Bird Tickles!

[KimberlyAnn]

Our bird asks to wrestle by coming over and turning over on its back and squawking and opening it's wings and waving it's feet in the air. So we wiggle our fingers over its feet and let it grab our fingers etc. Then it jumps up, hops away, hops back and turns right over again.

But now we are noticing our bird LOVES TICKLES! (I hope to God this is not a mating thing?? The bird is only 5 months old) But the bird will turn over, open its wings and wait. We tickle under the wings and the bird explodes in playful noise...almost laughter. Then it's back to wrestling or asks for more tickles. I tried to get good pictures...







If someone recognizes this as a mating thing...let me know! It will stop! Lol but if it's play...does your bird do this?

[marie83]

I think its just being playful. However it could encorage sexual behaviours when older. Most people seem to believe that touching anywhere but the head can encourage mating behaviours. from experience I believe slightly differently in that I believe its not so much where you touch but how you touch and how long for. Keep any touch brief and it will help.

[KimberlyAnn]

Ok good to know. We will just stick to beak and foot wrestling! Maybe a little poke here and there because that is part of the game. All I know is, this bird needs to play! Lol If it does roll on its back and we are busy at that moment, it's hide and seek time. Which means...I'm going to go behind something...come out and then roll over again. Lol

But I for sure do not want to encourage certain behaviors! Lol

[GreenWing]

Hahaha cute! What a little darling.

[Toyer12]

I was chatting with a bird behaviourist friend of mine the other day and she said that tickles are great but to avoid the area straight down the middle of the back, from shoulders to top of tail as this is considered the sexual area and if we tickle there we will stimulate the bird and encourage sexual behaviour.

Your guy looks lovely...so cute

[Andromeda]

You green cheek is such a character! I love all these pictures and stories about her. Keep them coming!

What's her name, BTW?

[KimberlyAnn]

Toyer thank you! That helps a lot. Any other tips you heard from your friend about behavior?

And thank you all for the nice comments! She is such a cutie! She was very tired today so didn't play as hard as normal, but I did get a video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE6ufBx ... ata_player

And yes, we just got the DNA test back on Monday and we named her Emmi.

[Dasphatness]

I was chatting with a bird behaviourist friend of mine the other day and she said that tickles are great but to avoid the area straight down the middle of the back, from shoulders to top of tail as this is considered the sexual area and if we tickle there we will stimulate the bird and encourage sexual behaviour.

Your guy looks lovely...so cute

The freakin truth here!

Our new cockatiel (a two year old male) is very fond of his scratchies. Being that I was unaware of this, I used to scratch from the tip of his crown, down to the tips of his tail feathers. This would cause him to bliss out hardcore. It was cute up until he started to do his "displays" of desire towards myself. wings flapping, head low, tail feathers up in the air.

Had one randy tiel on my hands. . .

We worked out this frustration and now we avoid the awkward stroking. We're just friends now...

[KimberlyAnn]

Haha! I want to stay just friends too!