What does this behaviour mean?

Jayyj

New member
Apr 28, 2013
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UK
Parrots
Alice - Galah cockatoo
Had a strange new behavior from Alice today, was wondering if anybody recognizes it? She was crouched in this posture for about a minute, rocking up and down, making an insistent high pitched chirp and shaking her wings every few seconds. I'm guessing it could be a mating display? She's been very cuddly the last few days for the first time, although I've been careful to only stroke her around the crest area.

She's done it twice tonight and I've been studiously ignoring it, although as soon as she stopped and stood upright I offered my hand for her to step up and then distracted her with food.
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Jayyj

Jayyj

New member
Apr 28, 2013
735
2
UK
Parrots
Alice - Galah cockatoo
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  • #3
Yeah, will film something if she does it again. We didn't get a repeat yesterday, and I've tried to keep a check on my own behavior to see if I was triggering anything, and make physical contact as little and often rather than extended cuddles.

Its hard though when she's been keeping me at arms length for weeks then suddenly the cloud lifts and she wants lots of contact - but it might not be the right thing for her!
 
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Jayyj

Jayyj

New member
Apr 28, 2013
735
2
UK
Parrots
Alice - Galah cockatoo
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  • #5
Yeah, that's my instinct as well. This evening I've reduced contact a little, allowing her to cuddle up to me if we're on the sofa but any hand contact is brief and primarily scratches and teasing her crest rather than stroking - she has some pin feathers there so I've been tweaking the wax coatings for her which she seems to appreciate. It seems to have been a more or less isolated incident for the time being.

I guess the important thing for me is learning to recognize signs that she might be getting stimulated so I can divert the behavior.

I'm constantly astounded by how much there is to learn in understanding and responsibly caring for these birds - I spent six months researching before Alice arrived and considered myself quite the expert. Barely even scratched the surface!
 

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