Best way to get her to stop chewing on window/wall?

[Rrrma]

Norma is a chewer, which is expected. I give her PLENTY of things to chew of all different hardnesses, shapes, materials... but... she likes to lick and chew the window frame and walls.

I was wondering what the best way to handle this would be? Obviously it isn't safe for her to be chewing on paint! Is there a spray or gel I can rub on them to deter it? Or a specific way of handling it like time-out or something?

I don't need her to get sick from ingesting paint, but I can't keep her locked up all the time either.

 

[Spiritbird]

This may be a case where you just have to keep her away from the window if you can.

 

[Rrrma]

she does it to the wall too, she likes to just lick it... and the door...

I think mostly it is that she has never been loose in a house and is curious. I don't mind curious, but I worry about what toxins she might get exposed to by the wall/furniture/wood/whatever

I was thinking I could get some metal or hard plastic flashing/corner protectors to keep her from the paint, but wanted to see if there was another option first.

I don't leave her unsupervised, but I do let her play while I fix their food or clean their cages, so there are moments when I am not looking at her.

 

[antoinette]

Perhaps try using a strong tape, covering the edges of the windows, making sure he is not able to remove the tape.
Below is a link "Bird Safety" must be about 16 "safety tips" it sure opened my eyes, small thing we overlook.

Bird Safety

Second link, very informative what to do, pertaining to different toxic and how to treat

http://www.jcmacaw.com/toxins.htm


Hope this was helpful

 

[Mel]

Licking walls shouldn't be a problem unless it's really old paint. Lead used to be an issue but it's not put in house paints these days and hasn't for many, many years. I would be more worried putting a sheet of metal up as they can get heavy metal poisoning - not just lead. Unfortunately I think if you have a chewer you just have to supervise when out of the cage and keep moving her to areas you'd prefer her to be eg a playgym. I know it's a pain but if she keeps being moved from "bad" areas everytime she goes there she'll hopefully give it up.

Maybe check her diet??? Bobby was commenting in another post about greys licking clay in nature to get something out of it they are maybe missing in thier diets... just a thought

 

[Bobby34231]

I'd be interested if this question really has a solution other than moving the cage away from the wall .....lol, thats what I've had to do as I myself had much the same problem with my macaw Quincy, I had the added problem of also having a light switch near by as well, now that its out of his reach he no longer has any interest

 

[Rrrma]

Im in the process of switching her from a breeding seed diet to a fresh foods and pellets diet, so the diet is indeed a work in progress. The house isn't but a few years old... so I guess toxins in the paint and wood aren't to be worried about? I didn't think about the metal being toxic, so we will avoid that.

Mostly she does it when she on a perch or cage or stand, I'll just have to pull it farther from the wall. She will streeeeeeeetch to get to it. She is so silly.

 

[Mel]

Im in the process of switching her from a breeding seed diet to a fresh foods and pellets diet, so the diet is indeed a work in progress. The house isn't but a few years old... so I guess toxins in the paint and wood aren't to be worried about? I didn't think about the metal being toxic, so we will avoid that.

Mostly she does it when she on a perch or cage or stand, I'll just have to pull it farther from the wall. She will streeeeeeeetch to get to it. She is so silly.

They are silly aren't they There's never a dull moment with fids

 

[azelea]

like it was suggested, move her away from the wall. if not possible, get some bitter apple. Bitter Apple Taste Deterrent for Dogs 16 oz Spray

this is a taste deterrent, and actually will work for pluckers too. be careful where you spray though, and turn off your fans. this stuff tastes NASTY!

just spray right onto where shes been chewing and watch to see if she will still go for it...