too much closeness

So, my little enzo CAG has recently laid 3 eggs. She is now starting on the pellet diet, but not fully. She is getting more sleep... 9:30pm to 7:30am. She wants to go to her found nesting places still bt its getting less and less...

She will not go to bed unless i pet her head for an hour, she cuddles in to me and wants me to tickle her head all over, I have to really out smart her in order to get her to a perch she can roost from in her cage. I know she is still hormonal but is this normal?

I took her to an avian vet over the weekend and he said more sleep etc. Just dont want to make her sad/dejected. I love her loads and she is really happy but I dont want her to just force her in her cage without the loving she is needing.. (weird i know)

Ive met a girl just after getting enzo..... expecting trouble bonding/socializing issues ahead!

i bought her a UVA lamp, £70 with holder, i smashed it 5s after turning it on.... what an idiot

Sounds like your girl has done a great job of training you!

Try starting earlier, but more importantly try engaging her into more activities during the day. Same approach as used with kids.

So, how much is a 60 watt LED, day light, light bulb in England?

Try giving her, say, 15 or 30 minutes of scratches (however much you'd like) then a treat before putting her in the cage for the night whether she wants to go in or not. Get her on a routine, a routine on YOUR terms. She may throw a tantrum for a few nights, but she will adapt to the routine you set for her. Parrots are like toddlers and they don't always want to go to bed even though they need to, but so long as bedtime boundaries are enforced, they'll learn and adapt. A tip I always follow when my bird is doing something I'm sure how best to handle is to ask myself "what would I do if this was a toddler doing this?". Usually, the rules that apply to young children also apply to parrots and like small children, they don't stop loving you or hate you because you make them go to bed at a sensible time or eat their vegetables

Regardless of relationship status, it's always important to socialize a parrot so they are comfortable around a wide variety of people. Even better if they are comfortable going to others, but not essential. It is pretty essential for them not to freak out or be jealous of others. Hope your new lady friend will be open to trying to make friends with Enzo?

bigfellasdad said:

i bought her a UVA lamp, £70 with holder, i smashed it 5s after turning it on.... what an idiot

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Was the bulb a CFL (spiral bulb, I know the one in Kiwi's full spectrum light is)? If so, you need to scrub anything it came into contact with thoroughly with disposable paper towels. CFLs contain (small amounts of) mercury. Given how sensitive parrots are to toxins and the frequent oral contact they have with their environment, it would be wise to make sure no trace of that remains in the area the bulb broke.

Here is how our (US) EPA says they should be properly cleaned up after if broken:
https://www.epa.gov/cfl/cleaning-broken-cfl

I know this game well. It can get frustrating for sure. I've been worried that Timneh would be angry at me for forcing her to go to bed but she seems to shrug it off pretty well. I've had to take my shirt off in order to stop her from running back up my arms. Lots of activities does seem to help to tucker em out. Timneh gets a grape and a couple pine nuts to bribe her into her house. The pine nuts get her ready and they grapes lead her into her house. Good luck.

thanks for the tip guys and taken on board, it sounds like a just need to be the boss a bit more and she should be fine

The bulb was £35 delivered, around $40?

I brushed up and took her out of the room for 2hrs, I left the doors and windows open in the kitchen as well. I didnt mop though, ill make sure I do when I get home.

Ive had little loving budgies but not on the scale of Enzo, its cute, but it will be stretch my patience at some point so thanks for the tips.

The new GF hasnt met Enzo yet but she even mentioned last night that we seem to have a strong bond and although she is intimidated by birds she wants to meet her. And more importantly she wants to go on the back of my superbike

Oh they all want to get on the back of your bike. And some parrots even learn to lean with the turns. Now girlfriends, that's a different story - some never get the concept of "If you see me leaning, lean with me. If you see me jumping off the bike, you should too".

Good luck with all 3 - Enzo, the Bike and the new girlfriend. Is she OK with being 3rd place? It was worse with me, with Playing Music, Max (my Canary winged parrot), my Bike and finally my G/f , now wife.

wrench13 said:

Oh they all want to get on the back of your bike. And some parrots even learn to lean with the turns. Now girlfriends, that's a different story - some never get the concept of "If you see me leaning, lean with me. If you see me jumping off the bike, you should too".

Good luck with all 3 - Enzo, the Bike and the new girlfriend. Is she OK with being 3rd place? It was worse with me, with Playing Music, Max (my Canary winged parrot), my Bike and finally my G/f , now wife.

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Thanks

I just tell anybody on the bike to just sit like a sack of potato's and dont scream too much I couldnt imagine Enzo as a pillion, can you get parrot leathers hehehe
New G/F being 3rd place, yep she understands that up to the point that Enzo goes to bed, surprisingly she giggles and agreed.

I don't have to pet clark because we preen each other all the time but I do have feign sleep at times at lie down beside him till he nods off so he doesn't miss out on anything. Otherwise I get contact calls and I feel bad. Is his cage in an area he can see you are still up? or in a bedroom? etc.

Men who are kind to and respect animals...it's always a plus for us girls I'd suggest the GF come armed with Enzo's most favorite treat in the whole world the first time they meet. Parrots are certainly not above taking bribes

Oh yes, im going to stop giving drinks (sugar free orange cordial/camomile tea) and treats (unflavoured/unsalted crisps or toast) to Enzo entirely when the GF visits, it will be HER that gives to Enzo.

I keep Enzo's cage in the kitchen at all times unless its very stormy as the trees make a lot of noise outside. As soon as I cover her I do leave the room, if she knows i'm there she will constantly 'hoo, night night, come on' so i cant really hang around as she wont sleep.

My 2 sons where a lot easier, read a story, they sleep..... enzo would just have a conversation with me when i do that, ive tried!

That's kind of what I figured, they can feel the vibration of your footsteps through their cage, and here conversation, TV etc. I put my birds cage by my bed because it's the most climate controlled room in the house and because he will sleep if I'm sleeping or pretending to sleep.

I'm not saying change anything, just an idea, it works for me.

clark_conure said:

That's kind of what I figured, they can feel the vibration of your footsteps through their cage, and here conversation, TV etc. I put my birds cage by my bed because it's the most climate controlled room in the house and because he will sleep if I'm sleeping or pretending to sleep.

I'm not saying change anything, just an idea, it works for me.

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Actually that makes a lot of sense, normally of an evening when i take her to the kitchen to sleep she opens her wings and looks up the stairs. She knows i sleep up there and ive let her a few nights on a perch next to my bed. I have hard flooring downstairs so she will indeed know im moving around. I keep the tv down as well, which is a pain as i have invested a lot of money in my home cinema and now i cant really use it, my totally ridiculous subwoofer is actually gathering dust and is now just a coffee table. upstairs is sound proofed so it will be nice and quiet for her.

I need to buy a smaller cage that I can carry outside if we ever get sun again here in the uk. I *could* keep it in my room and try her there, certainly worth a try. It will be next month before i can buy one though. thanks.

It works for me, and you don't have to go to sleep just lay down in the dark and daydream then sneak back out, shut the door and do whatever.