Rocky hates window treatments

Siobhan

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Does anybody else have a 'too who does this?

Rocky objects vehemently to opening windows or closing windows or opening curtains or closing curtains. He used to object to curtains and yank them down, but he's gotten over that part.

We don't have a/c, so this morning before I left for work, I went to turn on the fan in the window behind his cage because it's going to be hot today, and as usual, he came charging over to put a stop to it. He would have done the same if I'd been turning the fan off. Crest up, wings out, lunging and trying to bite. His play stand is close enough to the window that I had to dodge to avoid getting a nasty bite. Trust me, it's not a playful pretend thing. He is really angry and trying to hurt me. WHY? Anybody have a theory?

He's a rescue, so he has all sorts of odd fears and issues, and many of them we've been able to theorize what caused them and find ways to desensitize him, but this one is a puzzle.
 

LaManuka

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Who can ever truly claim to know the workings of the mind of an evolved dinosaur? It’s either the wisdom of the ages or... heck I don’t know... I’ve got nuthin! :) But Rocky sounds wonderful ❤️
 

ToMang07

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Oh absolutely.... I need to be careful when I reach for the one behind Willow's cage or I'll get a nip....and if she's in it she'll reach out just as fas as she can with her foot to try and grab me, lol
 

GaleriaGila

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Well, this *IS* weird! The Rb has an obsession with window treatments in his room that led to the elimination of all such. He's okay with window stuff in other rooms. Now he's fixated on the only remaining 'treatment' in his room... the cord that raises/lowers the blinds. He loses his mind when I use it (which I only do when he's caged!), and plots obsessively to get at it. Fortunately, he can't figure out any way to obtain it.
He has never been abused a day in his life, and has pretty much led a spoiled, trauma-free (unless you count vet visits) existence.
So what is it with window stuff already?
Exhibit A.
aziuzHu.jpg
 

Laurasea

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My GCC throws a fit when I open a d close the blinds too. I thought this was just because it's by her cage. But maybe it's just a parrot thing!
 

LaManuka

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Long-suffering hubby & I have a theory about the extinction of the dinosaurs. There was no meteorite, it was the dinosaurs got so bloody-minded and went all thermo-nuclear on each other and that’s why they’re extinct! Just make sure the Rb never gets hold of the nuclear codes ok?!
 
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Siobhan

Siobhan

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See, that's what's weird. The little parrots (two Quakers, a tiel and a budgie) don't seem to care if I open or close windows or curtains. Jade (a Quaker) most definitely disapproves of taking curtains down and putting them up, which of course I have to do occasionally because they need to have the bird poop washed out of them, but I thought that was something to do with the curtain rods being scary for some reason. None of the rest of it bothers her. And my starling doesn't care what I do as long as the meal worms keep coming.
 

GaleriaGila

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This is such a fun thread!
The cutest stories... and visuals! The Rb with Nuclear Codes, for example.

New potential meme - parrots vs. window treatments. Somebody needs to Photoshop a great graphic!
 

LaManuka

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Hang on just a cotton pickin ‘ second is that an original Rembrandt I spy on your wall Rickeybird?? “Bird With A Pearl Earring”, a portrait of one of your aristocratic ancestors perhaps? I thought maybe I was in the presence of greatness but now I am convinced of it! :)
 
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GaleriaGila

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Hang on just a cotton pickin ‘ second is that an original Rembrandt I spy on your wall Rickeybird?? “Bird With A Pearl Earring”, a portrait of one of your aristocratic ancestors perhaps? I thought maybe I was in the presence of greatness but now I am convinced of it! :)

Ahhhh, yes, that is indeed an original Photoshop by Remy Brandt, entitled "Bird with Pearl Earring Who Hates Window Treatments As Much As Rocky"!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for noticing!
 

Scott

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No problem with my birds, however my dad's German Shepard goes berserk when window shades are operated. She has to be put outside in her "run" before raising or lowering. If not, the barking is aggressive and lengthy.

Operating theory is the noise may be a trigger. Wonder if this is true with birds?
 

noodles123

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My bird is okay with blinds etc, but she (adopted U2/re-home) is afraid of anything new that is bigger than 1 ft by 1ft-especially if it is being carried across the room...I have little advice in this department, other than suggesting that you let your bird observe passively before allowing her to get closer to the fear source (not saying it will work----mine still will fly off of me when we walk past certain "scary"objects)...When it comes to tolerating these things, she does do better when she is on top of her cage (as opposed to on a free-standing perch or my shoulder). Mine also HATES flying insects lol (a fly will cause her to puff up and hiss sometimes). She doesn't get mad at me, but she does freak out.



What do you normally do when she gets aggressive following a fright?

What is your immediate course of action following the bites (what do you say, do, etc)?
 
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LordTriggs

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noise potentially could be a thing, or possibly could it be due to the sudden change of light? Especially as birds see UV lights it could be that seeing the light change in a sudden way is extremely frightening to them? Then they see that we seem to be the cause of the change so the beak opens and we get a firm "Don't do that!"

just a little hypothesis
 
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Siobhan

Siobhan

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It's not the change of light, because he comes a-runnin' when I approach the window, before I've done anything. In this case, I was putting the fan back in the window after a cool spell, so I could turn it on now that it's hot again. But even when the fan is already IN the window, I have to turn it on, or off, while he's locked in his cage or he goes on the attack.
 

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