Being rebellious

[echoskybound]

My conure Wheatley has been really rebellious lately. He loves to try to get into trouble that he knows he's not supposed to. He gets really fixated on things that he becomes determined to chew. Normally when he gets fixated on something, I just let him have it, because eventually loses interest. But lately he's been fixated on things I really don't want him to be near, like electrical wires, scissors, etc.

Whenever he starts trying to chew something he's not allowed to, I say "No" and take it away. He hates that, and he acts very upset when I take something away. Sometimes, he anticipates that I'll take it away from him if he chews it, so he bites it then immediately gets upset at me, even if I didn't make a move! That means that he KNOWS I don't want him to do these things... but he's still determined to do them.

Has anybody had a little rebel before?

 

[roxynoodle]

My Nanday also wants to beak and investigate anything she can get to. You might try giving him something appropriate like a toy when you take something away. That way he's not being punished. Even a ball of paper to shred can be a good exchange.

 

[echoskybound]

Thanks! that's a good idea and I try it a lot. I have toys all over the house for him to play with... he just has no interest in them when he's fixated on something. I have him with me at my computer desk right now and there are tons of toys here for him to play with, but he's still more interested in biting the wire to my mouse. The rascal is exclusively interested in it right now despite all the toys I made for him!

(When I'm making a toy for him, I play "keep away" so he gets interested in it... but then after an hour or so, it's not interesting anymore!)

I think part of the problem is that he's really interested in whatever I'm interacting with, but sometimes those things are dangerous for him and I can't let him play with them. He loses interest very quickly in things I let him have, but he fixates on things I don't let him have. I've solved a few of his obsessions by just giving the object to him and letting him get bored of it, but I can't let him chew on my glasses, so he's obsessed with them.

I considered getting "dummy" versions of the things he wants, one that's safe for him... but then I'd have to find things like scissors and glasses that are safe to chew... hmm.

 

[roxynoodle]

The grass is always greener? Yes, forbidden things are more fun! Or he wants it because you are playing with it? My cat often types things or chews on the wire for my mouse. I know have a wireless mouse.

I guess I would try to put away anything you can like the scissors.

 

[ceejay]

hi i had the same issue with my galah in fact im waiting on a new usb cord now for my camera so i can post a video of sheldons progress. i found that a big pile of shredded paper and plain old toliet paper rolls works good he has other toys but he would rather play with things he not suppose to as well. normally when hes doing something like chewing at the carpet i get up and say what ya doin and he automatically knows uh oh im caught lol and moves on to something he knows is ok. i had a really bad issue with him wanting to go up stairs as i live in a 2 story house but i blocked the stairs he kept going up there for a while but when he realized hmm i cant get up there with this blockade in the way he just gave up. sheldon is a cheeky boy and now most of the time all i have to do is use a certain tone when i call his name and he knows hes in trouble lol and walks away from the things he knows he shouldnt be chewing its kinda funny cause hes like la la la looks around like who me im not doing nothing good luck with your baby cheers ceejay