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So, my female peach-faced is a plucker. She has been plucking for about 8 months now
Anyway, yesterday, my mom and I decided that the cage needed a REAL clean (not just a bedding change), so I got right down to it and scrubbed the heck out of it. We also bought $100 worth of toys and a heat lamp.
First off, I am VERY pleased with the heat lamp. It is the type used for reptiles and we keep it on a very low setting. It emits light but it is the low red light used for nocturnal animals, so I don't believe it will damage their eyes. Our house gets drafty and can be cold, so I think it is a good investment for the winter months. It sits on top of the cage in one corner so the birds can 'escape' the warmth if they don't feel like it. Last night, the two of them bathed in their new bathtub and immediately perched beneath the lamp while they preened and snuggled. It was so cute!
On to the amazing toy!
Ok, so I recently read an article that really emphasized how important foraging is for parrots. The article even went so far as to say it was MORE important than playing. When I went shopping, I found this:
http://www.24parrot.com/images/articles/Foraging_Holder.jpg
And WOW. Instead of using their cardboard, I used a toilet paper roll (the round piece of cardboard) and poked a couple holes in it. After 20 minutes of bribing them to check it out, the pair figured out it was filled with treats and ripped larger holes and really dug away at it. My plucker, who rarely touches toys, worked on it for upwards of an hour.
I highly recommend it!
Anyway, yesterday, my mom and I decided that the cage needed a REAL clean (not just a bedding change), so I got right down to it and scrubbed the heck out of it. We also bought $100 worth of toys and a heat lamp.
First off, I am VERY pleased with the heat lamp. It is the type used for reptiles and we keep it on a very low setting. It emits light but it is the low red light used for nocturnal animals, so I don't believe it will damage their eyes. Our house gets drafty and can be cold, so I think it is a good investment for the winter months. It sits on top of the cage in one corner so the birds can 'escape' the warmth if they don't feel like it. Last night, the two of them bathed in their new bathtub and immediately perched beneath the lamp while they preened and snuggled. It was so cute!
On to the amazing toy!
Ok, so I recently read an article that really emphasized how important foraging is for parrots. The article even went so far as to say it was MORE important than playing. When I went shopping, I found this:
http://www.24parrot.com/images/articles/Foraging_Holder.jpg
And WOW. Instead of using their cardboard, I used a toilet paper roll (the round piece of cardboard) and poked a couple holes in it. After 20 minutes of bribing them to check it out, the pair figured out it was filled with treats and ripped larger holes and really dug away at it. My plucker, who rarely touches toys, worked on it for upwards of an hour.
I highly recommend it!