Red belly loves balls

florisvb

New member
Nov 19, 2020
8
0
Parrots
Wasabi - red-bellied parrot - bday: March 2019
Any thoughts on what Wasabi is doing with this ball in this video? Does it appear sexual to you? Or an egg-related reflex? He doesn't do this with other balls, like the plastic ones with bells in them. He seems to really enjoy trying to climb on top of it, but also seems to enjoy the challenge of just holding it with one foot.


[ame="https://youtu.be/nDGZ6D7U2mY"]bird and ball - YouTube[/ame]
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
That's what I was thinking as well. It looks a lot like an egg. Nest-like spaces, egg-like shapes etc can trigger amplified hormonal responses and nesting behavior that wouldn't occur to the same extent in the absence of triggers. That pile of shreddings on the ground could also trigger nesting behavior (especially in conjunction with the ball). You want to do your best to avoid providing them with anything nest-like (no piles of paper, huts/tents, under furniture, bedding/blankets, shadowy laps etc).


They are instinctively programmed to do certain behaviors, but they will do them much less in environment in which they are not triggered by access to certain objects/spaces etc. Exposure to triggers can change their hormone levels and put them into nesting mode etc (which can make them more anxious, vocal, neurotic etc--- just depends). If you are certain he is a male, I would wait until he isn't looking and remove the ball.


I am not sure what I would suggest that you do at this point, but in the future, avoid this.


If your bird is female, there is some risk that removing this object could actually cause her to lay eggs **if she thinks of this as her egg**....If a bird produces an infertile egg, the advice is to leave it until he/she loses interest. I am inclined to say remove it, but the other part of me wonders if you should remove all other nesting triggers (like the shreds etc) and wait until interest is lost...Sorry I can't help more. Definitely not something you want to encourage in the future though.
 
Last edited:
OP
florisvb

florisvb

New member
Nov 19, 2020
8
0
Parrots
Wasabi - red-bellied parrot - bday: March 2019
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #4
Thanks! That agrees with what I was thinking as well.

He doesn't seem to get excited about the shredded paper at all, so I don't think that is an issue (he's had that jungle gym since he was a 3 month old baby). And we don't let him have any tents etc.

It's funny the things he'll get excited about. For a while my wife was knitting a purple blanket, and he was never more excited about something than seeing those knitting needles move around in the wool! He would try everything he could to get to it.
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
My bird is super weird about hats, sunglasses and socks lol! She scrambles down to watch me put on my socks before work and it's funny, because at first, I thought it was fear, but she is fascinated for whatever reason...so I get what you mean about being weird around certain things. I just always caution against anything shadowy, nesty or egg-shaped because those reactions are usually hormonal in adult birds (if you notice them).



How old is your bird? That can make a difference, as babies will not be inspired by the same things that might trigger a hormonal (sexually mature) bird.
 
OP
florisvb

florisvb

New member
Nov 19, 2020
8
0
Parrots
Wasabi - red-bellied parrot - bday: March 2019
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
Wasabi is just over a year and a half (born March 2019), so I expect we'll start to see some changes in the next year.. will definitely keep an eye on those hormonal behaviors!
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
I would cut off access to anything hormonal now, based on his response to that ball and knowing his age. It isn't likely a major, long-term issue (so long as you do make changes), but just something that is is best to avoid (because it can be really tricky to spot until things get complicated).


He's adorable, btw!
 
OP
florisvb

florisvb

New member
Nov 19, 2020
8
0
Parrots
Wasabi - red-bellied parrot - bday: March 2019
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #8
Thanks for the advice, appreciate it!
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top