat and that he or she is eating with the seeds in the bowl. They may not catch on right away and could take a day or two.

Other foraging toys can easily be bought or made where treats are placed in drilled out pieces of wood, wrapped in paper, stuffed inside kongs. There are many things that can be used to create foraging toys.

Over preeners can use newspapers weaved between the bars of their cage, or feather toys, straws make a great toy for snippers as it imitates the same tactile feeling they would get from snipping their feathers. Cheap dollar store face clothes can be great for preeners also. Just make sure to snip off the loose threads so they don't get wrapped around toes and legs.

There as many different types of toys for different birds needs. Keep trying different toys until you find the ones that work for your birds.

There are many species of parrots that are dusty by nature. We hear over and over again of people using frequent baths to try to control the dust. Some silly humans have even created bath products to help keep the dander down! What needs to be remembered is that the dust is there for a reason! Our birds produce dust because they need it! So should we be removing it? NO!

All parrots produce keratin which is material that sheaths the feathers. As the feathers mature the keratin dries and becomes brittle and bird preen away the keratin to allow the new feather to open. Some produce keratin more than others. It is a protective coating that helps to waterproof the birds feathers. It may also have other protective qualities that we are not aware of.

Cockatiels, oockatoos, african greys, are classified as powder down birds. They create more keratine that other species.

Some people are highly allergic to keratin and some even hypersensitive to keratin which can result in asthma, allergies or breeders lung.

We have had several set of parrotlets dropped off to us due to the owners being allergic. Parrotlets are the smallest of the parrot family so size does not matter!

Although it can be annoying, it is something we need to learn to live with if we are going to keep parrots. There are however a few tricks that may help to keep the dust levels down for those of us that are not allergic but like to keep powder down birds as pets.

A hepa filter system will help to clean the air around the area of the birds and will make a healthier environment for everyone. It should help keep the dust levels down as long as the hepa filter is changed regularly.

When changing your birds news papers or cage liners, spray them with water first. This will help to keep the dust from dissipating into the air when the papers are stirred. Make sure to toss the paper in the garbage and tie up the bag right away.

Daily baths will help but never use soap on your birds even if it claims it is safe for birds! Don't forget to change your furnace filter often also.

All these things will create a cleaner environment for both you and your birds.