Domnijoe - The Art Studio and Bird Herder's Residence

[Vampiric_Conure]

What happens when you try to get him to step onto a stick?

At first, he reluctantly obeyed my offer of the stick, then climbed up to settle on my forearm. Lately, he's been biting the stick when offered, and yesterday was the first refusal to step up. He outright lunged at it. So I backed off and let him be.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Why do you think he's acting so hostile?

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Why do you think he's acting so hostile?

I'm thinking it COULD be him showing frustration with me. He's testing his limits, and I didn't pay attention to his body language. When they say Grey body language is more subtle, they ain't kidding!

I also worry he might not be getting enough sleep. I've switched to a night light from a dim-wattage lamp, so that should help the situation . Plus, my guys only get 10 1/2 to 11 hours of sleep. He might not be used to that.

 

[rheashard2]

For avian reasons Namelisd does similar. My fingers, hand, stick, etc turns into bird eating torture devices. That's normal and irritating showing of independence. Remain calm. Plan your actions in steps with your end goal. The cage is his territory. You don't desire him to become progressively aggressive. If you want him out or you to reach in work with it. If he's going to attack the stick, just hold it there. He'll learn/see you don't care. I've had Nameliss all but the first few months. At 21 she's does what you're describing randomly. It gets worse when she's hormonal. Patience, consistency is your best friend. Birds are prey animals. They know it instinctively. If flight isn't available then aggression is their option. Plan your actions around that. If his feathers don't tell you much, watch his eyes. The pupils will rapidly contract and expand (pinning) with excitement positive or negative. I bet Yvonn is normal CAG intelligence. You've shown him another cage opening to explore and exploit. I have heavy toys hanging at cage top opening. Nameliss worries it until the fastening becomes loose. Then the top becomes a safety factor. So be careful.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Yvons had another milestone today. Besides his usual fapping, he hung upside down from the door perch, which he hasn't done yet since he's been here. And he climbed (sort of) to the top of the cage! Yaaaay Yvons!!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

You MUST enter one of these pictures in the POTM!
Has he tried to destroy that red blanket with the fringe yet? Wouldn't want to see him get snagged up in the yarn.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

You MUST enter one of these pictures in the POTM!
Has he tried to destroy that red blanket with the fringe yet? Wouldn't want to see him get snagged up in the yarn.

I'll probably enter one of the pix next month. I already have Voritex entered this month . Thanks for the suggestion!

As for the blanket, he's chewed holes in it. Gonna have to replace it soon. It's one of those felt blankets, but I still worried about him. trapping a toe or something.

 

[rheashard2]

Excellent for you both. Read somewhere that hanging upside down (except for some species)is a sign of trust and comfort in environment. They view it as a fun diversion. Looked it up because I hadn't heard that about parrots. My paranoid new owner self thought my CAG was going crazy.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Excellent for you both. Read somewhere that hanging upside down (except for some species)is a sign of trust and comfort in environment. They view it as a fun diversion. Looked it up because I hadn't heard that about parrots. My paranoid new owner self thought my CAG was going crazy.

I'm thrilled that Yvons feels comfortable enough to hang upside down! He's a playful goof when he wants to be .

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Well, none of the birds will be let out for 2 days. I'm helping a friend sell stuff at a Cat Convention here in town, and after day one, I am WIPED. In fact, everyone is going to bed early because I have to be up at 6:30 am. Weeee.

 

[rheashard2]

Nameliss says...gotta go to bed...take the dogs outside...gotta go to bed... did you take the dogs outside...gotta go to sleep...go to the bathroom...did you go to the bathroom...good night...gotta go to bed. Lights, noise etc are to be at a minimum. It's her nighttime routine. Based on me yelling at my daughter to let/take dogs out. I don't know why she incorporated the bathroom. But I suspect it's cause I call for my daughter to do something. Going to or being in the bathroom is her #1 cop out. It's funny because she expects responses to her questions. Otherwise she keeps repeating herself with increasing annoyance. As for being left in cage. If I am not home, there's no problem as long as, TV on to her preferred shows: AND a dog or cat is on her room area. She gets her expected amount of attention when I'm home. If home, in cage is tolerated as long as I respond to her queries and non TV entertainment provided. I admit to being trained.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

How could you get ready for bed without her? Maybe if you ever start losing your memory when you're 100 years old she can remind you of all the steps before lights out!

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

And here's Yvons and the burbs yesterday.

Yvons doing a batburd:

Vortex looking judgey:

Charlie and Redshift:

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

MY God... Yvons was up at 7 am this morning, whistling his brain into a frenzy. Of course, I was up at 6:30 am for the cat convention and had to be out of the apartment by 7:30. Poor birds never got their playtime today; I was just too tired. Tomorrow I'll make it up to them . And Yvons looked so forlorn and hungry, so I fed him his treats at dinner time, and added pellets to his bowl. He's like a cat. If he doesn't have enough food to cover the bottom of his bowl, he acts as if I'm starving him. Little stinker.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

So I'm learning that Yvons is most territorial when I let him out of his cage and hook up the door to the plastic chain I have set up to keep the door from swinging closed on burdee toes. Almost all of his lunges have been on the door's perch.

Anyone have ideas on how to reduce territoriality? I know cage-bound birds can be aggressive around their cage, and Yvons seems to have that mindset. He's left his cage once, and that was to fly to the floor 2 weeks after I adopted him. Gonna see if that floor play stand can help our situation...

 

[rheashard2]

So I'm learning that Yvons is most territorial when I let him out of his cage and hook up the door to the plastic chain I have set up to keep the door from swinging closed on burdee toes. Almost all of his lunges have been on the door's perch.

Anyone have ideas on how to reduce territoriality? I know cage-bound birds can be aggressive around their cage, and Yvons seems to have that mindset. He's left his cage once, and that was to fly to the floor 2 weeks after I adopted him. Gonna see if that floor play stand can help our situation...

Nameliss territory increases to space occupied by open door. I watch her birdee tells to see her mood. When door is open, I talk to her when I have to approach. Doesn't matter what I say. This decreases, usually stops the 'spontaneous' defense lunges. She's a terror when hormonal. I do what vet suggested. I bounce a bright colored tennis ball. I tell her to look or something dumb like that. When she's distracted the lunges don't occur. I bounce it long enough to avoid her realizing it is a distraction. I have several balls. I'm a clutz. Yvonn may not like the birdie gym. (That's because you want him too.) Nameliss doesn't like pre-approved play areas. She thinks it's more fun to get into trouble.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Nameliss territory increases to space occupied by open door. I watch her birdee tells to see her mood. When door is open, I talk to her when I have to approach. Doesn't matter what I say. This decreases, usually stops the 'spontaneous' defense lunges. She's a terror when hormonal. I do what vet suggested. I bounce a bright colored tennis ball. I tell her to look or something dumb like that. When she's distracted the lunges don't occur. I bounce it long enough to avoid her realizing it is a distraction. I have several balls. I'm a clutz. Yvonn may not like the birdie gym. (That's because you want him too.) Nameliss doesn't like pre-approved play areas. She thinks it's more fun to get into trouble.

Note to self: Talk more to Yvons to help distract from lunging.

LOL.... Greys are so much like the smaller parrots, just moodier. I'm glad I have more experienced folks helping me out on this forum! Thanks, everyone! **Hugs, and almonds for the burbs . **

And yeah. The new play stand is beside the cages. Not been touched once, LOL!

 

[rheashard2]

It could be a long wait. Nameliss had a (expensive) beautiful large hand-made wooden swing. I recently removed it after 10+ yrs of being ignored. I can verify it didn't have a 9splat of birdie poo on it. Again, it could be a long wait

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

It could be a long wait. Nameliss had a (expensive) beautiful large hand-made wooden swing. I recently removed it after 10+ yrs of being ignored. I can verify it didn't have a 9splat of birdie poo on it. Again, it could be a long wait

Good thing I didn't spend much on this play stand! I think it was $40 CDN off Amazon. If Yvons won't use it, I know my Pionus, Vortex, will.

 

[rheashard2]

Maybe you should let them play on it. Seeing someone else who's enjoying it may be motivation!