Separation anxiety & mirrors

themacinjosh

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Mar 8, 2012
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Has anyone figured out a good way to help with separation anxiety when you're away? I put a ustream cam on my bird's cage today and watched on my iPhone as we were out...we were only gone for less than an hour, but the bird constantly was pacing back and forth. It broke my heart to see that. I left a radio on but that didn't seem to be enough. I should note the bird is only 7 weeks old, but is there anything you do to put your birds more at ease when you're gone? Getting another bird is not an option right now, the deposit on pets where we live is insane. Maybe at some point we can get another bird in a separate cage but right now we need to find another method.

I've heard that mirrors in the cage is a bad idea with lovebirds because they bond with the bird in the mirror instead? I'm less concerned at this point with who the bird bonds with, I just want what's best for our little baby bird here. Please let me know any suggestions!
 

MikeyTN

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Feb 1, 2011
13,296
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Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Toys is essential!!! I used to leave tv on for Willie since he used to be alone, but since all the other flock came along, they talk to each other. I still leave TV on for Willie though, he likes it! And I also leave radio on for my other birds that's in a separate room.
 
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themacinjosh

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She has plenty of toys...she just won't touch em when we're out. She stays at the bottom of the cage and just paces and occasionally goes up to eat and then right back to the pacing. Just wants so badly out of the cage...I wish she'd go play with some of the toys we got her!!

So that begs the question, would a mirror actually be a good idea? it was the only thing that seemed to really fascinate her...but i don't want it to ruin her sweet demeanor later either.
 

roxynoodle

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Dec 1, 2011
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She's just a baby. She will play with toys eventually. Lovebirds really like to shred paper so leave her some to play with. Eventually she will. 2 of my birds love to watch TV. Most of them like music.

She will adjust to your having to leave sometimes. Most people work and their birds manage.
 

Luna

Banned
Banned
Mar 10, 2012
96
0
Canada
Parrots
I have Psittacidae
Hi, At this stage of development this bird is about the equiveltnt of putting a three year old child alone on its own. If it has not been done have it DNA sexed that will be of great help as the years pass. The single best toy for any lovebird species is a hamster wheel. After the first experience whatching one we went and purchased fifty. If you have a choise select one that does not have plastic holding the wheel in place. After a few months it will be much more dificult to introduce a companion to the same cage. D.D.
 
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themacinjosh

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I'm actually awaiting the results of the DNA test as we speak! But the hamster wheel sounds like it could be a great idea!! We'll have to get one of those. I'd imagine we'd have to get one that isn't painted a color or something ....the metal that it's made out of isn't toxic though right? I guess if you've used it a lot it must be ok!

I'm not really planning to introduce a companion to it, the only thing I'd hope to do one day is get another different type of bird perhaps, and have it in a separate cage but in the same room. That way it'd have a bird to 'talk to' while we're gone.

Thanks for the advice this has really helped. Anyone have bad experiences with mirrors though? With the bird bonding to the bird in the mirror instead? I'm not sure if that'd be a problem if we're still handling her a ton.
 

BillsBirds

Well-known member
Jan 9, 2012
1,371
40
Largo, Florida
Parrots
Timneh African Grey (Bailey), Lovebird (Elvis)
Some people think mirrors are fine. I have had several bad experiences with mirrors and birds. First, if it's a male, they tend to fall in love with their reflection, and masturbate a lot. Second, if female, along with the previous mentioned love/sex affair, they can be stimulated to lay infertile eggs. And because there isn't enough hormonal stimulation, they can become egg bound. That can kill them. I had a budgie, my beloved Bradleigh, that kept laying eggs after we removed the mirror. She would try to play with her reflection in a bell. Eventually she tried to lay an egg and prolapsed her cloaca. After an emergency vet visit, and 4 days of no sleep for us and antibiotics for her, she died. So, I think mirrors are not good, and will never give one to any bird.
 

Pedro

New member
Dec 15, 2010
1,583
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Australia
Parrots
2 Budgies, 3 Cockatiels, 6 GCC'S, 2 Crimson Bellie Conures, 9 Sun Conures, 2 Major Mitchells, 12 Eclectus parrots of various ages, 2 BF Amazons, 2 Hahn's Macaw's, 1 Red Tail Black Too
Has anyone figured out a good way to help with separation anxiety when you're away? I put a ustream cam on my bird's cage today and watched on my iPhone as we were out...we were only gone for less than an hour, but the bird constantly was pacing back and forth. It broke my heart to see that. I left a radio on but that didn't seem to be enough. I should note the bird is only 7 weeks old, but is there anything you do to put your birds more at ease when you're gone? Getting another bird is not an option right now, the deposit on pets where we live is insane. Maybe at some point we can get another bird in a separate cage but right now we need to find another method.

I've heard that mirrors in the cage is a bad idea with lovebirds because they bond with the bird in the mirror instead? I'm less concerned at this point with who the bird bonds with, I just want what's best for our little baby bird here. Please let me know any suggestions!

OK I am going to be the big baddy here. Your bird is only 7 weeks old & i feel you are encouraging this anxiety behaviour yourselves. Correct me if i am wrong & if i am i do apologise. I am guessing your bird is out of the cage & being cuddled every chance you get. There are not boundaries in place. You are possibly sending your parrot mixed messages.

If you think for one minute what your bird would be taught if it was parent reared & in the wild. It may be a tiny bird but i can assure you they are really a lot tougher than you think.

Some birds love their mirror & don't have any bad effects from them however I guess if you were to monitor you little ones behavior & all is fine i don't see any harm. If you do notice a problem well take it out immediately.
 
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themacinjosh

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Ok, then how would we not send mixed messages then? What kind of boundaries should we put in place? WE have been getting her out every chance we get, but I have thought some time in the cage even when we're home would be good so I've been trying to do that too...probably not enough though.

I'm all for setting some boundaries but don't know how to go about doing that.
 

Mare Miller

Banned
Banned
May 14, 2011
1,260
Media
2
3
sierra foothills of central California
Parrots
13yr. old male umbrella cockatoo,
we call him Amigo!

7yr. old Goffin cockatoo, she IS Sassy!!
I recall my mom having a parakeet when I was young and she always had a mirror in his cage, it had bells on it. There was no way to handle "Pepper", with that mirror in the cage, he was very territorial and did not want you near his 'mate'!

My cockatoo, Amigo, discovered the bathroom above sink mirror a while back and for a while just loved to hang out admiring himself, no issues. About a month ago, he was in the bathroom, on the sink counter and I started hearing this commotion and banging sounds against the glass. I quickly got in there to see what was going on and he had taken the lid off of a small metal bowl, that I keep little toys in for him, and was ramming his reflection with this lid! Totally bizarre, to me! I took away his toy box and he then started running into the mirror with his chest and fencing his reflection with his beak. Yikes! I'm gonna call it hormones but I also called it quits, with the mirror.
 
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roxynoodle

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Dec 1, 2011
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I agree with Pedro that maybe you are fretting over him/her too much. It is a good idea to let her have some in cage time and learn to play independently instead of relying on you for entertainment and cuddling all the time. You might also get her a little play gym to spend some time on out of the cage. Most of the chain pet stores sell ones for little birds that are inexpensive. I know Pet Supplies Plus has them. I know she's a baby, and you are a new owner (and she's small and very cute), but trust me, lovebirds are much tougher than they look. I've seen them chase down cats and dogs and latch onto their tails.

Play with her here and there, but don't hang over her every second or worry about every little thing. She is healthy and smart and she will be fine.
 

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