mating with toys

[Birdmom12]

Hello,

We adopted a Tiel a few months back from a rescue. We discovered he had a SERIOUS attachment to a toy that has wooden blocks and a bell. He perches on it constantly, sleeps half on it half on the side of the cage. We later found that he was rubbing on it like he was mating. He would then take out a lot of aggression on the bell. We took the bell out today to try and stop the hormonal behavior. He is now doing a scream whistle non stop.

Anyone else experience attachment to a toy like this?

 

[noodles123]

It happens (not to me yet *knock on wood*, but it's a known issue)..There are mixed views on what to do about it. lol

 

[Birdmom12]

Oh man - He had so much hostility towards this toy it was making it impossible to work with him. Now the screams of a broken heart are filling the house. At least that's what I'm going with...he's in the toys spot screaming away.

 

[noodles123]

yeah..tough call (some say leave it, others remove it)- Can you get him out and distract him with a foot toy or something? He may be really mad, so leaving him in could prevent bites, but I really don't know...
I wouldn't put it back now that it is gone and he is screaming...but there may be mixed views on that as well... SORRY!
ps- I have a cockatoo, so I'm no 'tiel" expert.

 

[Birdmom12]

Well he isn't tame. We have been working with him for a couple months now. He's 12 years old and was released to a rescue after his owners an elderly couple went into a nursing home. He takes food from you fine but other then that he is quick to lash out.

He always focused all his energy on the toy... He only cared about us if we had a snack for him to take from our hands. Was hoping with the toy gone he would calm down some. Time will tell.

 

[noodles123]

I'm hoping someone else will chime in because it is confusing for you guys, I am sure!

 

[T00tsyd]

Syd has one toy that seems to set off his hormones. I started like you just worrying about it but then I decided on some action. The first thing I did was to move it around the cage a bit. In some positions he could manage to get a half on half off position which was what he wanted but then I discovered if I hung it away from perches/sides he couldn't get the same positioning try as he might. He was frustrated but I think because it was still there he didn't get separation anxiety. After about a week of having it in the wrong place I took it out for a couple of days. He didn't seem too bothered but I put it back in again in an inaccessible place and he was delighted to see it again. Now it comes out regularly and returns sometimes but always in a place where it doesn't encourage the behaviour.

 

[ChristaNL]

I have the same maybe yes/ maybe no that has been expressed before.

Any animal that acts obsessed about a certain object is blind and deaf to anything/ anyone else trying to interact.
So from a training point of vieuw: good call on removing it, let him mourn, but also step in with a full and interesting alternative activities programm for him, or he may start to pluck feathers/ automutilate aka obsessing about own bodyparts instead of the toy.

He is used to get some (sexual, safety) rewards when 'interacting' with the toy... we can only hope that other awards (food, attention, relief of boredom) are going to be just as appealing to him.

Another problem is that he is used to 'get' things on his terms -- so he has to learn that it can also come from outside.
(and after that: start to look for it)

I am not sure he will get to that stage easily after been stuck in the same rut for so long... he may get there, but it will not be today or tomorrow... are you guys up for a long and frustrating (for both parties) period?

You may end up with a new-and-improved bird, you may be at exactly the same place this time next year or worse.

If your goal is to try and tame this bird and turn him into a happy interactive pet: it is going to be a shaitload of hard and persistant work, but I think he will be happier that way than just mindlessly copulating with a block of wood for the rest of his life.
If not... just hand him his toy back he was (in his mind) doing great sofar...

 

[Birdmom12]

Thanks all-

Yes the goal when we adopted him was to have him be involved with the family. We don't want just an "accessory" that just sits in a cage all day. We aren't sure what his background is though. I am assuming he was caged his entire life, and the cage was small. He's now in a large flight cage with a variety of toys.

Hoping now that the toy is gone he will progress more smoothly...even if it does take time. He does seem to enjoy interacting with our parakeet. (shes also loving him after loosing her bonded buddy) Once we realized their connection we moved their cages closer together. At night we put them under the same huge sheet. They have been sleeping on the same side of the cage so they can "snuggle together" even if they aren't touching and its through bars.

Although I feel bad for removing his beloved toy... I'm hoping this is a door opening to greater things.

 

[Sunnyclover]

Keep the toy out of the cage or replace it with a new totally different toy. He'll get over it eventually and you'll probably be able to work with him. Also try target training and clicker training ...it does wonders to get them out and about when they're not very tame.

 

[Birdmom12]

I’ve been watching videos on clicker training. It looks like a phenomenal approach to building a relationship or small trust. For those that have when did you start? Day 1? When they seems adjusted? We recently took in another bird (amazon) that I want to work with. He’s game but could use some trust and relationship building when it comes to me.

 

[ChristaNL]

Whenever you want.
As long as your bird is comfortable.


My second grey "D." - turned it completely around and clickertrained ME!
Everytime I did something she approved off (like carying her upstairs for a shower) she would click-click at me.

 

[Birdmom12]

Thanks ChristaNL.

Glad to report our Tiel Kirby had a small break through this morning! When feeding him and the others breakfast he looked at me curiously. He just kept cocking his head back and forth and even got down by me!

This is a huge step for us, normally he pecks at the cage and screeches when you do this. I rewarded him with some sweet talk which further excited him. His calls were becoming worse and worse so we ended up putting the toy outside his cage but with in site. This calmed him down a lot and at least for today gave us this small glimmer of hope.

Will pick up some chop sticks today and work on this target training for Kirby and our new guy JoJo.

 

[Birdmom12]

Larger break through at lunch today. I went home and as soon as I walked in the front door Kirby started singing. I went and talked to him and he started to head bob for me. I gave him a treat which he took nicely. He then came closer to me and sang away. He even let me put my hand by him on the cage wall with out any aggression.

Today hes been acting like a completely new bird. Hes gentle, calm, seems happier and much more lovey. I hate to say this but he has been a rather nasty little guy since coming home. With the toy gone hes not fixated and his aggression is starting to subside. Today has been incredibly rewarding with him.

 

[ChristaNL]

Wow, he is calming down nicely! Glad you are providing a lot of interesting alternatives to mindlessly homping away--- thanks for giving him this chance!!


Having a bird that behaves extremely unfriendly is quite a challenge to love and keep loving.
Good for you!!

 

[noodles123]

I'm so glad he is calming down so quickly.

Now that he is, remember to keep petting to the head/neck only and don't allow him any access to shadowy places (blankets, pillows, under furniture, huts, tents, paper piles, even a lap with a person leaning over it can be too much lol)

 

[Birdmom12]

Thanks everyone,

To clarify Kirby is not hand tame. He is actually quite cautious of the hand... unless it has a treat. Last night we started to target train and he responded amazingly! He was very motivated and interested! Between sessions he sang and tried to interact with you! This has all been done between the bars of his cage. I think I'll give him a few more days of this. After he gets this down I will move to doing it through his cage door.

If he stays on this path I'm sure in no time he will be more willing to accept a hand.