Bird Screaming incessantly

[Wolf]

Recently I received a PM from a new member who has a bird whom is screaming incessantly following the removal of a favored toy which the bird would occasionally mate with.
My response to this was to give the toy back to the bird. My reasoning is that this is a perfectly normal, natural and to some degree healthy action.
The member replied that the internet kept telling her to take the toy away and wait the screaming bird out.
I again replied to the member to give the toy back. I said that there is a lot of information on the internet that was what we did 20 years ago that we have since learned is wrong, and this was one of those situations. I stated that although I to used to say take the toy away from the bird, but that I now view this as a cruel practice.
The member has since not responded to me so here I am trying to let her know that I am not saying that she is cruel or uncaring in regards to her bird, just that a practice that was once the norm is outdated and cruel in light of the things that we have learned in recent years about bird keeping. I have also included an article by an avian vet for her to read on this topic. Also I would welcome other peoples responses to this as well.

From Dr. Marge Wissman at Birdchannels Medical Index

Masturbating

Description: Masturbation is sexual activity performed by a single pet bird, usually on a favored toy, perch, or in some cases, a human’s head, hand, foot or toe.

Symptoms:
Single males most commonly masturbate. A male masturbates by bending its tail under the object, then rubbing its vent on it. Females masturbate by leaning forward and backing up while placing her vent on an object with her tail up and to the side. Both of these behaviors approximate what a bird would do during copulation.

Immediate Care: If done infrequently, behaviorists say masturbation is healthy, allowing the bird a natural release. If your bird is masturbating too often, you can often stop the behavior by removing the favored object. If the bird tries to masturbate on a human, gently but firmly tell your bird “No,” and return it to the cage. Some birds regurgitate excessively on a toy as a part of masturbatory activity. Removing this toy will be helpful in curbing this behavior.

Long Term Care: Provide a masturbation toy for you bird occasionally, if necessary, but do not allow masturbating to become a frequent habit, as it can damage the cloaca and cause infection. Discuss this with your avian veterinarian if you feel that this behavior is becoming problematic or if it is excessive. Your vet can refer you to a bird behaviorist who can assist you in redirecting your bird’s behavior, once it has had a clean bill of health

This is the end of the article.

[Pajarita]

Indeed. In a situation like this, there are two kinds of advice given:
a) the advice to benefit the human
b) the advice to benefit the bird

The bird in question is, obviously, overly hormonal (human light schedule and, most likely, a diet too high in protein) because this is the one and only reason for a bird masturbating with an object to the point of screaming constantly when the object is removed.

The problem with advice about birds in the net is that 99% of the people giving it don't really have much more experience than a couple of birds for a few years and are just repeating what everybody else says without actually doing any in-depth research or taking the time to think about it from the bird's perspective.

Personally, if this was a bird given to me, I would reduce protein intake, put him under a strict solar schedule, make him fly as much as possible and allow him the relief of masturbation. Taking the toy away is not helping the poor animal, it's just making things worse for him and a cruel thing to do -not that I am calling the owner cruel, either, I am sure that he/she thought she was doing the right thing.

[Wolf]

I did ask about his diet and recommended that it be placed on a low protein diet if not already on one and to make sure that it was on a solar light schedule, although I didn't bring up flight as a means of reducing the hormones in his system.
I really doubt that the party will accept any of this ,but I thought it might be interesting for other members to weigh in on this topic and tell us their thoughts on how to deal with it if they had a bird like this.

[Pajarita]

I am not saying this is the case with this particular poster but I have found that most people ask their questions looking for a quick and easy solution (bird screams, give him this magic pill and he will shut up) but, when it comes to birds, nothing is quick or easy.