Birdie Behavior

[Megan140]

I have had a Myer's Parrot for approximately 6yrs now and ever since my dad moved out three years ago she's started to show some...interesting behaviors that she didn't when my dad was living with us (he REALLY doesn't like her). So I'm posting this in hopes that I can learn if what she is doing is normal for a bird and how to keep her out of trouble (if possible!).

The first one doesn't worry me but I am curious about why she does it. One thing she started doing was making her cuddle noise-it's impossible to describe what it sounds like- and grabs onto my face with her foot and continues making her cuddle noise. Anyone else got a bird that does that? I would like to know what it means and if it's okay to let her continue to do it.

The second makes me worry a little bit about it and causes slight damage to the ceiling. When I rearranged my room and moved her cage closer to the window, she discovered what when the curtain was down she could reach the curtain rod and stretch her little neck and pull the white bumps off the ceiling. I have no idea how to stop this and the only thing that has met with success is clipping her wings but that ends if I leave the curtain down too long and she climbs up it. She doesn't eat the bumps, she just pulls them off and drops them onto the floor and watches them disappear into the carpet. Anyone know what I can do about this? She loves being able to see out the window and I really don't want to have to move her away from the window.

The third is a problem I've always had with my , she hates pellets. She's been in a seed diet all her life mostly because when I got her I was still young and naive and fed her what the pet store fed her, now it's because I haven't figured out how to get her to eat the damn things. I've tried giving her a separate bowl of pellets, mixing it in with her own food, and even pulling out the seed (that one was out of desperation) and nothing has worked. My eat pellets when it's mixed in with seed and she normally copies whatever they do but not with this. Any ideas? I want my little girl to be healthy.

This isn't a problem, this is just something cute I want to share. Trinity has been around lovebirds since I bought her as a fledgling and loves to pester my oldest lovebird, Peaches (he's 7yrs old) and for the most part Peaches doesn't seem to mind. His mate, Angel (4yrs old), DOES mind and takes every opportunity she gets to let Trinity know she's not happy. One thing Trinity learned really fast is the phrase "you're going to get bit". I used to say it and she would ignore me and then her foot would get bit. Now I say it and she gets off the bars in a hurry, it's kind of cute.

[Pajarita]

I have a female Senegal that grabs my face with her foot but she doesn't do it all the time, only sometimes and not very often so it doesn't bother me.

I don't feed pellets, I don't think they are the healthiest dietary option for a parrot. I feed seeds but a lower mix than what the manufacturers call for so my tiels, lovies and budgies get a budgie mix and everybody else (amazons, grays, cockatoos, senegals, jardine) gets a cockatiel mix with some roasted human grade nuts added according to the size or needs (my Senegals gets budgie mix in the winter and cockatiel mix in the spring through molt and only one heaping tablespoon for dinner). I feed gloop (cooked whole grains with flax seed -and sesame during molt- mixed in equal parts with cooked, chopped or diced veggies) and raw produce for breakfast. All my birds came from somewhere else and most of them were also seed-junkies but they all transitioned to the better diet without a problem by putting the gloop with seeds sprinkled on top in a white paper plate early in the morning and just leaving it there - they start by eating the seeds but, in the process, they try the cooked grains (they need to be al dente) and, when they realize they like it, they just start eating it (I add flavors to it every day, making it one day spicy and the next fruity).

As to the blinds, just remove them. My birds live in a birdroom fitted for them so there are no blinds, no curtains, no nothing they cannot break/chew/poop on but, if yours live in a human room, you have no choice but to try to 'adjust' it so the bird doesn't destroy it completely while, at the same time, resign yourself to some damage. It's unavoidable.

[Megan140]

I have a female Senegal that grabs my face with her foot but she doesn't do it all the time, only sometimes and not very often so it doesn't bother me.

I don't feed pellets, I don't think they are the healthiest dietary option for a parrot. I feed seeds but a lower mix than what the manufacturers call for so my tiels, lovies and budgies get a budgie mix and everybody else (amazons, grays, cockatoos, senegals, jardine) gets a cockatiel mix with some roasted human grade nuts added according to the size or needs (my Senegals gets budgie mix in the winter and cockatiel mix in the spring through molt and only one heaping tablespoon for dinner). I feed gloop (cooked whole grains with flax seed -and sesame during molt- mixed in equal parts with cooked, chopped or diced veggies) and raw produce for breakfast. All my birds came from somewhere else and most of them were also seed-junkies but they all transitioned to the better diet without a problem by putting the gloop with seeds sprinkled on top in a white paper plate early in the morning and just leaving it there - they start by eating the seeds but, in the process, they try the cooked grains (they need to be al dente) and, when they realize they like it, they just start eating it (I add flavors to it every day, making it one day spicy and the next fruity).

As to the blinds, just remove them. My birds live in a birdroom fitted for them so there are no blinds, no curtains, no nothing they cannot break/chew/poop on but, if yours live in a human room, you have no choice but to try to 'adjust' it so the bird doesn't destroy it completely while, at the same time, resign yourself to some damage. It's unavoidable.

That "gloop" actually isn't a bad idea. My birds would probably love it. I'm going to have to try that.

I'm not worried about the damage, I live with a Myer's and two Lovebirds, I accept the fact that there will be damage. I'm just worried that what my little Trinity gets her beak into will make her sick. The white stuff on ceilings is replaceable, Trinity is not

[Pajarita]

I've found that putting a sheet of Plexiglas on the wall (or ceiling) where they are pecking works great as a way of dissuading them of doing it.

[Megan140]

I've found that putting a sheet of Plexiglas on the wall (or ceiling) where they are pecking works great as a way of dissuading them of doing it.

I'd never thought of that. Hell, I wonder if I can do that to the door frame...

[2Beaks&I]

I second the recommendation for "gloop." It's like birdy crack around here. I make a big batch and freeze it in ice cube trays.

Maybe you could try a birdy bread recipe with ground up pellets in it. Harrisons makes a bird bread mix too, but my birds aren't crazy for it. Try soaking the pellets in a bit of juice (no sugar and stuff added). Try different brands and sizes. My GCC won't touch the small pellets, but he will nibble on the bigger ones my CAG eats. If your bird likes to share food with you, act like you're eating the pellets. Try taking the seed out last thing before you go to bed and leaving only pellets until an hour or so after your bird wakes up in the morning. Birds are hungry in the morning, so she might be motivated to eat them then. I wouldn't go completely cold turkey though. If you can weigh her with a gram scale throughout the process, that would be ideal. I've heard that a little weight loss during pellet conversion is OK, but anything approaching 10% is cause for concern. Don't give up on the pellets though. I really do think they're an important part of the diet. Good luck, and Trinity sounds adorable!

[Strawfrawg]

When my male Senegal is being affectionate he almost always puts his foot on my cheek or nose. I think of it as a birdie hug.

Mixing pellets in with seed as-is has never worked for anyone I've known. I suggest making little balls of seeds and crushed pellets bound with a little honey and dried or briefly baked to harden. Either that or mixing crushed pellets with a gloop-like mixture and baking it, again, into balls. Baked birdie balls are a major staple at my house. I make them a little differently every time. They are great foot-food and quick/easy to store and portion out.

[Pajarita]

I use corner beads to cover the moldings and frames of windows, doors, crown, base, etc. You can paint over it (I use the zero VOs nursery-safe paint) and just replace it when it becomes damaged. It's cheap and easy and doesn't really look bad at all.

[Megan140]

I use corner beads to cover the moldings and frames of windows, doors, crown, base, etc. You can paint over it (I use the zero VOs nursery-safe paint) and just replace it when it becomes damaged. It's cheap and easy and doesn't really look bad at all.

Cover beads? What are those?