What are some of the mischievous things your parrot does?

[DonnaBudgie]

Joey has been tossing her "toys" (bottle caps and other small objects) off the top of her cage all morning. She picks them up in her beak, walks to the edge, drops them, and then looks at me. After a few, I pick them up and put them back. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. But the good news is that Joey is back to normal after her behavior change over a week ago.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Quasar's decided that his new favorite pastime is to toss the nutriberries - untasted- out of his food bowls. Pellets.. I don't think they've registered as food yet to him. Oy!

Charlie's finally discovered the toy box I stuck in his cage. He likes to sit in it and demolish it, LOL!

 

[Any Name You Wish]

Uglow has a wicked sense of humor. He’ll call me over like he wants to perch on my shoulder, then traps me. One foot clamped on my shirt, the other on his cage, he stares me down with “I might bite you” eyes. It’s his favorite game. Sometimes, my only escape is wriggling out of my shirt. And then he laughs.

 

[rheashard2]

Uglow has a wicked sense of humor. He’ll call me over like he wants to perch on my shoulder, then traps me. One foot clamped on my shirt, the other on his cage, he stares me down with “I might bite you” eyes. It’s his favorite game. Sometimes, my only escape is wriggling out of my shirt. And then he laughs.

It's been documented that crows and ravens have a sense of humor as well as mischief. So why not our beloved companion birdies. Nameliss grabs me with her beak. I'm expected to say ouch or ouwie. If I'm distracted she'll grab and yell ouch.

 

[kme3388]

I took my senior german shepherd mix to the vet. He was drooling excessively. Sometimes foaming. The vet was asking about diet changes, eating stuff he shouldn’t (human food). She was examining him, and doing a great job. It dawned on me at the very end of the appointment that all of my parrots feed him. They always throw him empty shells of seeds/nuts when he walks by their cages. The vet said sunflower seeds shouldn’t cause the above symptoms. I had to explain that my macaw also does this with pecan shells, and walnut shells. Always empty too. She then said that for sure would cause some digestive issues. You can’t really put up a seed guard on a macaw cage they can chew those up easily. I’ve been doing my best to get to the nut shells before my shepherd. He still moves pretty fast when he wants something. The parrots have not let up on feeding the dogs. I have no clue why all of them need to feed the dogs.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

I have no clue why all of them need to feed the dogs.

Yvons LOVES feeding my dog, Winter. Pellets, almonds, Nutriberries, veggies - it's all fodder for the dog, who has decided Yvons' cage is her personal buffet. OY!

 

[rheashard2]

Nameliss loves feeding the dogs too. In her case the food is used as chum. The dogs are lured within biting range. It took effort, but I trained dogs to stay 12 inches away from cage. That doesn't mean doggies won't sneak a bit. But it decreases chance of nut and miscellaneous ingestion. It also limits chance of bird bites and possible canine retaliation.

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

He pokes his head in the bathroom and then walks in whenever I am doing my business. He does not tolerate fully closed doors. He does not understand the concept of personal space.

 

[rheashard2]

I'm not sure how I'd feel about that. It's bad enough being reminded to go to the bathroom. And to be asked if I (or daughter) are still in bathroom. If Nameliss started coming to check I don't know if amusement or annoyance would win out! I do know that my space is hers.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Respecting Boundaries? My budgies apparently didn't get that memo! I have five budgies that do not respect our boundaries at all but certainly know how to assert their own! If we cross their boundaries they let us know immediately- everything is on their terms.

They literally walk all over us. Our bodies, our things and our food are theirs to perch on, chew, eat, and poop on. They want me to give them baths on demand. They insist on being involved in most everything we do. Last night my husband wanted to cool off quickly so he leaned over the kitchen sink to run cold water over his head and Rocky and Beau flew over and tried to join him "taking a bath". Joey tries to help me brush my teeth! She climbs into my clothing! She grooms my face and tries to pick my nose! She attempts to remove any tiny skin flaw she finds. Rocky and Beau walk on our dinner plates and steal any food we are eating. They toss everything on the floor just to watch me pick up after them.

Why do we put up with these selfish, destructive, ungrateful, messy little creatures? Only another parront could possibly understand, and this is the one place that I don't need to explain myself.

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

Respecting Boundaries? My budgies apparently didn't get that memo! I have five budgies that do not respect our boundaries at all but certainly know how to assert their own! If we cross their boundaries they let us know immediately- everything is on their terms.

They literally walk all over us. Our bodies, our things and our food are theirs to perch on, chew, eat, and poop on. They want me to give them baths on demand. They insist on being involved in most everything we do. Last night my husband wanted to cool off quickly so he leaned over the kitchen sink to run cold water over his head and Rocky and Beau flew over and tried to join him "taking a bath". Joey tries to help me brush my teeth! She climbs into my clothing! She grooms my face and tries to pick my nose! She attempts to remove any tiny skin flaw she finds. Rocky and Beau walk on our dinner plates and steal any food we are eating. They toss everything on the floor just to watch me pick up after them.

Why do we put up with these selfish, destructive, ungrateful, messy little creatures? Only another parront could possibly understand, and this is the one place that I don't need to explain myself.

What is it with birds targeting the slightest defect in skin, clothing, furniture, whatever! It is not good for my self-esteem!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

My husband asked me today why Joey insists on picking at our skin flaws. He wanted to know if it was "normal". I told him that Joey's grooming us because we're her closest flock mates and that's what parrots do. I guess we should take it as a compliment- a bird isn't going to groom someone she doesn't like!
I'm not sure I'd want a macaw trying to groom my bare skin! Are they gentle?

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

I finally got rid of Juliette's favorite skin tag. She went searching for it when she discovered its absence.

 

[rheashard2]

What is it with birds targeting the slightest defect in skin, clothing, furniture, whatever! It is not good for my self-esteem!

Birdie feathers have to be as perfect as possible. This ensures maximum flight capability. Skin, clothing seem to be viewed as feathers. Therefore they must be 'perfect'. Then again birdies maybe trying to achieve their idea of beauty.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

H

I finally got rid of Juliette's favorite skin tag. She went searching for it when she discovered its absence.

How did you get rid of it?

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

I rubbed it off. It was either that or Juliette was going to beak it to death.