staying on playstand?

[Starz]

I'm planning on building Squeak an atom and a playstand for when I can't have him right next to me and was wondering how to go about training him to stay there. I have been putting him on top of his cage with a few toys, millet, etc but he'll only stay there for a few minutes before trying to fly to me. Any tips?

[kimsbirds]

In a nutshell? Time, and practice. Oh, and patience LOL
Don't overdo the frequency of the playstand, or birdie will quickly get bored and anxious. Try a few times a day, alter the toys offered and the treats offered, try sunflower or safflower, try a piece of paper for shredding, or leather strips to nibble. Within a few weeks, you should be getting 10-15 mins at a time, once or twice a day. Don't expect more because birdies need to be near their flock, human or feathered !
K

[Janie]

I agree with Kimmie! :) If you can get a lovie to stay on a playstand for 15 minutes, there must be something very interesting on that stand to keep him there! :D I have two in my bird room and all three enjoy them through out the day but only for very short periods. I have lots of chew toys attached to the larger stand and they do like those. All three of mine prefer me to their play gyms! :lol

[Z28Taxman]

They only way Ditto will even go to his playgym is if I'm on the couch next to it. If I walk away, he's gonna follow. :rofl:

[bellarains]

I do what Dave does, I bring the playstand near to where I am. Then I do what Kimmie does, I attach lots of chewy toys, and a chube to the branches to occupy them. Like said though, it don't last long:rolleyes:

[Z28Taxman]

I do what Dave does, I bring the playstand near to where I am. Then I do what Kimmie does, I attach lots of chewy toys, and a chube to the branches to occupy them. Like said though, it don't last long:rolleyes:

I keep it next to the couch. When we have TV time at night, he'll snuggle for a bit. Then fly over to the gym and play for a few minutes and come back to the couch again. He'll fly between me, the gym and his cage all night. But he spends most of his time on the couch with me. :cool:

[KiwiMango]

Yeah I do the same thing; I keep the play gym in the living room where we spend most of our time. But their preference is mostly to spend time on me and chew on clothes which are the most interesting things to them. If I leave them, they always have to check up on me to make sure I'm still where I am and to see what I'd doing. Watching me chop up anything is very fascinating and both of their little heads will be peering over my shoulder watching intently when I get ready to make dinner.

[Cathy]

My playstand is on wheels and I roll it around but 15 minutes is about the maximum time that Sham and Melli spend on theirs. I also have a cut-out gourd on the floor lamp next to my chair and I hide goodies in it. Being lovebirds they have to check everything out but nothing is as interesting as my earings or my fingers typing.

Sham just took one of his first big baths on the playstand. I always try to get them to bathe in the morning so they get good and dry.. I think that he did it as a delaying tactic because he knew that I was going to put him to bed!

I change the toys on my play gym and put new foods there and I also hide some stuff. They seem to enjoy the challenge. Its got to be almost as much fun as pooping on my computer!