What to do about Pearl’s obsession with Ducky

FlyBirdiesFly

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I was scratching Ducky earlier today, and Ducky was closing her eyes and loving it. Suddenly, Pearl flew over and nearly landed on top of Ducky, and this really startled Ducky. She lunged at Pearl (not aggressively) and chirped in discomfort. When I tried to resume petting Ducky, she lunged at me and refused. I’m worried that Pearl is negatively affecting my relationship with Ducky, as Ducky is the sweetest bird with me but is afraid of other birds, and if Pearl is constantly trying to get close to Ducky, Ducky will begin to be fearful of everything and even lose trust in me. Pearl literally (as I type) just landed on Ducky’s back and I heard Ducky cry out and fly off in a panic. It’s not cute or funny anymore that she loves Ducky. I thought she would get over this and it was just her adjusting to her new surroundings, but it isn’t. I learned from her breeder that she was raised in a cage with lutino cockatiels, thus her obsession with Ducky. I’m starting to feel she won’t grow out of it. And it’s making my life, and Ducky’s, so much more stressful. I cannot hold Ducky while in the birdroom with Pearl out of her cage for very long, as Pearl will chase Ducky away from me. Ducky has been less interactive and more fearful (while still the sweetest bird ever) since Pearl came. I’m desperate, I cannot compromise Ducky’s quality of life anymore. I had to lock Ducky in her cage so Pearl couldn’t get to her, and Pearl climbed all over the cage, trying to find an entrance the entire time. My Ducky means the world to me. Thank you. :yellow1:
 
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FlyBirdiesFly

FlyBirdiesFly

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Let me add that all Pearl wants is a friend. A cockatiel friend. She has no interest in my budgie Bluebell. The poor thing is lonely in this world where Ducky rejects her. She grew up with cockatiels, and she’s probably so confused right now. And I’m not willing to get another bird.
 

Sunnyclover

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Where is Kermit in all of this?
 

YUMgrinder

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Oh boy. I think I can relate. My tiel doesn't really like the other birds but if I take my tiel (jazz) to be on my shoulder, cheddar my nanday thinks he can come and begs and begs. He's got quite a shriek about it too. Anyways, he tries to be by jazz cause he's the only bird that's nice to him but he gets too close and jazz will beak him and sometimes me if I get in the middle. If your budgie is constantly causing issues, I would try and separate them more. Maybe your budgie needs to be clipped? That might help keep him from flying and landing on ducky. although I don't feel like cheddar is getting in the way of my relationship with jazz. He gets over it quickly and is back to his old self.

does ducky strut around with heart shaped wings when he's out with the other birds? on a side note jazz constantly struts around like that when out with the rest of the flock.
 

LordTriggs

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Pearl and Ducky will need to have separate out of cage times I'm afraid, if Duck is so terrified of her that she's becoming scared of you then Pearl needs to be actively stopped from getting close to Ducky it's unfortunate but it really seems like the only solution to this. Pearl needs to learn that ducky isn't her friend as much as she wants him to be
 
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FlyBirdiesFly

FlyBirdiesFly

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Where is Kermit in all of this?

Kermit is a bully to all birds, Pearl included. He occasionally chases Ducky, but isn’t specifically targeting her. He just wants all birds out of his way and they don’t mess with him.
 
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FlyBirdiesFly

FlyBirdiesFly

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Oh boy. I think I can relate. My tiel doesn't really like the other birds but if I take my tiel (jazz) to be on my shoulder, cheddar my nanday thinks he can come and begs and begs. He's got quite a shriek about it too. Anyways, he tries to be by jazz cause he's the only bird that's nice to him but he gets too close and jazz will beak him and sometimes me if I get in the middle. If your budgie is constantly causing issues, I would try and separate them more. Maybe your budgie needs to be clipped? That might help keep him from flying and landing on ducky. although I don't feel like cheddar is getting in the way of my relationship with jazz. He gets over it quickly and is back to his old self.

does ducky strut around with heart shaped wings when he's out with the other birds? on a side note jazz constantly struts around like that when out with the rest of the flock.

I would be willing to try and separate them more. Clipping is a last resort, I hate the idea of it but would be willing to lightly clip her if the problem gets more out of hand than it is now. Ducky does not strut or do heart wings around the other birds because Ducky is a female.
 
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FlyBirdiesFly

FlyBirdiesFly

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Pearl and Ducky will need to have separate out of cage times I'm afraid, if Duck is so terrified of her that she's becoming scared of you then Pearl needs to be actively stopped from getting close to Ducky it's unfortunate but it really seems like the only solution to this. Pearl needs to learn that ducky isn't her friend as much as she wants him to be

Pearl isn’t the brightest bird. I don’t know why she continues to chase Ducky in hopes of Ducky becoming friends with her. It’s clear to me that it will never happen, in spite of Pearl’s dreams. I will try to keep her in the cage more often, and take Ducky out of the room separately.
 

LordTriggs

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Pearl and Ducky will need to have separate out of cage times I'm afraid, if Duck is so terrified of her that she's becoming scared of you then Pearl needs to be actively stopped from getting close to Ducky it's unfortunate but it really seems like the only solution to this. Pearl needs to learn that ducky isn't her friend as much as she wants him to be

Pearl isn’t the brightest bird. I don’t know why she continues to chase Ducky in hopes of Ducky becoming friends with her. It’s clear to me that it will never happen, in spite of Pearl’s dreams. I will try to keep her in the cage more often, and take Ducky out of the room separately.

Pearl just doing that Budgie thing, to an outsider of the budgie realm they are quite aggressive and persistent. It's unfortunate but it's for the best to keep them away from each other either until Pear chills out and leaves ducky be or until Ducky starts to allow other birds near
 
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FlyBirdiesFly

FlyBirdiesFly

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But how do I train Pearl to leave Ducky alone??? Is there any way to get her to finally learn?
 

LordTriggs

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I think less training her but more letting her become enamored with someone/something else
 
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FlyBirdiesFly

FlyBirdiesFly

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Another thing: maybe Pearl is hormonal (it’s that time of year), and she may think Ducky is her mate. But Bluebell, a member of her own species, is right there and she still loves Ducky. I think that Pearl might think she’s a cockatiel because of her being raised in the same cage with them while at the breeder.
 
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YUMgrinder

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get her a mirror lol
 

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