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Re: Need help Please/ Rick

Posted by Rick on 2/04/09
(6) Comments
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    On 2/04/09, Mickie wrote:
    > On 2/04/09, Rick wrote:
    >> On 2/03/09, Mickie wrote:
    >>> On 2/01/09, Rick wrote:
    >>>> On 1/31/09, Mickie wrote:
    >>>>> My lovebird is two and a half years old,for the past 7 t0
    >>>>> 8 months he has been acting very weird. He rubs himself
    >>>>> against his toys, perches or anything you put into his
    >>>>> cage, also if I'm holding him he tries to rub himself in
    >>>>> my hands. I know what the rubbing is. But I'm concerned
    >>>>> because he is doing this 24/7, he doesn't stop, it goes on
    >>>>> even after I cover him for the night. Another part of his
    >>>>> behavior is that he is eating and rejurgitating his food
    >>>>> and feeding his toys and perches 24/7 he alternates his
    >>>>> rubbing and rejurgitating. He eats well and I make sure
    >>>>> he has plenty of fresh food, pellets and seeds I also give
    >>>>> him vitamins and calcium but because he throws up
    >>>>> everything he eats I think he's bulimic. His weight is
    >>>>> steady at 53 grams, he was 56- 60 grams when he was a
    >>>>> baby.
    >>>>> Can you please tell me what's wrong with him and how can I
    >>>>> help him.
    >>>>> I really appreciate your help.
    >>>>>
    >>>>> Mickie
    >>>>
    >>>>
    >>>> Hi Mickie,
    >>>>
    >>>> You have a perfectly "overactive" healthy sexual male on your
    >>>> hands. We go through the same thing as yourself with our Male
    >>>> Macaw. Yes, it does get aggravating, but it's only natural
    >>> for
    >>>> them, it will pass, just as ours has.
    >>>> Basically the only thing you can do is distract him when he
    >>>> exhibits this behavior. If need be, limit your hands on
    >>>> contact when out of the cage. He will try and feed you quite
    >>>> often as well. When in his cage, well, you will have to let
    >>>> his urge pass.
    >>>> There are other things you can do to detour this behavior. I
    >>>> have attached a link for you to check out regarding hormonal
    >>>> behavior in birds and understanding this behavior. Hope this
    >>>> will help you.
    >>>>
    >>>> http://www.avianweb.com/sexualbehaviorinbirds.html
    >>>>
    >>> Hi Rick,
    >>>
    >>> Thank you Rick for your response. I'm glad I finally had
    >>> someone tell me that this will pass. My bird has been doing
    >>> this for so long I thought it may never stop. Yesterday out
    >>> of desperation I went and bought him a new cage,new perches,
    >>> dishes, a swing. I placed him in the new cage and he was so
    >>> disoriented that he spent most of the day finding his way
    >>> around and kind of forgot this naughty behavior. This morning
    >>> I checked and noticed that he had done some regurgitating but
    >>> not as much. I was pleased. I play with him a lot, so that
    >>> has to stop for now.
    >>> I read the link you provided and I intend to follow through
    >>> with the sugestions.
    >>> Again thank you for the great advice.
    >>
    >> Mickie,
    >>
    >> Glad to hear your little bird is dazed and confused for the
    >> moment, able to divert his attention elsewhere. LOL. Change is
    >> good. Changing everything as you did will surely help keep him
    >> pre-occupied and hopefully lessen his one way habit of thinking.
    >> I had finally taken out the toys that our Macaw was masturbating
    >> on. They were primarily cloth or rope related material. Are his
    >> toys made of these materials as well that he favored?
    >>
    >> UPDATE: Wouldn't you know, as luck would have it, I noticed
    >> yesterday while our Macaw was on his tree stand, playing with his
    >> rope, he started back with his old habit as well. I just shook my
    >> head and thought of you and your little bird. Now, it's "Good-Bye
    >> Rope" for the time being. Good thing it only lasts a little
    >> while. I hate the noises he makes. Take care.
    >>
    >>
    > Hi Rick,
    >
    > I made sure not to put any toys in his new cage, but the ones he
    > had prior were made out of rope, plastic and some wood ones. I
    > noticed today that he likes the new swing so maybe that might
    > become the item that he will get attached to. So far he's really
    > busy with the new stuff and I have not seen him missbehaving once.
    > I also put a new happy hut in there and Trooper is using it. The
    > next few days will tell.
    >
    > This whole situation has been very embarrasing. We had family
    > over at Christmas and my son was playing the piano and we're all
    > singing Christmas songs and Trooper is right there in front of
    > everybody doing his nasty thing. Everyone was laughing and I was
    > telling the little kids that Trooper was just dancing to the
    > music . LOL. Thanks again.

    Hi Mickie,

    Thanks for the laugh. I can surely relate. Our Macaw usually moans a
    lot when he is misbehaving. More annoying than anything else.

    I love your Troopers name.
    p.s watch out for the Happy Hut, Trooper may continue to set up house
    for the 2 of you. Just watch his behavior. Sometimes the darkness from
    the Hut can trigger mating instincts. FYI. Take care.