Trained Parrot BlogParrot Wizard Online Parrot Toy StoreThe Parrot Forum

Is my bird lonely?

Chat about general parrot care and parrot owner lifestyle. Bird psychology, activities, trimming, clipping, breeding etc.

Is my bird lonely?

Postby Buttermellow » Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:18 am

For a while now my cockatiel has been desperate to see her reflection. When she first saw it she had nothing but disdain and anger towards it, but now she is almost obsessive. We have a full length mirror in the room she spends most her time in, and in the bathroom where she spends some time every so often (when I don't want to leave her outside alone). I have tried everything to prevent her from getting up close to the mirrors (putting up barriers, etc) and somehow she keeps getting back to them. Sitting next to a mirror has a very calming effect on her, except when someone tries to take her away from them.
And only recently has she extended her affections towards her shadow! And while I can block mirrors I cannot prevent her from seeing her shadow!

Is she lonely? Is there something I can do? She is around people all but 2-3 hours a day, people who pay attention to her, so I had no reason to think she would be.

Please help.
She is a 1 year old cockatiel.
Buttermellow
Parakeet
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 1
Number of Birds Owned: 1
Types of Birds Owned: One cockatiel
Flight: Yes

Re: Is my bird lonely?

Postby Pajarita » Tue Jan 21, 2014 4:04 pm

She is growing up and on her way to becoming sexually mature so she is beginning to want a mate. You can avoid her becoming sexually frustrated (as well as a chronic layer, very common with tiel hens) by keeping her to a strict solar schedule and reducing her protein intake, especially during the winter. Flying a lot also helps.
Pajarita
Norwegian Blue
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 18604
Location: NW Pa
Number of Birds Owned: 30
Types of Birds Owned: RoseBreasted too, CAG, DoubleYellowHead Amazon, BlueFront Amazon, YellowNape Amazon, Senegal, African Redbelly, Quaker, Sun Conure, Nanday, BlackCap Caique, WhiteBelly Caique, PeachFace lovebird, budgies,
Flight: Yes


Return to General Parrot Care

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests

cron
Parrot ForumArticles IndexTraining Step UpParrot Training BlogPoicephalus Parrot InformationParrot Wizard Store