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what to do?

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what to do?

Postby coral » Sat Apr 09, 2011 3:28 pm

my little guy destroyed the back of the dresser my grand father passed away gave me its not really noticable i didnt know he was chewing on it but the back corner of it is completely destroyed, and he has been "playing" with electric cords i dont know what to do with him i moved him to the middle of my room until i can decide i dont know where i can put him without him destroying my furniture or getting something bad for him. i moved all the cords away from him. is this a sign he wants something plastic or wooden? because he has plastic and wooden toys that he doesnt play with. am i doing something wrong?? :(
A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song. <3
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coral
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Re: what to do?

Postby kaylayuh » Sat Apr 09, 2011 3:49 pm

You're not doing anything wrong, but there's not much you can really do to stop him. You can try to keep him away from things that you don't want him to chew. It sounds easy, but it's much harder than it sounds. Birds have a funny way of getting access to things they're not supposed to have. You can distract him from things that you don't want him to have by putting toys around the room for him to play with. But again, that's not a sure fire bet either. Or you can just pay a lot of attention to what he's doing when he's out and remove him from whatever it is you don't want him to have.

Cheney Bird likes to hang out on the desk when I'm sitting at the computer. He also has a fascination with the wires for the webcam, speakers, mouse and keyboard. I'm not really okay with him chewing on these as I don't want them ruined and him hurt, so if he's at the desk now, he has foot toys or treats to occupy his beak. He still goes for the mouse and keyboard occasionally, but I quickly move him from those objects and redirect his attention to something else.

As for the dresser, depending on how bad the damage is, you may be able to sand the corner and make it less noticable. If he seems to be going for the corners because those are the easiest for him to chew, they make table corner protectors. Generally, they're meant for toddler safety, but I'm sure they'd offer at least some protection from a beak. How good that protection would be, though, I'm not sure.

If he seems to like chewing on wood, you could try offering him some wood blocks. I don't think chewing on furniture is an indication of anything other than easy access.
"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."
- Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
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Re: what to do?

Postby coral » Sat Apr 09, 2011 4:46 pm

good idea ill try the sanding thing, i bought him some toys of a bunch of different kinds sizes and textures theres a bunch of stuff so im gonna try this and hopefully the new toys will entertain him enough to not chew on my dressers :P
A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song. <3
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coral
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Gender: This parrot forum member is female
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Number of Birds Owned: 4
Types of Birds Owned: zebra finches, society finches, spice finches, and a blue headed pionus parrot
Flight: No

Re: what to do?

Postby CheekyandMalolo » Fri Apr 15, 2011 12:00 am

Was it a piece of particle board on the back of the dresser that he's chewed? or solid timber? If he's chewed a hole in it you could easily cut a piece to match the hole and glue it into place.
I would suggest simply hanging a cloth between the cage and the dresser, or put up a piece of cardboard.
Make sure he has lots of chewing things in his cage, but easily chewed things like cardboard. I like to cut out shapes in it so they still look cute. Like at Christmas I made one of those little trees where you cut out two shapes and slot them into each other to make a 3d image, infact I think I'll make an easter one too :)
You can always decorate them with big beads or glue on seeds with a flour and water glue, that might get them interested in it quickly.
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Re: what to do?

Postby coral » Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:50 pm

it was the actual wood and now that im in a new room he has his own space, he has soooo many toys and he completely doesnt care about them.. hes crazy lol but that is a good idea ill have to try that!
A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song. <3
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coral
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Gender: This parrot forum member is female
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Number of Birds Owned: 4
Types of Birds Owned: zebra finches, society finches, spice finches, and a blue headed pionus parrot
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Re: what to do?

Postby CheekyandMalolo » Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:59 am

I find cardboard toys work really well for birds that like to chew but seem disinterested in chewing toys, it's so easily chewed that they can't resist. I even just wrap up sultanas in a piece of paper like a lolly wrapper and they go nuts for it.
Aurora - Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure
o'Tika - Pineapple Green Cheek Conure
Malolo - Cinnamon Pied Cockatiel
Tim - Red Wing Parrot
Prince - Blue Princess Parrot
Cheeky - Green Cheek Conure(RIP)
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Re: what to do?

Postby coral » Mon Apr 18, 2011 3:13 pm

he has cardboard and paper toys he ignores lol
A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song. <3
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coral
Poicephalus
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 287
Number of Birds Owned: 4
Types of Birds Owned: zebra finches, society finches, spice finches, and a blue headed pionus parrot
Flight: No


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