A breeder friend of mine says that I should not be putting toys in my aviary. Am I doing the wrong thing? They each have one toy and branches to chew on. I may not be getting maximum amount of chicks this way because I am told that it takes their mind off breeding I am not so sure about this and wonder what everyone else is doing. My birds are breeding 2 clutches each this season so far so I am not sure this is a valid statement. I would rather have them playing with branches and toys than hanging on the fence waiting for visitors. They are sun conures. The babies are parent raised for 4 weeks.

Angie

What is it you want, quality or quantity, happy healthy babies or just lots of them? If it ain't broke don't fix it, if you think they are happy/healthy then it really doesn't matter what another breeder says.
Same thing goes in Human child rearing, each has their way of doing it and each one is the only correct way.
I think toys are wonderful as they also play in the wild just for grits and shins and roll around in the dirt and all kinds of fun things.
Out of the two: Humans and Birds, the feathered folk are smarter, hands down.

Thank you Mike, makes me feel better. I just question myself when someone more experienced and at it for longer tells me I am doing wrong. My babies are supertame with well balanced, non screaming personalities so I guess that should be the yardstick I measure myself by.

All of my breeder cages have toys... I was told the same thing... but most of my birds were pets first... and had lots of toys... so when it was time to breed, I didn't think they should be punished & take all the toys away. I just left them in there to give them something to do...LOL I am doing just fine as a breeder, & so are my birds...LOL

thanks Denise
I think mine breed fine too.

I don't have a problem with toys in the breeder aviaries. Seems kind of mean to me that all is expected of the birds is to bonk and lay eggs. Can't they have a bit of fun playing too?
As Mike said in the wild they still play with natural objects while breeding. I would've thought that trying to replicate this in an artificial situation would be beneficial to their psychology.
And yes my breeders have toys, generally swings, chewing and foraging type things.