why is Zack doing this?

[Dougc1369]

Zack has a habit of biting the side of the cage, lifting his left leg and grunting. He will do this one to three times a day for a couple minutes then stops. He will also stop when I say something to him. I haven't seen anything that could be a triggerr for this and he seems to have no other problems(other than returning to his previous bitey behavior).

Any insight will be very much appreciated.

Doug

 

[Dougc1369]

Lol, I think this might be a first....I seem to have stumped the forum!:09:

 

[henpecked]

Video would help.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Yes, a video would help a whole lot.

Neither of my zons do what you described. Could it be Zack realized that when he does this he gets your attention?

 

[SandyBee]

Without a video my guess would be is he is doing this in response to something your doing. Maybe to get your attention or a learned response to something.

My Bosley will grunt and flare his tail when I put him in his cage when I have to go to work in the morning or if I am going out on the weekend. Now the funny thing about this is I can put him in his cage when not going out and he doesn't do this. He is smarter than I think he is and I think he's brilliant LOL

I imagine he understands a chain of events like me getting my make up and hair ready, to the clothes I wear and what that leads up to.

 

[getwozzy]

Maybe he wants out? but a video would definitely help...

What's going on when he's doing the behavior? Does he think he's alone?

 

[autum_howard]

when you say lift his leg do you mean he just holds it up, or does he lift it and hold onto a cage bar? does he also kind of crouch down low and shake a little? Sweet Pea does that sometimes but with no noise when i asked i was told it was a hormonal thing from several people...

 

[Dougc1369]

I'll try to get some video of him doing it. I don't believe he thinks he's alone. He is pretty good at noticing when I leave the room....and raising a rucus until I come back in. I don't think he's doing it for my attention since I don't always say something to him and he goes to the farthest corner of the cage from me to do it. Always in the same spot as well. He will do it when I am sitting quietly, no stimulus from me at all.

He does seem to lean over to grab the bar, he just lifts his leg, not grabbing a bar, just holding it up against his body. Standing on one leg and leaning a bit to the right. I don't remember seeing him shake or shiver tho.

It might be a learned behavior, as some of you know Zack has had a rough past including some past tormenting by one of his first owners. This could possibly have something to do with it. I've only had him for a month so I am still learning his behaviors.

Sorry for the long post, I very much appreciate everyone's time.

Doug

 

[autum_howard]

I hope you find an answer, when sweet pea does things i don't understand or that just catch me off guard i research like crazy it always makes me feel better when i find out why

 

[SandyBee]

It may be just one of those things, Bosley came with certain habits and he also learned some new ones.

Bosley bites at his foot/ankle when he's over excited.

He goes to the bottom of his cage and cries like a baby or barks like a dog if i'm on the phone. He goes into his cage and does this with the door open.

He swears sometimes.

He calls me MAWM


He's 36 and has a whole lifetime before me, I just come to accept some behaviours as they are neither harmful or hurtful to anyone. LOL

 

[Dougc1369]

The mystery may be solved. I gave him a shower this morning...only the second time he has let me...and noticed a slit had opened in his feathers, it seemed to be in the area where they naturally split when dry. (His sexual organs maybe?) My Mom told me that when he does this that part will open and close. While I am writing this he has started again and I saw what she is talking about. I tried to get video and he instantly stopped so it's not an involuntary thing.

Could he just be in a mating mode? That would explain why he has been trying to bite whenever I get close I think.

Doug

 

[BirdyMomma]

Are you positive that Zack is a male?

 

[Dougc1369]

Lol, nope.

 

[BirdyMomma]

Could he possibly be a she, and be having trouble with an egg? I don't know, I'm asking.

 

[Dougc1369]

I'm not sure, is there an easy way to tell the sex?

 

[henpecked]

Get me a video i might

 

[BirdyMomma]

Hey Doug, how is Zack doing?

 

[Dougc1369]

He seems to be doing better. He isn't doing it as much and he is getting calmer when I try to pet him. I'v started to feed him veggies and now he doesn't want either seeds or pellets! He'll eat them but somewhat reluctantly.

Still trying to get video of him doing it but he stops as soon as I start to move.

Thanks for asking!

Doug

 

[torrap]

............(His sexual organs maybe?) My Mom told me that when he does this that part will open and close.
Doug

I am not sure what you are talking about here. Birds don't have "sexual organs" outside their body.....and that's exactly why it's almost impossible to say what sex they are in most of the species.
I would give the bird showers more often, and specially if he likes it. It doesn't hurt....and could help too....

 

[Dougc1369]

That portion of his feathers would open and close. I thought it might be a mating thing. As for showers, I try to give him a 'spray shower' a couple of times a week.that is until I left the spray bottle on top of his cage and he decided it was a chew toy! Now I have to get a new one for him. He usually moves away from me when I do this but occasionally will sit there and let me spray to my hearts content.

Still learning things about him almost everyday.

Doug