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Are you looking for toys for your cockatiels? These smart birds need daily mental and physical stimulation. They also need to engage in activities like foraging, shredding, and nesting. This is why you need the best toys for cockatiels to prevent boredom among these hookbill birds.
You are sure to find a wide range of cockatiel bird toys. In fact; the sheer variety available is likely to confuse you.
Worry not! To make matters easier, we are enlisting seven best-selling, top-rated, and safe bird toys for your cockatiels. We have also included the pros and cons of each toy, so you can make an informed choice.
Best Toys for Cockatiels – 2023 Top 7 Picks
1. Our Top Picks – Prevue Hendryx Pet Products Coco Hideaway with Ladder Bird Toy
- Naturals toys are handmade from 100-percent natural, sustainable, materials
- Your bird will benefit from hours of mental stimulation and rugged physical play
- A variety of natural textures encourages foot and beak exercise
- Connects to cage easily with quick-link attachment
Our top pick in the list of the best toys for cockatiels is this cute coconut toy by Prevue Hendryx Pet Products (a reliable brand in pet toys). It is made from 100% natural and sustainable materials (including hevea branches, coconut coir, and sisal rope).
The toy acts as a hideout for your birds and encourages nesting activity. It also comes with a ladder attached- which is sure to encourage your bird to climb and perch. Your cockatiels will get plenty of beak and foot exercise thanks to this well-designed cockatiel bird toy.
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The Prevue Hendryx coconut toy also comes with links on both ends for convenient hanging (you can attach other hanging toys to the bottom part of the coconut for more variety). It is also durable and sturdy, and thousands of bird owners have given this toy stellar reviews and positive ratings.
How it Compares
The Prevue Hendryx Coconut Toy with Ladder is a must-have accessory for cockatiel cages. It is well-made, attractive, and just the right size for most standard bird cages.
The fact that it is made with 100% natural materials indicates that it is safe and non-toxic. The toy also encourages hiding, nesting, and perching activities in birds and is sure to mentally stimulate your cockatiel. The price is slightly higher, but worth it.
2. Best Value for Money – Deloky 7 Packs Bird Parrot Swing Chewing Toys
- ✔ What you get :Package include 7 pieces of different types wood bird entertaining toys arranged in multiple layers to climb, chew and explore.She will love bouncing around from toy to toy getting her exercise.
- ✔ Multi-function bird toy: they are designed to let your bird's feet have rest while also offer exercise opportunities for your birds. Provides your little bird an ideal elevated place to swing, chew and climb.
- ✔ Easy to install : All parakeet cage accessories toy come with an active hook that simply attaches to the top of the pet cage for easy installation.
- ✔ safe material: our cage toys are made of safe materials and 100% handmade,safe to use,provides a fun elevated place to climb.
Many cocktail owners prefer buying a set of toys to accessorize their bird’s cages. This set of safe bird toys from Deloky comes with 7 different hanging toys, so you can rotate your cockatiel toys and stimulate your pets physically and mentally. The toys have different designs and materials – all safe and sturdy.
Your birds will love chewing, perching, climbing, and swaying on these hanging toys. All of these toys for cockatiels come with hanging hooks, so they are ready for use instantly.
All seven toys are 100% handmade, safe to use, and sure to provide your birds with a fun, elevated place to climb. The 7 pieces of different types of wood bird entertaining toys are also arranged in multiple layers to encourage your birds to climb, chew, and explore.
How it Compares
The Deloky set of 7 bird toys is a great set to buy for your smart cockatiels. Though the toys may be slightly small for larger cockatiels, they should be perfect for small-sized ones. They encourage physical and mental activity in your birds, and the set is also reasonably priced.
3. Best Shredder “Bird-Catnip” Toy for Cockatiels – Wesco Pet Mini Bird Kabob
- Satisfies the instinctual need to chew
- Made from soft fibrous pithy wood that is irresistable to hookbill birds
- Biodegradable
- The original shreddable bird toy
Even birds need “bird catnip”, and this kabob toy is exactly like “catnip” for your cockatiels. Wesco’s cockatiel toy is made from soft, fibrous, pithy wood and can be described as the “original” bird shredder toy. No wonder even veterinarians recommend this chewing/shredder toy.
Your cockatiels will love perching, shredding, climbing, and swaying on these toys. The Wesco bird kabob toy is also sure to encourage beak and foot exercise in your lovely birds. These toys are also available in different sizes.
How it Compares
Veterinarians recommend Wesco’s Mini Kabab Bird Toy to encourage many instinctual behaviors in pet hookbill birds like cockatiels. The toy is made using soft, safe wood and is ideal for shredding, chewing, perching, and swinging. Your cockatiel is sure to love it. It is also reasonably priced and great for gifting to other cockatiel owners.
4. Best Chew Toy for Birds – Bonka Bird Toy Sola Atta Balls
- Sola Atta balls are 100% bird-safe; measuring about (2.00) inches in diameter
- This bird toy pack includes (3) Sola Atta balls
- The sola balls are great for other small pets providing a safe, natural chew material
- The sola material is soft, spongy, and easy for pets to bite with their beak and grab with their feet
Cockatiels love to grab and hold toys with their feet and chew them with their sharp beaks. These natural behaviors encourage foot and beak exercise and mentally stimulate the birds.
These Bonka toys consist of sola atta balls (made from the Sola plant or Aeschynomene Aspera plant). They are soft, spongy, safe, eco-friendly, and non-toxic and they are sure to encourage chewing and foraging behavior in your cockatiels.
These behaviors are important for your bird’s mental and physical well-being. Each set comes with three Sola Atta balls in an attractive presentation. The balls are also useful for other pets like rabbits, or you can use them in craft projects.
How it Compares
Bonka Bird Toy Balls are soft, chewy, and irresistible to cockatiels. They are safe and natural and encourage chewing and shredding behaviors in birds. These Sola Atta balls are fun to shred, but they don’t last too long. This means you’d need to buy several of them, which makes them expensive.
5. Best Attractive Toys for Birds- EBaokuup 3 Pack Bird Chewing and Foraging Shredder Toy
- Safe To Play: It is made of wood, rattan which is safe to chew, sanitary.
- Keep Active: Chewing and shredding is a natural behavior that is associated with foraging and nesting, which promotes your bird’s physical and emotional active as well giving you piece of mind.
- Best toys: The Parrot Cage Shredder Toy is entertaining onto to keep birds busy for a long period and they do enjoy playing with it as it is stuffed with crinkly paper.
- ATTENTION:It is normal that small part of this kind colored paper scraps may fall off. You should be careful to consider buying this type of toy since you mind.
This set of toys from EBaokuup is made from rattan, wood, and crinkly paper. They come in attractive colors that enhance your pet’s decor.
Your cockatiels will have a great time playing with these toys. The best part is that they will keep your birds engaged in active play and encourage instinctual behaviors. This is important for their physical and mental well-being.
How it Compares
These cockatiel bird toys from EBaokuup are brightly colored and sure to catch your cockatiel’s attention. The toys have crinkly paper, rattan, and wood construction. This makes them safe for your birds. However, most birds will rip or shred them apart in hours, making them expensive.
6. Best Toy Swing/Perch for Cockatiels – Super Bird Creations SB747 Mini Flying Trapeze Bird Toy
- FOR SMALL BIRDS – The Mini Flying Trapeze bird toy by Super Bird Creations is the perfect size for perfect size for Parrotlets, Parakeets, Cockatiels, Lovebirds and similarly sized pet birds.
- DESIGN FEATURES – This bird toy is crafted with a seagrass mat suspended by colorful plastic chain decorated with fun to explore toy parts. Utilizing a diverse selection of stimulating materials, colors, textures and shapes make Super Bird Creations toys of maximum interest to pet birds.
- ENRICHMENT BENEFITS - the Mini Flying Trapeze meets numerous enrichment needs. The easy to replace seagrass mat is a favorite of many birds to chew. The swinging platform promotes exercise, helps to develop coordination and balance skills and also provides a comfortable alternative rest area.
- RELIEVES BOREDOM – Properly designed bird toys are more than “just toys”. Super Bird Creations parrot toys are “Playthings with a Purpose” that help to ward off boredom, depression, aggression and destructive behaviors in parrots by stimulating physical activity, curiosity and mental engagement.
Most cockatiels love to perch, swing, and sway. This is the behavior they show in their natural habitats. Therefore, it makes sense to provide your pet cockatiel with a swing toy in its cage. This attractive swing from Super Bird Creations is sure to delight your little trapeze artists.
Your cockatiels will love the swing, which features a sturdy seagrass mat suspended by a colorful plastic chain. There are several small toys attached to the chain. This variety of materials, textures, and colors will stimulate your cockatiels and keep them mentally engaged. Moreover, playing, perching, and swinging, will keep them happy and entertained for hours.
Last but not least, the swinging platform promotes exercise, helps to develop coordination and balance skills, and also provides a comfortable alternative rest area for your little cockatiels.
How it Compares
Super Bird Creations Mini Flying Trapeze Toy comes in several textures, colors, and surfaces that are attractive to cockatiels. Your bird will have a great time perching and swinging on it. The toy is reasonably priced.
7. Best Puzzle Toy for Birds for Hiding Treats- Planet Pleasures Pineapple Foraging Toy
- Say "No" To Bird Boredom With The Pineapple Piñata
- The Irresistible Colors, Textures And Shapes Will Give Their Beak A Treat And Keep Them Entertained For Hours
- Hand-Woven From , Natural Palm Leaf And Packed Full Of Palm Leaf For More Foraging Fun
- Package Dimensions: 9.0" L X 3.0" W X 3.0" H
Planet Pleasure’s pineapple shredder puzzle treat toy will prevent boredom in your birds. Its irresistible colors, textures, and shape are very attractive to cockatiels, who will spend hours shredding and playing with this foraging toy. You can even add pieces of bird treats to encourage your cockatiels to search, forage, and shred the toy.
The safe bird toy is handmade using natural palm leaves and is also stuffed with palm leaf pieces. Your birds will be reminded of their natural habitat with this great toy.
How it Compares
Your cockatiels will love this pineapple toy. The toy has several flaps to hide treats. Your birds will also love the colors, textures, and shapes of the cute toy. However, it does finish quickly, which makes it slightly expensive, but it’s totally worth it to see the joy it gives your birds!
What Toys Do Cockatiels Prefer?
Cockatiels prefer the following cockatiel toy ideas:
- Foraging or puzzle toys- these toys can be used to hide bird treats in their flaps. Your pet will be encouraged to think and spend several happy hours searching for those treats.
- Crinkly shredding toys – In the wild, cockatiels shred wood and tree bark to keep their claws strong and also exercise their beaks and feet. Paper-based crinkly toys encourage these natural actions.
- Chew toys – these sharpen their beaks and also provide exercise for your cockatiels.
- Hideouts and perches – Since cockatiels love perching, nesting, swinging, and climbing in the wild, these toys can entertain your pets and also let them rest or hide when stressed.
Always look for toys made with safe, sturdy metal (non-coated), wood, acrylic, rope, or palm leaves, etc.
What Toys Are Unsafe for Cockatiels?
Safety should be your top concern when selecting cockatiel toys. Thankfully, most bird toy manufacturers are careful about safety and design toys that won’t harm or hurt your buddies in any way.
Avoid the following types of toys when selecting the best cockatiel toys:
- Toys that could get feathers/tails/head caught – Look for toys that are devoid of tiny vents, narrow spaces, or nooks that could trap the birds’ feathers, tails, beaks, or feet. Similarly, avoid toys with large spaces where the bird’s head could get stuck.
- Chemical/toxic toys – paper-based toys with colors, prints, or metal toys with chemical coatings can be toxic to birds if swallowed.
- Sharp toys – Avoid toys with soldered or galvanized metal chains or hooks that could hurt your birds or damage their wings, beaks, and feet.
FAQs
Do cockatiels need toys in their cage?
Yes, vets recommend adding plenty of toys inside your cockatiel’s enclosure. These birds need to chew, forage, and shred to exercise their beaks and feet. Toys are also important to prevent boredom and mentally stimulate these smart birds.
Do cockatiels need a lot of toys?
Cockatiels don’t need too many toys, but it is important that pet owners provide a variety of toys for their birds. You can even rotate toys to prevent boredom among these intelligent birds. Toys are important to encourage instinctive habits in these birds, so you must provide them with different toys regularly.
Conclusion
There is no doubt cockatiels need toys to prevent boredom, remain entertained, and even get some exercise. High-quality toys also encourage natural behaviors such as climbing, foraging, shredding, perching, etc.
We recommend The Prevue Hendryx Coconut Toy with Ladder as it is well-made, attractive, and just the right size for most standard bird cages.
- Naturals toys are handmade from 100-percent natural, sustainable, materials
- Your bird will benefit from hours of mental stimulation and rugged physical play
- A variety of natural textures encourages foot and beak exercise
- Connects to cage easily with quick-link attachment
If your cockatiels need variety in toys, go for The Deloky set of seven bird toys. They are sure to encourage physical and mental activity in your birds, and they are also reasonably priced.
- ✔ What you get :Package include 7 pieces of different types wood bird entertaining toys arranged in multiple layers to climb, chew and explore.She will love bouncing around from toy to toy getting her exercise.
- ✔ Multi-function bird toy: they are designed to let your bird's feet have rest while also offer exercise opportunities for your birds. Provides your little bird an ideal elevated place to swing, chew and climb.
- ✔ Easy to install : All parakeet cage accessories toy come with an active hook that simply attaches to the top of the pet cage for easy installation.
- ✔ safe material: our cage toys are made of safe materials and 100% handmade,safe to use,provides a fun elevated place to climb.
You could also consider the vet-recommended Wesco’s Mini Kabab Bird Toy to encourage hookbill birds like cockatiels to chew and shred.
- Satisfies the instinctual need to chew
- Made from soft fibrous pithy wood that is irresistable to hookbill birds
- Biodegradable
- The original shreddable bird toy
Do check out our other recommendations as well.