Customer Reviews

Parrot-Toys and Play Areas : How To Put Some Fun Into Your Parrot's Life

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Having been graced with companion parrots for more than 15 years, I was worried this text might be more geared toward the new parrot owner, and I would find it elementary.

Not so. There are numerous hand-made toys and play areas in my home, but I found the ideas in this book very inspiring. Sometimes it takes new eyes to spark the creative juices, and this book did just that. Thanks, ladies!

If you think you can bring a parrot home and toss him in a cage and throw him a few vegetables and seeds everyday, and he will entertain you in return, guess again. Parrots are smart, and you are setting yourself up for a very large hassle if you don't take the time to find out just how smart they are (they can talk and understand what they say). D'Arezzo and Shannon-Nunn reveal just how smart these birds are by providing a very good overview of what bird owners need to do to keep their pet parrots entertained. That's right, the bird may entertain you, but the price you will pay or suffer the consequences is entertaining the bird. PARROT TOYS AND PLAY AREAS includes all sorts of toys-noisemakers, destructible and non-destructible toys, puzzles, preeners, push-`n-pull toys and plenty of other items that will lead you to believe you don't own a parrot, you own a three-year-old going on 12.

Not all toys must be hand-made. The bird owner can find toys ready made at a local pet supply outlet. Some items made for other purposes also serve as parrot toys. Dog rawhide, whisk brooms, and cotton mop heads can be purchased at your local grocery or pet store. Wireless clothes pins are a little bit more difficult to locate, but can be found in craft stores. Plastic chains can be found in hardware stores. The list of toys provides a clue. Parrots like to dismantle things. D'Arezzo and Shannon-Nunn suggest if you don't provide them things they can destroy you can expect them to destroy other things-like your furniture for example. Bringing a parrot home is not so different from bringing a puppy home.

I am an owner of 5 parrots. I especially love golden rule #6 and I exercise this daily with my birds (patience and understanding with creativity). Having a guide and help with daily issues allows us to have a happier bird and less behavioral problems.

Overall, I appreciate this book and its pratical approach. The steps are easy to follow when making toys and play areas. I love the humor and cartoons that are included and feel that all suggestions are at a level anyone can accomplish with ease and patience.

I would like to thank the authors for bringing us a very down to earth book for parrot owners.

Jeannette Cadorette Colorado

These authors KNOW PARROTS! This book is jammed with creative ideas for delightful (and appropriate) parrot toys. Its "how-to" instructions, information about various species, and insights into the purpose of toys (such as fulfilling a parrot's need to chew, preen, and manipulate) make it a wonderful resource. It has something for every budget and every pet bird. After following its explicit step-by-step instructions for making a parrot "adventure station" (materials about $30), I have something far more usable and versatile than many of the trees that cost hundreds. (All my Amazon knows is life has become a LOT more fun!)

This book includes playgyms of all sizes of birds and toys for all bird personalities (the buzzsaw, the cuddler, etc.). It made toymaking and playgym building nearly painless! The instructions clear and they even give you shopping checklists and estimated costs!!!! I was able to make a HUGE playgym for my Military macaw for about $50 (not including toys) in a Saturday afternoon all by myself with just a chop saw and a rubber mallet (see my photos under customer photos). Compare this to a small, wobbly PVC playgym that I paid $200 for and had to wait 6 weeks for delivery. Oscar (our birdie) loved his gym so much that I made a smaller version for indoors so he doesn't have to be cage-bound when the weather is bad. After I made the first one, customizing is a breeze.

I work for a companion bird education/adoption organization and we recommend this to all of our members, but I didn't really appreciate it until I built something for myself.

This is one of the most useful parrot books I have purchased for day-to-day life with my parrots. "Parrot-Toys and Play Areas" breaks down toy ideas into different groups based on the parrots size and play style (play styles, as used in this book, are fully explained). Finally some ideas for my little guy who doesn't seem to like toys! And plenty of new things to try for my bigger birds that are hard to keep in toys - without breaking my budget! There are many wonderful sites on the internet for making parrot toys, this book will help you choose the toys that are best for your fid (feathered kid). "Parrot-Toys and Play Areas" will also serve as a springboard for your own new ideas. It will earn it's place on your bookshelf many times over - a must have for people owned by parrots!

I am the owner of three parrots. I have spent much money to keep them occupied with the toys I know they love. This book has enabled me to keep a continual supply of their favorite toys on hand and even try a few new ones, and my feathered friends have loved everyone of them. I can keep them happy and occupied and save money at the same time. What more can you ask for?

The book is easy to read, and the anecdotes are full of humor. The author is clearly a person who cares for her parrots. From the cover, one would expect to find photos inside, but there are none. The lack of photos is a negative point. The what-to-buy lists are useful, and there are many objects and 'things' that can be found around the house that make amazing parrot-toys, all for free! The book is full of ideas and hints, and every time I go to the shops now, my eye seems to catch something that would be great for Bob (my African Grey). Baby toys are very expensive, and made of a very hard plastic that Bob will explore once, but then discard for one of his more 'manageable' rubber toys that I made from hints in the book. A useful and worthwhile book for parrot-owners, but a book that a number of parrot-friends can share.

This book is awesome. Im always looking for "unique" parrot books. Most of them offer the same ol', same ol' stuff dealing with the exact same beginner topics. And I certainly dont care to get a breeder book (not into breeding birds). Theres not many authors out there who will venture into a "niche" area of the bird world - but this one struck it JUST right! I dont think theres a book of its equal in the parrot book market. It offers EXCELLENT suggestions and is well written and catagorized. The black and white cartoons in there also add funny humor that any bird owner will appreciate. Theres even a section in the back with instructions and a list of items needed to build a wonderful PVC birdie stand!

I use this book all the time as a reference tool when my Quaker Parrot gets a bit bored. :) The sections on "cheap" and "home made" toys comes in handy as well (not to mention - a great money saver since store bought toys are SOOO expensive!).. :-D

Any "more experienced" parrot owner who is tired of buying books that deals with the same "been there done that" topics should get this book. In fact, ANY parrot owner should get this book no matter what. All parrots need fun in their life. :)

I enjoyed this book it had great ideas. Some things had me saying, wow I could've thought of that !. Great play gym designs. While I didn't follow one exactly it empowered me to create my own play gym rather than buy one. I wish i'd read this before buying the first play gym for my amazon for $150 ! I spend about $20-$30 to build the second one for my B&G macaw based on the ideas I found in this book