Moving alexandrine

[Libertine]

Last week, my boyfriend and I moved with 3 parrots in tow (2 paired lovebirds and an alexandrine). The lovebirds are great but my alexandrine is struggling. He's a year and a half, and had lived in our previous home after bringing him from the breeder. He doesn't show any signs of discomfort, besides when it comes to bedtime. When my boyfriend and I start getting ready for bed, he'll start screaming, and sort of pointing towards the bedroom closet (or at least that General direction). He won't say a thing all day, just his normal "hi!" Or "huh?", then at night it's a full blown tantrum. We have to turn off every light in the house, which is inconvient for me, turn off any tvs, no radio, then he'll finally go to sleep. Otherwise, if he sees me at all, doing anything, he'll start in. The other night I took him to the closest, maybe thinking he wanted to go in there (who knows?) and he just gave me this look like "and why are you showing me this?!". I really want him to be happy and comfortable. I've even tried playing calm music and having him on my shoulder while I meditate and do some breathing exercises (the lovebirds LOVE that), but he just seems to get even more frustrated and irritated with me. Any advice? It very much seems emotional, but the message he is sending me is very confusing.

[Wolf]

There is really very little information about the bird in this post, which makes it very difficult to try to help you to understand what is going on, because I haven't been told enough to get any clear idea of what is going on. Still I will do the best that I can. To begin with It would be helpful to know what the birds diets are, when they get up and go to bed. Is the bird allowed to wake up slowly from the dawn towards sunrise and full wakefulness and then from dusk gradually calming and relaxing until full dark and sleep or does he wake up to sudden lights and the noise of everyone else preparing for their day and the same in the evening where the lights go off suddenly and he is expected to fall into a deep sleep just as quickly?
Moving can be a stressful time for a bird what with moving into an unknown and potentially inhospitable territory with little to no flock to help as a buffer from danger or for reassurance and mental and emotional support. You are his flock and he is looking to you for this support. You are obviously noticing that he is not comfortable in this new place, but what are you doing to help him make this transition? It could be that he just needs you to walk him through his new environment while talking to him and reassuring him as you wander through the house noting those places that he is the most nervous in addition to spending a bit more time with him during this stressful time. Times like this are when the bonds of trust in your relationship with your birds are put to the test.

[Pajarita]

Wolf, it appears that this bird is not exposed to dusk (I don't know about dawn because there is no mention of it) because the OP states that she needs to turn off all the lights in the house -which is, most likely, the main problem with his refusing to go to sleep at night.

But, yes, Libertine, please tells us more about your husbandry so we can give you more specific pointers.

[Libertine]

Thank you guys for answering so fast. He's on a diet of pellets, and I, myself, eat a mostly plant based diet, so whenever I have a chance, he'll get fruits and vegetables. His cage is in the living room, there's natural light all day long, then in the evenings, we keep the lights on till bedtime. Usually though around 10 we used a salt rock lamp to get our eyes and minds adjusted for sleep. The entire time I've had my birds, their sleeping schedule mimics mine, regardless if there's lights or not. All 3 will fall asleep, and wake up with me, even if I'm just laying down for a mid-day nap. The only time this changes is when I've slept with a window open and the lovebirds will chatter with the birds outside at dawn. I never thought of walking him around the house and letting him explore (safely). I definitely feel like he's coming to me, asking for comfort, but I'm not sure how to communicate he's safe. Today I went out and bought him $95 worth of shredable birds toys. He loves to destroy whatever he can get his hands on, and he seems to be having an easier time tonight. Usually when I'm home, he's out of the cage. That really hasn't changed, in fact if anything he has been out more. He doesn't come off as a terribly social bird. He likes to keep to himself, he's not a show off, and doesn't like all eyes on him (unless they're mine). Tonight before bed I might walk him around, and show him that there's nothing to be afraid of, and he's in a safe environment full of toys, treats and love. The funny thing is before we moved, the "barking" as we call it, was never an issue. He seems to use it with intent and purpose, but perhaps he just need reassurance?

[Wolf]

This would be a great time to complete the job of putting your birds on a solar light schedule, it is the exact same one as the wild birds outside are on. This is because your Alexandrine is now approaching maturity. Has he started to show any black feathers on his neck or any pink ones on the nape of its neck? As soon as you see either of these you will know that it is a male, this can happen as early as 18 months of age or may not show until a full 36 months of age, if it is a male. The female doesn't have these rings. The effects of proper or improper lighting does not show up right away but its effects are cumulative as it builds on itself. The exposure to the effects of the twilight periods of dawn and dusk sets and resets the birds internal biological clock which is responsible for the start and stopping of the birds reproductive cycle.
Diet is the second of the factors that can kick the breeding cycle into gear or stop it as well, this is due to the fact that it takes the natural abundance of protein foods, which is seasonal, to produce the hormones used during the reproductive cycle.
These are factors that you need to be aware of now so that you can make the adjustments that are needed to prevent your bird from going into overdrive hormonally.
This bird does require lots of chewing type toys that are ripe for destruction, so your $95 is probably well spent. It also require a lot of personal one on one interaction in order to remain playfully tame, and I emphasize the tame part of this.
I think that taking it around to inspect its new environment to satisfy itself that it is safe in it as well as a proper exposure to the dawn and dusk will solve the issue of the bird being able to go to sleep in a normal fashion.

[liz]

You put them in a new world. The Love Birds have each other is why they are adjusting faster. Your alexandrine doesn't have a buddy to comfort him.

[Pajarita]

Psittaculas require a lot of produce so, please, no free-feeding of pellets and no 'when I have the chance' for his produce. He needs to get fresh produce (organic when necessary -consult the dirtiest list for info on this) every single day for breakfast as well as gloop, chop or mash (I use gloop). And, yes, you need to put all your birds on a bird light schedule. Their bodies don't work like ours and their endocrine system regulates itself through photoperiodism so keeping them at a strict solar schedule is essential to keep them healthy and comfortable (they actually hurt when they are overly hormonal) -especially lovebirds which are highly hormonal little things!

And Wolf is also correct about the interaction. Psittaculas are know for reverting to 'wild' ways if not handled correctly, for hours and hours, and on a daily basis with no exceptions. They are not easy birds to keep happy...

[Libertine]

Thank you so much wolf. That is very helpful. He was actually DNA tested as a male, and matter of fact, already has his pink ring (a little blotchy, but it's coming in). Hopefully this isn't a sign of him maturing too fast because of the schedule I have him on. I have to admit, he's my best friend, ha. He's constantly out, I've actually ran out of tricks to train him. I do a lot of positive reinforcement, and I've used training him as a bonding method. The only thing he hasn't gotten down is going to the bathroom on the play gym, though he's picked up "go poopoo" in his vocabulary. And as for the eating, he does absolutely get fresh fruit and vegetables every day, it's more a matter of what ever I'm cooking, I don't
make chop, it's just a different variety a day. I'm vegetarian, but transitioning to vegan, so there's a set aside plate of just plain, uncooked produce for him. As treats I use nuts— walnuts, pistachios, pine nuts, peanuts, etc. he actually likes to crack open the nuts more than eating them, I think. .

The last couple of nights have been better. I actually played with him in the closet to show him the closet is a fun place. I'm not sure if that helped. I feel like it's almost a baby cry at night.. For me. I'm scared he might have sexually imprinted on me, and for some reason this move has caused him anxiety. And I think the toys helped. He's always had toys of course, but I really tried to, for lack of better term, overwhelmed him with all the different things he could rip apart and make a mess with.

He's still crying out for me, but now it seems a little more natural, like "hey where did you go? Come back!" Instead of a constant non stop squawking.

[Wolf]

I don't really have any idea as to the layout of the room with the closet in it, but that aside, the closet may be enough darker that as far as the bird is concerned there may be a predator hiding in the closet waiting to pounce on him. This is a very real and practical fear for a bird, especially one in a cage that can't escape such a predator.
If he is past puberty then the only bond that there is, is the mate bond, so yes it is a sexual bond, but that is simply the way that it is. You just have to learn to not encourage sexual behaviors and to ignore the ones that you can do nothing about. A solar light schedule, low protein diet and only petting the bird in appropriate places will all help with reducing the amount of sexual behavior. Since you are seeing the pink ring then we know that he is reaching maturity, so if he has not gone through puberty then he will soon. For some it seems to be a difficult transition and with others you may just barely notice it, but I think that some of the behaviors as described may signify that it is very close, or winding up to begin. Yes it is a bit early but then he has not been getting the full effects of dawn and dusk twilight periods to regulate his internal clock.
I get very concerned and worried about a bird when I learn that the owner is trying to potty train the bird. They normally poop every 15 to 20 minutes and it can be a slight pain to always be prepared for cleaning up the droppings, but it is much better than several thousands of dollars spent to save his life when he develops an intestinal impaction from the combined effects of a too dry of a diet and holding in the poop due to potty training. Unlike many animals that will hold it until it get too uncomfortable and then go regardless of where they are, a bird will keep holding it until it can reach the designated pooping spot. Once they are trained to do this they will not poop any other place regardless of how painful it becomes to them.
My Grey has recently started to not poop if she is out with me. I do not potty train my birds and keep tissue handy to deal with the mess. It is not a problem for me, but I worry about her doing this even though she is the one doing it, so I make sure to put her in or on her cage every 20 minutes or so if she is out. Even with my doing this sometimes she only makes it until we reach the front of her cage and she lets go. My only concern, although I appreciate her help is that she is holding it when I am fully aware that she should not.

[Pajarita]

I hope you are NOT considering putting him in a closet! I had a bird that was kept in a closet for hours every day (a U2) and she plucked and self-mutilated because of it! Birds are never meant to be in enclosed spaces, they are meant to live in the sky and there is nothing more open than the sky so putting them in a small, enclosed space does something terrible to their brains! Even criminals have a side with open bars in their cells,,, and let's not forget that total confinement is a form of torture so, please, do not even dream of doing such a thing to the poor baby.

Training is not a bonding method and neither is positive reinforcement. I know that some trainers say that but what they mean is that, when done correctly, it deepens the bond, it does not create it.

And, please, please, please, no potty training. Birds metabolism is super high and they should never 'hold' it for any period of time. Birds have ended up with prolapse because of it... Living with a bird is living with poop - same as living with dogs and cats is living with hair (well, unless you go for the hairless breeds, something that nature never contemplated).