KONG...Fantastic toy for a Bored PARROT.... (Bird Kong Toy)

Member Name: The-ex-Raven

Product:	Bird Kong Toy
Date:	14/01/08 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Provides entertainment, is a challenging rewarding toy, and durable

Disadvantages: Haven't found any.

Kong Toy

Now most pet owners out there should have by now come across the Kong toy for Dogs, if not then basically it's a rubber round 'cone' shaped hollow toy you can stuff with treats to keep your furry friend busy.
The Kong company has been established since 1976 raising the standard of durability for dog toys, and these days has a large selection of products not just for dogs but for cats, birds, ferrets and horses too.

One of the few toys that came with my Bird was a kong but it hadn't had much use, which was a real waste and a shame as now its one of Birds favorite things to do.
For those who read my review about my African Grey parrot or if you own a bird yourself you will know what a big problem bird boredom can be, there are stacks of different parrot toys to choose from and knowing which ones going to provide the most amusement isn't always easy.
I believe the best toys are either shredding and destroyable ones or ones like the Bird Kong which involve making an effort for food and treats !

The Bird Kong Itself...

The kong made from red non-toxic natural rubber and has a plastic clip for attaching to a cage or stand with a couple of plastic dangly shapes attached to it. The clip is made from FDA-approved plastic and assume the 'fun shapes' are too.
It is the same shape as the classic dog toy Kong but on a somewhat smaller scale measuring in at: 9cm long, 6cm diameter widest end and 3.5cm diameter at the top end. The plastic clip is thick and easy to attach. The hole is 2.5cm diameter and is easy to stuff with treats.


Easy to use and clean

First thing we tried was monkey nuts and stuffed a load in...Bird had great fun getting them out, gave him something to do for half an hour.... he was determined to get them out very fun to watch. Did end up getting the last 2 nuts out myself as they were jammed in a bit tight and he really couldn't manage to do it himself.
I find fruit/veg is the best filler simply chop it up and cram it in, carrot sticks, apple, banana whatever your bird likes.
The kong is also stated to be dishwasher-safe if you have a dishwasher. I don't but it's easy enough to clean out, I normally use an old baby-bottle brush particularly useful for cleaning it out after filling with something squidgy and messy like banana.

Durable

This poor toy has withstood a fair amount of determined chewing by my destructive bird - he has finally managed after months of trying to detatch one of the shapes from the clip. The clip has a very 'chewed-upon' look to it but is still sound, I fear it will take bird another year at least to chew through it completely. He has also managed to chew off some of the rubber around the base of the clip but again it's taken him a long time and the toy is still nowhere near dead yet.
Top marks from me, though if you have a bigger destructive parrot it may not last as long as ours has. Different sizes are available though, small medium and I believe they do a large too.

Conclusion

I highly recommend this toy as really it promotes a natural bird behaviour. In the wild birds spend much of their time flying, searching, and foraging for food...plus getting into foods like nuts once they find them.
It's no wonder they get bored sitting around all day with food and water always readily available. Having nothing to do can give rise to many bad behaviors the worst and most serious being feather-plucking which can occur out of sheer frustration and boredom.

Parrots are naturally destructive creatures and will happily destroy your house and belongings for their own entertainment if not given something to entertain themselves with - namely their own stuff to chew and destroy.
This toy is wonderful as it gives them something to occupy themselves with, stuffing a Kong with food will challenge your bird and make it work for a treat, much better than simply handing it over or filling a bowl.

My parrot has a great time trying to get his food out of the kong most importantly it keeps him amused - busy and out of trouble. You should be able to find on in larger pet stores or are available to buy online from £4.50 shouldn't cost you more than £10. Highly recommend for a bored Grey.

More Info / Where to find...

A link below for a UK site I found that sells them.

http://www.seapets.co.uk/product-details/stkcode/ 203020/master/203 000/category/446.html


**** Kong website: http://www.kongcompany.com/ ****

Here you can see pictures and information on the range of products they have for various animals. Tips and advice -for Dog Kongs and products, wall of fame and a send comments feature.
There's a 'Find Kong' section (Kong stuff is available worldwide) Gives you a contact address, phone number, and fax based in America.

The contact e-mail address for 'Find a Kong' is:

kong@kongcompany.com

Thanks for reading,

Manda :o)

Summary: ...Fantastic toy for a Bored PARROT....