Bird Exercise and Enrichment Guide

Bird exercise and enrichment should provide opportunities for normal movement, exploration and species-appropriate behaviour. The exact activities depend on the bird's anatomy, temperament and environment.

Exercise opportunities

Birds need more than a perch and a food bowl. Depending on species, useful exercise may involve flight, climbing, walking, controlled exploration or movement between perches. Provide safe space and remove hazards such as open windows, hot surfaces, fans, toxic fumes and inaccessible gaps when a bird is outside its enclosure. Supervise free-flight or out-of-cage activity appropriately.

Enrichment that encourages behaviour

Rotate suitable toys and activities that encourage foraging, chewing, manipulating objects or exploring. Enrichment should be safe for the species and inspected frequently for broken parts, loose fibres or ingestion hazards. Food can sometimes be presented in ways that encourage natural foraging, but changes should not prevent a bird from obtaining adequate nutrition.

Observe the individual bird

Good enrichment is responsive rather than simply adding more toys. Watch whether the bird uses an item, ignores it, becomes frightened or shows repetitive behaviour. Change the environment gradually and maintain predictable access to food, water and rest. If a sudden change in activity or behaviour occurs, consider illness or stress and seek veterinary advice rather than assuming the bird simply needs more stimulation.