New cockatoo - behavior is changing

jujubee6

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Dec 30, 2016
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Six weeks ago my boyfriend adopted a rescue cockatoo from the avian vet where he'd been living for 9 months post house fire and owners divorcing. Poppy has been, according to the vet (we know them well, I've been taking my Quaker there for 4 years), quiet, amiable, sweet. He just turned 4.

Boyfriend (BF) has been doing well. Reading books. Bonding with Poppy. Big cage, lots of toys ($ not a problem for BF), working through the nibbling fingers, gentle "bite" stage. Recently he started target training with Poppy. Not doing clicker, but wants to, and I'm bringing over the one I used for Bell (the QP).

Poppy totally and immediately freaked out with love over BF's daughter. Behavior is now getting worse - he wants all her attention, biting her homework pencils, make-up brushes, bit a hole in her purse, putting up his feathers and whooping when she leaves or doesn't pay attention to him. He wants to be WHEREVER SHE IS. He takes off in flight, climbs the stairs after her, sits on the "rigging" as BF calls it, outside her room. She leaves, BF picks up Poppy, puts him back on top of his cage.

BF has read books, and in general, is doing well, I think and the best he can but daily cleaning, constant attention to Poppy (BF works from home), frequent problems getting Poppy in his cage, and now this, is getting frustrated, not trying new things, not reading or finding a solution ("Everyone says something different," he says, "leave the room, don't leave the room." It's BF's "I'm-overwhelmed-and-making-excuses response), but combined with the cleaning, heading down an eventual path -I'd not like to see. "Poppy is a full-time job," he says. "I knew it would be difficult, but not this difficult."

Some insight and suggestions? She should do target training for Poppy? Leave the room? Not leave the room? BF should move Poppy when he starts doing that? She's too scared. Poppy wooed her initially or she'd have stayed far away entirely. If I can bring some ideas and a plan of action, perhaps he will implement it.

BTW - Though Poppy initially loved me at the vets (which is how this came about) I come over every weekend with a QP so Poppy and I had some issues at first, now being resolved with patience, distance, smiles, and my doing good things for him, but I can't really insert more actively here. There's much more to all this, but it would be too long of a post!
Thank you.:white1::33:
jujubee6
 

Scott

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Aug 21, 2010
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Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
What species of cockatoo is Poppy? While they have similar characteristics, some can be more challenging.

Many parrots will seek to bond with several people, and in some cases establish a strong preference for one. In this case it appears to be your BF's daughter. I assume your BF's intent was to be the primary caretaker and parront to Poppy?

Cockatoos have roughly the intelligence of a 2 to 4 year old and similar maturity - in perpetuity. The key is to establish a sort of pecking order with consistent behavioral modification (clicker can help) in a non-threatening atmosphere. Your BF and daughter will have to determine what role each wishes to play in Poppy's immediate future. The following links may help with better integrating Poppy into your lives:

http://www.parrotforums.com/cockatoos/17694-owning-cockatoo.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/3100-bond-forming.html

The last thread is a bit moot as your BF already has a bird, but is insightful nonetheless: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/8769-so-you-want-get-parrot-first-time.html

You mention some behavioral issues; is Poppy biting people and/or screaming?
 
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jujubee6

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Thank you, Scott. Poppy is an umbrella cockatoo. BTW BF knows from vet to only pet head. and not wings/body.

I will read these and I'm sure they will be helpful. I hope BF is okay with what seems like constant constant constant engagement, cleaning, toy making, etc whether he feels like it or not - new toys, rotating them, etc so that P doesn't climb down, eat the back of the chair, fly up the stairs, eat the rigging (banister and cross railings). The vet says he was a mechanic in a former life. He's great at taking things apart. Has unwound rope perches, gotten chain links stuck on his beak (once here, previously elsewhere), likes those little oval screw things that hold chains to the cage. Hooks those into his beak. I'm worried about BF wearing out and problems becoming exacerbated.

So behavior change - at the vet, he was handled by multiple people, never bit, very quiet, docile. They just picked him up and put him in his cage, and while he didn't want to go, he'd acquiesce. He was of course caged a lot, but they often brought him out - he lived there 9 months. BF sometimes has trouble putting Poppy in the cage, has to chase Poppy down the hall with a blanket. I brought my clicker over yesterday - BF said he wanted to do clicker target training - but never actually GOT a clicker, so started target training without it. I'm hoping he reads some on clicker training - might get him a book to spur it. I will do some as well.

Poppy has nibbled his fingers, nibbled mine, bit me gently a while back - quietly turned his head and nabbed my thumb, no crest up. Bit BF last week, although BF acknowledges he might have read P's behavior better at the time. First he said there was no warning, then said P was a bit agitated and had just been rebuked. If he bites daughter, he'll be done. P Likes to make noise in the morning and night, but is that "calling behavior" - crest up, wings out? We all call together and he quiets down.

I don't think he's truly exhibiting problematic behavior per se - but I keep telling BF - you've got to keep him mentally occupied with stuff and change it so its new. I'm worried he might get tired, lazy, and then problems develop in addition to the cleaning, things with daughter, noise, the normal stuff. I have a rescue QP and it took considerable time to build a bond. I'm no bird expert, but I'm all for patience, reading avidly, and trying different approaches to see what works. There are multiple opinions on man topics, so the source and experience is important - to me. He said P doesn't like the big birdie bagels, but birds seem to be mercurial. All this advice to change toys - I hung it on the blocks in his cage and he's decimating it as I write.

BF does things on his own timetable. In general, I've found it wise to make suggestions, then leave him alone a bit to ponder it while I tend to read, ask, do, fix.
 
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Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
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San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Do you have the impression BF is nearly in over his head? Umbrellas and Moluccans are typically the most challenging of the cockatoo family. Yet Poppy seems generally well adjusted absent chronic vicious biting or painful and random bouts of screaming.

Six weeks is a reasonable but not complete time for adaptation. There is indeed a "honeymoon" factor, after which time an emboldened and near fearless bird can emerge. Keep in mind Poppy is in his third home in less than a year, and you don't know what "baggage" he harbors from the first or even preceding environments.

How old is BF's daughter? Depending on her age, it may not be appropriate for her to have unsupervised time with Poppy. This may bias Poppy towards majority adult companionship. I believe concentrated target training may be effective. Short but consistent time-outs in the cage for awful behavior can be helpful.

It is crucial to teach cockatoos how to entertain themselves to prevent terrible neuroses and "Velcro" tendencies. Sounds as if Poppy is a dedicated chewer - wood toys are among a cockatoo's best friends!
 
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jujubee6

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Do you have the impression BF is nearly in over his head?
Possibly. I volunteered to take charge of toy rotation on weekends, suggested he make his own during the week as needed, and next weekend we'd make about 8 or 9 so he had a reserve. Then I suggested we go to Parrot & Co in Stamford, CT, Sunday, where he dropped a fair amount of $ on the big colored block ones and some others. I'm more systematic, tackle-it-head on than he is. This helps him - and me, too, quite frankly.

Umbrellas and Moluccans are typically the most challenging of the cockatoo family. Yet Poppy seems generally well adjusted absent chronic vicious biting or painful and random bouts of screaming.
He is. Not so with me, though. Maybe it's bc I "compete" for BF's attention AND come with another bird. He's tested me a few times and I've been found wanting, I think...I do good things (food, treats, let him out - he clings to his door), but am keeping my distance. A few hisses here and there and some nips - I'm wary. Patient, but wary.

Six weeks is a reasonable but not complete time for adaptation. There is indeed a "honeymoon" factor, after which time an emboldened and near fearless bird can emerge. Keep in mind Poppy is in his third home in less than a year, and you don't know what "baggage" he harbors from the first or even preceding environments.
VERY good point. I had not thought about that.

How old is BF's daughter?
27. School is Master's degree. Lives with her dad, but not home much. Great girl. Really gentle and considerate in general.

It is crucial to teach cockatoos how to entertain themselves to prevent terrible neuroses and "Velcro" tendencies. Sounds as if Poppy is a dedicated chewer - wood toys are among a cockatoo's best friends!
BF is now putting Poppy in the cage periodically during the day. He decided he gave P a bit too much freedom, and also wanted to teach him cage was okay - in/out, in/out - rather than the long periods of time he was usually in it boarding at the vets (and never wanted to go back in). I get the velcro thing - he's like a lap dog. Falls asleep on BF's lap. Looks like a duck. And wood - buying for him the second time after six weeks was much easier - and more successful - than buying for him the first time, 3 days before he came home to BF's.

Can you recommend a good clicker training book? There are a couple on Amazon, and I wonder if you have a particular affinity toward the efficacy of any one in particular.

No problems with P and daughter - she was gone a week, but returned Monday. P has been very sweet both Mon and Tues. Loves her dearly, treats her gently, but then periodically just acts up. With your help, and patience, and some training, I think we'll be okay. Fortunately, all three of us are essentially low-key, non reactive people. No arguments, loud music, or yelling at "the bird" to SHUT UP kind of thing.

Thank you, Scott, greatly:white1:
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
You are very welcome!! I believe you are very perceptive and have great insight into Poppy's behavior. Definitely believe increasing his structure will yield benefits. The challenge with cockatoos is to strike a balance between socialization with humans and fostering autonomy as needed. A bored or indifferent cockatoo quickly becomes quite resourceful in negative fashion; screaming, destructive behaviors, plucking/mutilation, etc.

Believe it or not, I have not clicker-trained my flock! Most were either acquired in good spirits or were hand-raised in my home. Check out this link to clicker training. Perhaps others can recommend good books?

http://www.parrotforums.com/training/60435-clicker-target-training.html
 

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