Patrick has a favourite spot. Leave or move?
- Thread starter Boniface
- Start date
Birdman666
Well-known member
- Sep 18, 2013
- 9,904
- 276
- Parrots
- Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
I don't have a single bird that doesn't have a favorite spot either in/on the cage, or out on the playstand.
Why take it away from him, and risk stressing him over it, if he's not territorially aggressive over the spot?
Why take it away from him, and risk stressing him over it, if he's not territorially aggressive over the spot?
I'd say leave it, but get some foraging toys and put them in different parts of the cage so that he has an incentive to explore. Don't see the harm of having a favourite spot - unless you count the cat, whose favourite spot is invariably whatever seat I'm momentarily got up from!
My bird has a favourite spot too. I think definitely leave it.
If you want to encourage your bird to go in other parts of the cage, you could use food and treats placed around the cage to encourage exploring.
For example, the cage I have has a place where the food bowls have to go and they are positioned down low. These bowls are never moved and they only have water and pellets in them. When my bird is hungry she has to climb down there.
I also have two other food bowls that I can place anywhere in the cage, this is where I put fruits and veggies, sometimes seeds, or once-in-awhile foods.
I often place the cup with treats in a part of the cage that I want her to go into more, like a back corner, or a place where she can only get to by a specific perch that she is hesitant to go on. That way she starts to associate other parts of the cage with good things too and become more inclined to explore around her cage more.
I also think it's good that it makes her have to climb around to get different types of food because in the wild parrots have to search around for a variety of foods from different places.
If you want to encourage your bird to go in other parts of the cage, you could use food and treats placed around the cage to encourage exploring.
For example, the cage I have has a place where the food bowls have to go and they are positioned down low. These bowls are never moved and they only have water and pellets in them. When my bird is hungry she has to climb down there.
I also have two other food bowls that I can place anywhere in the cage, this is where I put fruits and veggies, sometimes seeds, or once-in-awhile foods.
I often place the cup with treats in a part of the cage that I want her to go into more, like a back corner, or a place where she can only get to by a specific perch that she is hesitant to go on. That way she starts to associate other parts of the cage with good things too and become more inclined to explore around her cage more.
I also think it's good that it makes her have to climb around to get different types of food because in the wild parrots have to search around for a variety of foods from different places.
- Jan 19, 2014
- 14,252
- 236
- Parrots
- Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
I agree. Let Patrick have his comfort zone. If he's new, he will adjust to explore in his own time, if he's not new, that is just probably how he is.
Robin my Red Bellied, a Sennie relative, is a very sedate bird much of the time and overall. Some just are. Nothing wrong with that.
- Aug 21, 2010
- 32,673
- 9,803
- Parrots
- Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /
RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Me too! By necessity and occasional choice we greatly interfere (benevolently so) with the lives of our parrots. As long as a particular behavior is not dangerous or irritating beyond belief, allow him the free will. You may be surprised when Patrick spontaneously decides to forgo an old behavior and try something new!
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