Cuddling, blankets etc and sexual maturity

[G3ck0]

I know that cuddling your bird, letting them under blankets and petting them anywhere but the head is bad when their hormones are kicking in, but what about other times of the year? Should you avoid it constantly, or only when their hormones are affecting them?

 

[plumsmum2005]

I do stroke Plum but my thinking is I wanted to be able to feel him for anything amiss. I am aware and do not do it for long as I am not sure if it is a bit like foreplay and then not doing the deed to them. Frustrating!

It really is useful to be able to physically assess if your bird is OK and they accept being touched.

Plum heads under a cushion or blanket when he is out, Ok or not depends on where it goes. A short play session Ok but if it leads into being defensive and/or aggressive then no IMO.

 

[tlfisher]

Sunny crawled into my bed when I was sleeping because my youngest daughter let's him out of his cage. The meeting of dog and bird in my bed when I was sleeping will never be forgotten by all three of us. LOL. I felt like I was on the Carol Burnett show as the straight man.

I did not know it was bad for him. He falls asleep on my shoulder when I am reading and writing.

 

[RavensGryf]

I think the no stroking the body is a general rule, as probably most (or at least commonly) parrots will see this as you instigating sexual relations, and lead to frustration and unwanted behaviors. I'm very fortunate that the one parrot who lets me cuddle him, didn't read that memo. I can literally touch, pet, cuddle, restrain with both hands, touch and kiss under his wings or anywhere on his body, etc. Without ANY behavioral problems. He really enjoys it too, and we can cuddle for a long time. Even more astounding is that he's a Red Bellied Parrot (Poicephalus) who thinks he's a cuddly Cockatoo! He's 22 now, and isn't nearly as inclined to bite as he was when he was younger, so maybe his hormones have mellowed out.

 

[G3ck0]

Awesome, sounds good. I was worried you'd never be able to do anything but scratch their head once they hit a certain age, good to hear that a lot of people seem to get away with a lot more than that.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Patagonians (aka Burrowing Parrot, Loro Barranquero in native lands) burrow into limestone cliffs and defend the burrows year round, so any kind of burrow is risky, as it brings out extreme aggression...

 

[RavensGryf]

Keep in mind too, that many parrots, even hand fed ones will not allow you to touch more than their head. Many will not let you touch them at all. The majority of species as a general rule do not like "cuddling". Sometimes you get lucky and get one with an individual personality that will be receptive to becoming accepting of it and come to enjoy it.

 

[tlfisher]

That makes sense cause he gets real annoying when I won't let him burrow in the blanket.

He is mad at me cause I had to go to town. He hates it when I leave.

 

[davefv92c]

Awesome, sounds good. I was worried you'd never be able to do anything but scratch their head once they hit a certain age, good to hear that a lot of people seem to get away with a lot more than that.

16 yr old U2 here and hell he wants all the petting he can get he even raises and spreads his wings to get petted everywhere and no adverse reactions what so ever. getting this bird at 15 and a rescue I did not think anything like that would have been possible for a long time. when meeting he came right out of his cage to the wife and said hello so sweetly he ended up coming home with us that day.