Toys for canaries?

[KarenB]

Since I've had Steve, my timbrado, I have never noticed him wanting to get on his swing, which is what I understand they like to do. Maybe I have a weird canary. But he does hop around from perch to perch. He loves his veggies but hardly eats the varied seed mixes I've offered. Again, weird.

Should I be offering him some sort of toys, like you'd give budgies? I didn't think canaries would play with toys.

Any suggestions?

[lovezebs]

KarenB
The only two things I've ever noticed Canaries showing interest in , are swings and occasionally a mirror. They tend to becone attached to their own Image. Not sure if they think it's another Canary, or if they fall in love with themselves.

Reg. The swing... what sort of a swing is it? Is it big enough for a Canary? Some of the little finch swings are not quite big enough.

Other than that, I haven't seen or heared of Canaries playing with any toys.

~Elana~

[KarenB]

Thanks for the input. The swing I gave him was a budgie sized swing that hung from a single, centered-hook thingy. Perhaps he would prefer one that attaches to both sides so as not to swing in so many different directions. Maybe Steve is just not the daredevil type. He probably wouldn't appreciate a rollercoaster, either.

[lovezebs]

KarenB
Him and me both. Yikes!!!

~Elana~

[Atbird]

My canaries like the preening type toys for budgies. They pull on all the little extensions. They also like fleece toys and hemp rope (dog toy). That's weird how he doesn't like swings...all my canaries and fledgling love the swings, making it swing wildly in all directions by jumping into them at the fastest possible speeds

[Siobhan]

Trixie loves her swings and one toy in particular, that has beads and chunks of rawhide and unraveled cotton rope pieces. She also pecks at the bells and likes to admire herself in her mirror. She seems to enjoy watching my starling, so she has live entertainment, too.

[KarenB]

I put a little cotton rope toy with beads on it in there in case he wants something to preen or chew on, but I think he's afraid of it.

[Sheather]

My canaries love strings, yarn, and frayed sisal ropes to preen and pull at. Steve enjoys bells and mirrors as well, though Kari doesn't find them interesting.

[KarenB]

Well, Steve has gotten somewhat used to the new preening toy. I will try a bell next. Not sure about the mirror, though.

[Atbird]

Many canaries have never been exposed to toys. I was led to believe that they didn't need toys, but since mine share a cage with linnies, toys they got. At first they were afraid of them and acted as if the toys can come alive at any moment and gobble them up but they got used to them pretty fast, especially when I cipped greens/millet near the toys. Now they are the first to investigate new toys, if only to check if it's edible the fledglings I raised took right to the toys. Mostly the preen them, hang of them and jump on them.