Can I encourage him to pick a doll instead?

tashawithanekkie · Nov 20, 2017

So every interaction with Duke is basically a mating dance anymore. He gets covered every night at 8:30, gets uncovered at 7:30 every morning, so he's getting enough sleep. I put him on a perch or the cage door every time, with a firm "No" or "I don't like that." I don't try to pet him.

He's still hot for my arm, or my shoulder, or my hand. If he was a human, I'd encourage him to go watch a video and spend some time taking care of himself, as it were.

So if I provided a few soft toys, do you think maybe he'd take them instead? Is there a special something I should look for in a toy for him? I mean, I suppose I'm flattered, but also pretty tired of it.

itzjbean · Nov 20, 2017

I would not suggest soft toys, he may get overly attached to it and may end up more frustrated then he started with, but just my opinion on that. Other experienced Eclectus owners may have had to do different things to keep those hormonal parrot urges at bay, lol. You can try to divert his attention to playing with fun new toys he can destroy and chew.

coopedup · Nov 20, 2017

we have the "sacrificial hump bunny" ...actually now a bear...the bunny got worn out. He uses the bear several times a day but shows no affection to it and is not possessive. I have it tied to the top of his cage. Just keep an eye on it to make sure he's not eating it or ingesting eyes/noses/bows/etc. I upsized mine a bit so that it elevates his tail is above the cage. Last year he scrubbed so much his tail was down to nubs.

katie_fleming · Nov 22, 2017

Having the same problem with Jasper. When I'm sitting on the couch he calls me over repeatedly to pick him up. Normally he'd just sit and chill with me but now it's the birdie dance every time *sigh*

I feel badly because he wants over so badly but if I risk it I know what's coming.

I have a stuffed hippo toy for him but he's shown zero interest in ugh...dancing with him. lol

MonicaMc · Nov 22, 2017

Short answer is yes, although redirecting his desires to something else may or may not help.

Any possible way to figure out what's triggering the hormones, then reduce the triggers?

Or what about training new behaviors that are incompatible to being hormonal? This could be foraging for food or learning new tricks.

Uglow · Nov 30, 2017

We got Uglow a macaw plushy with the same intention and he just ripped his eyes off and pulled its stuffing through the eye holes.

So... we've created a psychopath.

And he's still attracted to my hands.

katie_fleming · Nov 30, 2017

Uglow said:
We got Uglow a macaw plushy with the same intention and he just ripped his eyes off and pulled its stuffing through the eye holes.

So... we've created a psychopath.

And he's still attracted to my hands.

:18::18::18::18::18::18::18::18:

I'm dying LOL.

I will try Jasper with his hippo toy again and see what happens. He was more interested in grabbing onto his hand and shaking it playfully than getting down with him :18::18:

Can I encourage him to pick a doll instead?

tashawithanekkie

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itzjbean

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coopedup

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katie_fleming

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MonicaMc

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Uglow

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Photoshoot!

enjoying my new ekkie...too soon to get another one?

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