Invisible threat

[Siobhan]

The last few days, Rocky has been hanging on the side of his cage, staring at the wall behind it (we think) and shrieking in apparent distress/fear. We have examined this wall thoroughly. We have looked at the floor, at the hallway beyond, all around and above and behind and cannot find anything that could be upsetting or that is different from what it was before he began doing this. I've moved things. I've cleaned the top shelf of his cage. I've picked up things and asked "Is this it?" and nothing is. I'm at a loss. Yesterday we put his cage out on the enclosed porch and cleaned that area from top to bottom in case there was a spider (one of my Quakers is deathly afraid of spiders) or a spot that he could see that we could not. We're stumped. He was content on the porch and had the wild birds at the feeder for entertainment and didn't yell at all. But it's too chilly at night to leave his cage there and it's not secure, either, so we brought him back in last evening and he went right back to staring at the wall and shrieking. His crest is up, his feathers are slicked down, it's all just the same reaction a parrot has to a threat.

 

[ToMang07]

Weird.... is this all day? Night too?

 

[Birdman666]

He obviously saw or heard something.

Many years ago, my entire flock was freaking out on me for no apparent reason. I couldn't get them calmed down, couldn't explain it. Left the house wondering what in the world...

And as I drove through the parking lot, I saw it. There was a crow's nest, with baby crows in it, and the hawks were raiding the nests. The babies were screaming for help, and the adults were trying to fend them off...

I didn't know it was happening, but my birds could hear everything.

So, just because YOU don't see it, doesn't mean your bird doesn't see, hear, or sense something.

 

[Siobhan]

He can't see a window in that direction. And once we cover him up for the night, he's fine.

 

[itchyfeet]

What's in his line of sight inside? Cup and saucer? Did he see something on telly maybe?

 

[SilverSage]

Could there be mice in the wall?

 

[4dugnlee]

Is there possibly light in the room that could be casting a shadow? I've never know of a parrot afraid of their shadow but.... Have you tried hanging a cover/sheet on the back of the cage so he can't see the wall? I hope you find what's scaring your baby. That must be heartbreaking knowing he's scared. Can you possibly move the cage to a different location? Good luck!

 

[Siobhan]

It's not the TV. He's looking away from it when he does this.

 

[kimbaloo]

Given the details you've presented, the next thing that I would rule out is whether there is anything lurking behind the drywall... Snake, most likely. Or rodent.

A professional critter catcher (or a plumber) would typically have the tool you need to look behind the wall.

As long as Rocky confirms that whatever is freaking him out is still there, the pro can come check it out for you. They will drill a small, 3/4" hole in the wall above or below the spot that Rocky is staring at, and then they will insert a flexible cable with a tiny video camera and a light source at the end of it into the hole, and thread it up the wall. Whatever it is that is lurking behind the wall, you'll be able to see it.

Or, you can lay out the dough for a inspection camera, and do it yourself:

Camera Inspection | Ask the Builder

Good luck! Please keep us posted as things unfold.

 

[Siobhan]

What's on the other side of that wall is a closet. Perhaps my missing Closet Monster is in there. I have had a closet monster since I was 4 and when we moved into this house, he inexplicably vanished. I tried draping Rocky's cage cover over the back of the cage, which doesn't hide the spot he's looking at, but gives him a sort of hideout to get into in the corner where he plots and plans. That seems to be helping. I'll dig into that closet after work and figure out if something in there is upsetting him. We just had an exterminator out this week, so there aren't mice. It's the wrong time of year for them, anyway. They try to come in when it gets cold.

 

[Mariar]

Good luck with rocky! Keep us posted if you find something.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

He obviously saw or heard something.

Many years ago, my entire flock was freaking out on me for no apparent reason. I couldn't get them calmed down, couldn't explain it. Left the house wondering what in the world...

And as I drove through the parking lot, I saw it. There was a crow's nest, with baby crows in it, and the hawks were raiding the nests. The babies were screaming for help, and the adults were trying to fend them off...

I didn't know it was happening, but my birds could hear everything.

So, just because YOU don't see it, doesn't mean your bird doesn't see, hear, or sense something.

OMG! Even me seeing THAT..it would freak ME out!! I can just imagine one or more of your flock thinking.."am I next??" Dang!!

Jim

 

[MikeyTN]

There's something there he sees.....years ago I had a ghost living in my home up north. The birds and the dogs saw him, so did we....they would freak out screaming and the dogs would bark at him....and my best friend freaked out when he saw him too. It didn't bother me one bit....lol

 

[Siobhan]

Maybe it was what he didn't see. We used to have a throw hung over one corner so he had a place to go if he needed to unwind, with a basket attached to the cage for him to destroy and/or sit in. We cleaned his cage a few weeks ago and replaced the basket but never replaced the throw. I've started hanging his cage cover over that corner and he goes back there and stuffs his face into the corner and hides when he wants to think deep thoughts, and that seems to help. He still has spells where he hangs on his cage and shrieks at invisible (to us) specters, but having his Too Corner back is a little improvement.

 

[Siobhan]

I did try to replace the throw after the cleaning (a big cleaning; obviously we don't just let it get disgusting in between big cleanings! We do daily cleaning as well) and he had such a fit that I took it down. He'd chewed so many holes in the old one that I tossed it and gave him a different one that he did NOT like. He seems to be okay with using his giant sheet for a Too Corner, though he's chewed holes in it, too. I'll have to get him a new one soon. And he'll hate it for a few weeks.

 

[Birdman666]

Okay, now that I could totally see... taking away his favorite hiding spot.

WHO TOOK MY THING! PUT IT BACK!!!