Starting our Birds on an enrichment program can be a daunting task, but it really isn’t as tricky as we think it will be. When setting up an activity, we need to think creatively & try to incorporate as many of the 5 key areas of enrichment (dietary, sensory, cognitive, social & environmental) as possible. I try to ensure that my flock receive something enriching each day, but once a week I set up a big activity that is a real adventure. These activities are the most well received & in this article we will cover how to set up one of these floor-based adventures.
The activity pictured below is just one of many possible set ups, but it’s a good place to start. It’s worth noting that Birds new to enrichment may take longer to show an interest in & explore different foods, textures & experiences- this is normal. If your Bird is reluctant, try introducing one item at a time in a more gradual process.
YOU WILL NEED
- Newspaper (no staples/ non- glossy)
- Bird sand (other types of sand are not Bird safe)
- Barley straw (high quality/ dust extracted)
- Cress plant
- Healthy sprinkles (oat, flax seed, red dari, Harrison’s pellets)
LAYOUT
- Once old substrate is removed, place fresh sheets of newspaper on the enclosure floor (over floor grill) until its completely covered (you may want to put a layer of 2-3 sheets).
- Place a decent layer of Bird sand over half of the area (ideally deep enough to give good sensory input, but not so deep that it covers their feet).
- In the other section, place a layer of barley straw.
Once these base materials are down, place a cress plant on the floor & cover the roots in either sand or straw. Then sprinkle the healthy seeds &/ or pellets around the floor for them to find. Try & make some of the sprinkles easy to find & hide others under the straw or amongst the cress plant. Having a variety of difficulty levels encourages the Bird not to give up searching but also prevents them from getting bored.
OUTCOME
All being well, the floor is then transformed into an interesting & fun adventure full of different textures, colors, things to explore & delicious flavors. This sample activity is just the beginning, once you get a feel for how activities are set up, learn what your Bird likes & discover other Bird safe materials, there is no end to the fantastic activities both you & your Birds can enjoy.
The aim of an activity is to enhance a Bird’s living environment & give them more choice over how they spend their time. Birds in barren cages or those with a few toys have very limited options, however even an occasional activity like this can introduce more interest & choice to the Bird, so many Birds don’t engage with their floor space either, this offers an encouraging & safe space for them to get their feet flat & have a good explore.
The aim should always be to improve health, so sticking to healthy food & safe materials should be of paramount importance to the caregiver. If possible, the activity should incorporate at least 2 of the 5 key areas of enrichment. If we use careful planning & creativity, it’s amazing just how many enrichment areas can be covered without making the space too busy & complicated for the Bird to enjoy. One of the main things we need to remember is that a stressed or pressured Bird can’t enjoy enrichment. Our Birds need a safe environment, plenty of encouragement, no fear of being punished for making a mess & have time free of human demand & expectation (constant stepping up & trick performing etc.) in order to have the space & freedom to explore.
KEY ENRICHMENT AREAS COVERED
DIETARY – Healthy treats that offer good nutrition to the Bird & enhances their daily diet.
SENSORY – Unique textures to interact with that will feed their sensory systems with good & novel input.
COGNITIVE – Using their minds to uncover tasty treats, choose where to go, what to nibble & how to investigate.
SOCIAL – Working as a flock to find the best treats & chewing up paper together.
ENVIRONMENTAL – Changing an otherwise barren or uninspiring part of their environment into a fun, enriching & engaging space where they can be themselves & use their natural instincts.
It really isn’t as daunting as we think. Why not try an activity yourself, what wonderful fun can you inspire?