Toys are one of those things that pet owners find themselves splurging on regularly. This is especially true for bird owners. Birds are destructive little things that can make quick work of any toy entering its environment. While spending money on toys your bird will destroy can feel futile, it’s a necessary part of bird ownership. Your pet needs enrichment in its life to keep it happy and healthy and to prevent unwanted destructive behaviors.
There are countless bird toys on the market, but not all are suitable for all species. Some of them are even dangerous or toxic! We’ve gathered a list of the ten best toys to consider as you begin your search, so keep reading to find our reviews and learn more about the most appropriate toys for your pet.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Super Bird Creations Crinkle Crinkle Little Star
Made with bird-safe materials
Made in the USA
Colorful and eye-catching
Check Price
Best Value
Super Bird Creations Rainbow Bridge
Satisfies need to chew
Affordable price tag
Can be hung vertically or horizontally
Check Price
Premium Choice
SunGrow Foraging Toys
Encourages problem-solving skill development
Promotes foraging
Eye-catching colors
Check Price
Super Bird Creations Bagel Cascade
Great for larger birds
Can buy bagel refills
Encourages healthy chewing
Check Price
SunGrow Foraging Blocks
Encourage foraging
100% natural materials
Colorful
Check Price
The 10 Best Bird Toys
This colorful chew toy from Super Bird Creations is the best overall bird toy available today. This toy is made in the USA with bird-safe materials, so you know it’s harmless for your precious feathered friend. The toy is made of a natural vine material, colorful beads that will catch your bird’s eye, and bird-safe hardware. It also features a crinkly shreddable material your bird will love pulling and preening. This toy best suits smaller birds like cockatiels, lovebirds, or parakeets.
Dimensions: 6.5L x 3W x 3H inches
Materials: Grass / Hay, Plastic, Cardboard / Paper
Recommended Bird Size: Small
Features: Natural vine components
Check Price on Chewy
The toy may be a bit smaller than expected, so be sure to take its dimensions into account before ordering.
Pros
Made with bird-safe materials
Made in the USA
Colorful and eye-catching
Fun to pull out shredded material
Cons
Toy is quite small
We know how pricey it can be to continue replenishing your bird’s toys, but if you’re searching for the best bird toy for the money, this rainbow bridge is the perfect pick. This affordable toy is explicitly designed for perching and chewing, so it’s made with the highest quality bird-safe materials. It can satisfy your bird’s instinctive need to chew while also keeping it mentally stimulated and its environment enriching enough to keep boredom at bay. The toy can be set up vertically or horizontally so you can easily find an orientation that your pet prefers. It’s best suited for smaller birds like cockatiels, lovebirds, and parrotlets.
Made with bird-safe materials
Made in the USA
Colorful and eye-catching
Fun to pull out shredded material
- Made with bird-safe materials
- Made in the USA
- Colorful and eye-catching
- Fun to pull out shredded material
Toy is quite small
- Toy is quite small
Dimensions: 11L x 2W inches
Materials: Plastic, Wood
Recommended Bird Size: Small
Features: Dangling toys
If your bird is particularly destructive, you may want to choose another toy as there are reports that the bridge can easily be broken by powerful (and determined) Beaks.
Pros
Satisfies need to chew
Affordable price tag
Can be hung vertically or horizontally
Cons
May not withstand destructive birds
Our premium bird toy pick is this climbing ladder and foraging toy from SunGrow. Your bird will love practicing its instinctual behaviors with this interactive wall toy. It’s made with a natural seagrass base that is fun to climb and strong enough to stand up to incessant pecking and chewing. The colorful attached blocks are eye-catching and encourage investigation. Test your bird’s foraging skills by tucking its favorite treats into the mat holes and see how well its problem-solving skills are. Since your pet can happily chew away at this toy, you may find that it can even prevent unwanted destructive behaviors, too.
Satisfies need to chew
Affordable price tag
Can be hung vertically or horizontally
- Satisfies need to chew
- Affordable price tag
- Can be hung vertically or horizontally
May not withstand destructive birds
- May not withstand destructive birds
Dimensions: 13.75L x 12.6W x 1H inches
Materials: Plastic, Natural Fabric
Recommended Bird Size: Small, Medium
Features: Great for exercise
This is a reasonably large toy at 13.75 inches, so check your cage’s measurements to ensure a perfect fit.
Pros
Encourages problem-solving skill development
Promotes foraging
Eye-catching colors
Strong materials
Cons
May be too large for smaller cages
Encourages problem-solving skill development
Promotes foraging
Eye-catching colors
Strong materials
- Encourages problem-solving skill development
- Promotes foraging
- Eye-catching colors
- Strong materials
May be too large for smaller cages
- May be too large for smaller cages
Dimensions: 12L x 4.5W x 4.5H inches
Materials: Plastic, Metal, Cardboard / Paper
Recommended Bird Size: Large
Features: Can be refilled with more bagels
If your bird is particularly destructive, the plastic links may not last as long as they should.
Pros
Great for larger birds
Can buy bagel refills
Encourages healthy chewing
Bird-safe materials
Cons
May not withstand aggressive chewers
Birds have an instinctual need to forage, so this toy from Sungro will provide your pet with the mental and physical activity it needs to thrive. It has several different shapes and colors to keep your bird’s attention. The toy is made of 100% natural material types, including wooden blocks and cotton rope. The different textures will encourage your bird to explore the toy more thoroughly and keep it interested and occupied in a safe and healthy manner. This product is perfect for birds like Macaws, Parrots, and Cockatoos.
Great for larger birds
Can buy bagel refills
Encourages healthy chewing
Bird-safe materials
- Great for larger birds
- Can buy bagel refills
- Encourages healthy chewing
- Bird-safe materials
May not withstand aggressive chewers
- May not withstand aggressive chewers
Dimensions: 11L x 8W x 3.5H inches
Materials: Wood, cotton
Recommended Bird Size: Medium to Large
Features: Rainbow wood foraging blocks
As with other toys on our list, this may not be the best option if your bird is particularly destructive.
Pros
Encourage foraging
100% natural materials
Colorful
Different textures
Cons
Not for destructive birds
The Spiked Piñata toy is a perfect pick if your medium-sized bird is often stressed or nervous. The shreddable materials are ideal for distraction and relieving anxiety, and the fibrous plant materials are great for conditioning your bird’s beak. Keeping its beak in tip-top shape can prevent overgrowth and the need for trimming. This colorful toy features a variety of engaging textures that your bird will enjoy exploring. This product is best for birds like finches, cockatiels, parrots, and lovebirds.
Encourage foraging
100% natural materials
Colorful
Different textures
- Encourage foraging
- 100% natural materials
- Colorful
- Different textures
Not for destructive birds
- Not for destructive birds
Dimensions: 11L x 2W x 2H inches
Materials: Plant materials
Recommended Bird Size: Medium
Features: Multiple textures
Some consumers reported that their birds were petrified of this toy and wouldn’t go near it.
Pros
Can relieve anxiety or stress
Natural plant materials
Multiple textures
Great for beak conditioning
Cons
May frighten some birds
This 100% natural pineapple toy from Planet Pleasures is made with materials you might find in your bird’s natural habitat. It features shreddable material your pet may find eases stress or separation anxiety. The fibrous materials can help prevent beak overgrowth, and the hiding spots between the pineapple “spikes” are perfect for encouraging foraging. Try hiding your bird’s favorite treats between the spikes to get them interested in foraging. This toy is available in several sizes, so it’s suited for birds of all species; check the measurements before buying.
Can relieve anxiety or stress
Natural plant materials
Multiple textures
Great for beak conditioning
- Can relieve anxiety or stress
- Natural plant materials
- Multiple textures
- Great for beak conditioning
May frighten some birds
- May frighten some birds
Dimensions: 11L x 4W x 4H inches
Materials: Plant Material
Recommended Bird Size: Small to large
Features: Hiding spots between spikes
The spikes can be a bit sharp for some birds to feel comfortable foraging near.
Pros
Great for all bird sizes
Shreddable materials
Perfect for foraging
Cons
Spikes may be frightening for some birds
If your bird is a whirlwind of destruction, you need a toy that can withstand its aggressive playing. This durable toy is made with acrylic rings and stainless spoons, perfect for destructive birds. You can hang this toy in two ways—straight down or with both ends attached to the cage. The toy is colorful and enticing to keep your bird interested and engaged in playtime. It is made in the USA with bird-safe materials, so you don’t need to worry about the toy harming your pet.
Great for all bird sizes
Shreddable materials
Perfect for foraging
- Great for all bird sizes
- Shreddable materials
- Perfect for foraging
Spikes may be frightening for some birds
- Spikes may be frightening for some birds
Dimensions: 15L x 3W x 1H inches
Materials: Acrylic, Stainless Steel, Plastic, Metal
Recommended Bird Size: Medium
Features: Durable stainless spoons
Be warned, however, that the toy can be rather loud while your bird is playing with it. The spoons clang together, and it can become quite annoying.
Pros
Multiple ways to hang
Colorful and attention-grabbing
Made in the USA
Very durable
Cons
Can be loud
This Pinwheel toy from Super Bird Creations is assembled in the USA using only the highest quality bird-safe materials. It is a perfect pick to satisfy your pet’s instinctual need to preen and pull. Your bird will also enjoy all the opportunities for paper pulling and crunching that this toy can provide. It features finger traps stuffed full of crinkle paper, and the cute pinwheel is also safe for chewing. This toy is best suited for medium-sized birds like Senegals, Conures, Caique, and Quakers.
Multiple ways to hang
Colorful and attention-grabbing
Made in the USA
Very durable
- Multiple ways to hang
- Colorful and attention-grabbing
- Made in the USA
- Very durable
Can be loud
- Can be loud
Dimensions: 8L x 5.5W x 2.5H inches
Materials: Grass / Hay, Plastic, Rubber
Recommended Bird Size: Medium
Features: Crunchy and crinkly paper
Particularly determined birds can make quick work of the crinkled paper.
Pros
Colorful
Bird-safe materials
Satisfies preening and pulling needs
Cons
Paper pulls out very easily
This adorable mini sneaker toy from Bonka Bird Toys is a fantastic option for birds who prefer foraging toys. Stuff the sneaker full of your pet’s favorite materials like crinkled paper or treats to encourage healthy and safe foraging. The toy is made with several different bird-safe materials in varying textures, such as rubber and canvas. It is made in the USA and is perfect for medium-sized birds like conures, canaries, and cockatiels.
Colorful
Bird-safe materials
Satisfies preening and pulling needs
- Colorful
- Bird-safe materials
- Satisfies preening and pulling needs
Paper pulls out very easily
- Paper pulls out very easily
Dimensions: 3L x 1.5W x 1.25H inches
Materials: Canvas, Rubber, and real shoe laces
Recommended Bird Size: Medium
Features: Real shoe laces
There are conflicting reports about the size of this item. After reaching out to the manufacturer, we learned that the dimensions are 3 x 1.5 x 1.25 inches. The package comes with six sneakers in randomly selected colors.
Pros
Fun foraging toy
Various textures
Made in the USA
Cons
Cannot choose sneaker color
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Bird Toy
Birds are destructive little things, so you may find yourself constantly on the hunt for toys for them.
Fun foraging toy
Various textures
Made in the USA
- Fun foraging toy
- Various textures
- Made in the USA
Cannot choose sneaker color
- Cannot choose sneaker color
Let’s take a closer look at the factors you must consider before buying a new toy for your bird.
Size
The size of the toy is perhaps one of the most important things to take into account. You don’t want to buy a toy that’s (A) too small or big for your bird’s species or (B) too small or big for the cage. Every toy we reviewed above is transparent about its dimensions, so you can take the proper measurements to ensure it will be the appropriate size for your bird and its cage. You can also look at the recommended breed size to see if it will be a good fit for your pet.
Purpose
Bird toys are not only to help your bird pass the time but they are designed specifically for physical and mental stimulation.
Foraging and problem-solving toys offer both exercise and mental stimulation. They provide your bird with a problem and allow them to find a way to solve it. For example, when you hide treats in the nooks and crannies of your bird’s favorite foraging toy, they need to find a way to retrieve the treat.
Exercise toys, such as swings or climbing ropes, give your pet a new way to explore its cage. They encourage physical activity and can boost both their mental and physical health.
Chew toys give your bird a healthy way to keep its beak in tip-top shape and to practice its instinctual habits. These toys are designed to be destroyed, so let your bird go buck wild with them.
Foot toys are relatively small toys that your bird can pick up with its feet. Many owners place these on the bottom of the cage. They are great for developing food dexterity, which is essential as your bird spends all its time on its feet.
Materials
Materials are another vital consideration as your bird is likely to be chewing or eating its toys. You don’t want to put anything made with toxic materials in the cage, especially knowing the toy will wind up in your bird’s mouth at one point or anything.
Safe bird toy materials include:
Pine
Balsa
Birch
100% natural fiber ropes (cotton, hemp)
Stainless steel
Zinc-free or nickel-plated chain
Acrylic
Vegetable tanned leather
Bells (with non-removable clapper)
Unsafe materials include:
Oak
Cedar
Red cherry
Treated wood
Nylon rope
Zinc-coated chain
Dyed leather
Why You Need to Invest in Bird Toys
Every bird owner knows how destructive their avian family members can be. It can feel like you’re buying new toys weekly to replenish the ones your bird has destroyed. While purchasing new toys so often can be frustrating, it’s in your bird’s best interest to do so.
Pine
Balsa
Birch
100% natural fiber ropes (cotton, hemp)
Stainless steel
Zinc-free or nickel-plated chain
Acrylic
Vegetable tanned leather
Bells (with non-removable clapper)
- Pine
- Balsa
- Birch
- 100% natural fiber ropes (cotton, hemp)
- Stainless steel
- Zinc-free or nickel-plated chain
- Acrylic
- Vegetable tanned leather
- Bells (with non-removable clapper)
Oak
Cedar
Red cherry
Treated wood
Nylon rope
Zinc-coated chain
Dyed leather
- Oak
- Cedar
- Red cherry
- Treated wood
- Nylon rope
- Zinc-coated chain
- Dyed leather
Birds are supposed to be wild and free creatures with the entire world at their disposal. Companion birds don’t have this luxury, so you need to be a responsible pet owner and try to emulate your pet’s natural habitat and satisfy its instinctual urges as much as possible.
Birds are brilliant, and if they do not get the mental stimulation they need, they will go stir crazy. Your pet needs toys to keep it happy and healthy and discourage destructive behaviors like aggressive chewing or even feather plucking. Your bird’s natural curiosity will pique whenever new toys enter its environment, providing the enrichment it needs to avoid bad behavior.
Conclusion
Super Bird Creations’ Crinkle Crinkle Little Star is the best overall bird toy as its bright colors encourage curiosity, and its shredability promotes foraging. The best value toy is the same brand’s Rainbow Bridge, as it’s affordable, versatile in hanging options, and satisfying to chew.
We hope our 10 reviews have helped you see how many awesome toys there are out there. Since the products on our list are all relatively cheap, you may want to buy a few to keep on hand, so your bird always has new things to pique its interest.
Sources
Pet Health and Nutrition Center Great Companions
Featured Image Credit: Linda Bestwick, Shutterstock
- Pet Health and Nutrition Center
- Great Companions
