Creative Foraging Systems Foraging Wheel, 6-Inch Diameter

I am all for foraging for captive birds,but the creators of this device clearly under-estimated the intelligence of "bird-brains". My birds (CAG's & misc Cockatoos) simply take out the middle screw that hold it all together and the goodies just fall through the cages and into the sand and dirt.

I wish the manufacturer would re-design this "toy" and solve the problems,which would include an improvement to the way it attaches to the cage.

As a previous reviewer suggested,if the middle screw went all the way through and could be used to fasten the "toy" cage-side with a wing-nut,it would solve both issues with this device and I would then seriously consider adding it to my foraging routine. But as it is, it is unfortunately useless for me. It may very well work fine for birds with less foraging experience or without the talent for dismantling objects my birds have developed..

But this is no excuse to not use foraging as a way to enrich your bird's otherwise boring life,usually behind bars.

With a little time and some knowledge and understanding of the various species' natural behaviors and feeding habits in the wild,it is possible to make your own foraging devices from basics most of us already have around the house or available at little cost from the local dollar-store. I frequently use baskets,(safe) kitchen utensils,wooden clothes-pins,popsicle-sticks,tooth-brushes etc. I also search the infant/toddler department at Goodwill for high-quality and safe toys as the variety available and the prices are well below the cost of most bird-toys intended for large and destructive birds. All must of course be properly sanitized and checked for lose parts and other defects before presented to the birds,but with some seed or nuts etc wrapped in paper it is easy to turn many of these items into foraging-toys.

With my foraging program I have managed to stop feather-plucking/-barbing in birds with various levels of self-mutilation issues. Additionally I no longer worry about my neighbors each and every morning as my birds now are way to busy searching for goodies in the device I add to their cages before I go to bed. This not only saved the relationship with my neighbors,but it also let me sleep in if needed and still allow me enough time to prepare a proper breakfast for the birds,often of scrambled eggs,oatmeal or cooked quinoa,home-made bird-bread etc.

I utilize a variety of foraging ideas and devices for my own birds and for those I take in as rescues and to rehome,but at times I spent more time preparing it all than it took the birds to tear it apart,so eventually I found that one of the most successful foraging devices I use to be a basic metal "cage" hanging from top of the cages from a chain.

I use this "foraging cage" for larger pieces of vegetables and almonds and walnuts in the shell. I also wrap small quantities of seed in paper and add it. It is excellent for re-using parts of toys the birds have dismantled and it eveb save me time when used with parts I've purchased to make toys from as I just need to add the parts to the "cage" along with everything else.

Another go-to foraging solution I use frequently is a simple baking pan with 2" sides that I fill with (sterile) river-rock and gravel.

I simply mix the birds' regular food (Harrison's High Potency Coarse is my choice of "always available" food..) and add some organic seed,grains etc. and the birds have a blast digging and scratching in the rock.

My CAG's are particularly eager diggers;)

The rock is easily replaced by simply soaking the rock in water with some GSE added. (GSE = Grape Seed Extract which should be in every parrot keepers kitchen although a weak chlorine solution may be substituted here./)

After soaking I sterilize the rock in large batches in the oven so I always have a simple,easily prepared and all natural forage solution my birds do not seem to get bored with.

I feed a large amount of preferably organic vegetables and use stainless-steel "kabobs" to hold their favorite broccoli,then I add local in-season vegetables and fruit such as mango,carambola,papaya etc from the yard as it ripen.

Another favorite and 100% natural foraging food all birds in my care simply love is ripe palm-fruit right off the branch another benefit of living here in tropical Florida;)

I have purchased a variety of foraging items and I wish someone would produce more user-friendly devices that are easy to fill,clean and attach to the cages. Preferably in a variety of sizes and with various sized openings suitable for the different sized/shaped pellets as well as seed. And sturdy enough for the larger and very strong parrots' beaks.

Maybe it is an idea for pellet-manufacturers to create devices that work with their products? Or as I don't believe any bird should be fed only pellets for "complimentary enrichment food".

I think the clear acrylic this item is made from is great,but as mentioned,there is still plenty of room for improvements in the design of this line of foraging devices.

This wheel is great as a foraging feeder for medium and large parrots. It is not as good for treat foraging, which is what I planned to get it for, because the holes are not big enough for parrot size nutriberries and it is hard to get just one or two small pieces of fruit or nut out of it. However, it has worked out great as a dailer feeder, and has made meal time last longer and is now less boring for my Grey. I switch what section I put the smaller allotment of seed into so that he has to look for it and turn the wheel, and then I fill all the other compartments with his regular pellets. If you use it this way there needs to be a food bowl under it or half of it spills on the bottom of the cage. My grey pulls out a bunch of food, then picks through what he wants from his dish that I hang this over. I always wondered why my grey used to go into the cage next to his to eat from their bowl, when it was the same food. Now that he doesn't do this nearly as much I am guessing he was just bored and wanted to make it more like foraging for his dinner, but now he can do that in his own cage every day!

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Nice concept, but has some major issues. Firstly, some instructions would have been useful. Secondly iis kind of annoying to have to loosen a skrew and take the whole thing apart everytime to refill. It isnt sturdy enough, my CAG manages to pull the front cover open enough for some smaller seeds to fall out, he also unskrews the skrew at the front, and unlatches the whole thing from the bottom. Lastly I have some safety concerns aswell, in terms of a toe or a tongue getting seriously injured, because he is capable of turning it while he has is beak in the opening, and when he climbs over it, he moves it with one foot, crushing the toe on the other foot that is in the opening. Overall very dissapointing.

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bought this because my other birds use it a lot. it helps to recreate the natural feeling of foraging for the birdies which is what they need so they do not become overweight.

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hard to work for my parrot (a female eclectus). she LOVES foraging toys and was just not interested in this one. it is clear so you really need to make sure you put colorful treats in there! also, maybe she is too small, but it was very hard for her to move the wheel around. i tried loosening it to no luck. maybe better for bigger birds?

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