Casper's weird behavior--what is this??

[CaseynCasper]

Hi Everyone!

Casper has been doing this strange thing since he came home two weeks ago. I've guessed that this might be fledgling behavior, or heaven forbid mating displays, but I'm not sure. He does it to try to get attention as shown in the video, and he also does it when in his cage, at the bottom, often while we're eating dinner (his cage is right next to the table.)

Anyone know what the heck he's doing? Thanks in advance!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQt1Owu6nGg"]Casper 20130418 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[CaseynCasper]

Oh, one more question. Casper's feathers aren't smooth like other U2s I've seen. His feathers are kind of frayed at the ends. He's just started taking shallow water baths and I mist him a couple of times a week. He preens okay it appears, he isn't biting or plucking. Any idea why his feathers look like this? Thanks again!

 

[MonicaMc]

A good diet and a good soaking bath should help with the feathers... and if they don't become smooth, you just might have to wait until he molts.

the behavior he's doing looks like it might be his way of trying to get somewhere... i.e. in the video it looks like he may have wanted to get on the couch, but didn't know how to climb it? And when he does it inside his cage, it's his way of wanting to come out?

Most birds who want to go somewhere or get somewhere often lean foward and quiver their wings in the direction they want to go, but cockatoos love displaying and figuring things out!

 

[SandyBee]

My amazon does this behaviour too, it's excitement and he wants to go somewhere.
Usually for him it's because he smells dinner coming from the kitchen.

 

[CaseynCasper]

A good diet and a good soaking bath should help with the feathers... and if they don't become smooth, you just might have to wait until he molts.

He won't take a soaking bath yet. I've been trying to introduce him to the concept but he isn't near ready yet. In the interim I place a pan of tepid water on the bottom of his cage and let him play and sometimes bathe in there. It makes a huge mess but it's what he'll accept at this point.

He's on pellets, dried veggie/dried fruit mix and we're introducing fresh foods. He isn't keen on many fresh items yet.

Poor little guy, I think we're the first people to ever offer him fresh food and a tub or sink of shallow water.

the behavior he's doing looks like it might be his way of trying to get somewhere... i.e. in the video it looks like he may have wanted to get on the couch, but didn't know how to climb it? And when he does it inside his cage, it's his way of wanting to come out?

Most birds who want to go somewhere or get somewhere often lean foward and quiver their wings in the direction they want to go, but cockatoos love displaying and figuring things out!

He very much wanted to get on the sofa with my daughter! He does it other times as well, and the trigger seems to be a person who he hasn't been held by. My daughter will be moving in a month, and she's a bit scared of Casper since he nipped her pretty hard the first weekend he was here, so he's going to have to accept that Brit isn't ready for him.

Thanks for the info! I was really hoping it wasn't a mating display.

 

[CaseynCasper]

My amazon does this behaviour too, it's excitement and he wants to go somewhere.
Usually for him it's because he smells dinner coming from the kitchen.

I wish Casper would get excited about sounds in the kitchen. I can't count the number of items I've offered him fresh that he refuses to have any part of. He gets very excited when new people come in, though. He's never shown the first bit of anxiety or fright, not even the first couple of days he was here. He's a very outgoing guy.

Thank you!

 

[SandyBee]

Just keep offering, he will get the hang of it and you will figure out what he likes.
It takes a while for them to come out of their shell. That being said this is considered the honeymoon period where they are more shy, timid, better behaviour. It's the time for you to establish routines and teach them what is and is not acceptable.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

I think he wants to be with you [put your arm down, let him step up] Baths are really important for 2s .Spray him down with warm water.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I agree, he just looks excited.

Be aware that cockatoos often show aggression while on the floor for some reason, this aggression is sometimes caused by over excitement. A over excited/stimulated bird may suddenly be aggressive, sometimes the birds seem just as confused as us after and will go back to their normal self like nothing happened.

 

[Jtbirds]

Beware of picking him up in an excited state as well I'd like to mention as this can end bad for you. Cockatoos over excited are not to be messed with this is when you are most likely to get hurt, so best thing to do is just leave them until they have calmed down.

As for the feathers I bathe all my birds everyday but I defiantly bathe the toos, I believe everyday is a must for them even if it is just a squirt down.

 

[Rabster]

Just reading some threads as Im very new to Cockatoos - wouldnt be dancing to his shadow?