Opinions needed

[sunshine.within]

I think I inadvertently encouraged Bianca to nest. I just read that parrots mate in autumn and spring and that they are particularly hormonal during these seasons.

Bianca had finally begun to play with cardboard boxes and paper bags.... and now it seems that I should keep her away from fabric, cardboard and paper, at least at the moment. Ugh.

She is behaving strangely too. Yesterday she bit my arm for no apparent reason and this morning she tried to again, although she was gentle enough not to hurt me, like a warning.

Now I’m worried that she’s turning on me out of frustration.

Do you guys have advice?


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[itzjbean]

Yes, as you have assumed, giving any sort of nesting material to cockatoos can and does stimulate nesting behavior! It's best to keep these away from her from now on, especially between spring and fall. You'll also want to watch her daily hours of sunlight and keep it under 12 hours, as extended daylight is also a stimulate.

Of course you also probably know, NO touching her along the back or under the wings, as this will also stimulate her and leave her extremely frustrated when you can't do what she wants, mate with her.

You can give her wood to shred, that's a good alternative to nesting material or boxes, and it will help take away some of that frustration.

I'm hoping some of our local too experts chime in here with some more advice!

 

[sunshine.within]

Thank you! Where should I go to get her some wood to shred?


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[itzjbean]

Thank you! Where should I go to get her some wood to shred?


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Depending on where you live, you could find some branches outside and bake them (assuming they are a bird safe wood) and give it to her just in her cage. Or you could go to your local home improvement store and get plywood.

 

[sunshine.within]

Thank you! Where should I go to get her some wood to shred?


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Depending on where you live, you could find some branches outside and bake them (assuming they are a bird safe wood) and give it to her just in her cage. Or you could go to your local home improvement store and get plywood.

Oh, I didn’t know that one could bake wood! I’ll try that option. Thank you!


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[noodles123]

Thank you! Where should I go to get her some wood to shred?


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Depending on where you live, you could find some branches outside and bake them (assuming they are a bird safe wood) and give it to her just in her cage. Or you could go to your local home improvement store and get plywood.

DO NOT GET PLYWOOD...it is often treated with chemicals and pressure washed. It is not all bird safe (at all)...They treat it to keep bugs out etc. There may be a special variety that is safe, but wood from a hardware store is not (in general) safe.


Here is a quote/link:
"If you are making your own bird toys, remember that NOT ALL WOODS ARE BIRD SAFE. Avoid Cedar, Red Cherry, Plywood. Oak and especially pressure ..."
https://www.birdsupplies.com/pages/bird-safe-wood


You can buy parts for chewing toys in bulk and it isn't that expensive to make your own this way.


Also, while you probably have encouraged nesting behavior (no boxes, blankets, caves etc are ever good....albeit fun)....You must also keep in mind that you haven't had her for that long, so some of this could also just be her settling in and showing a bit of that famous cockatoo personality.
Again---do only pet on the head, do watch the hours of light vs sleep, do avoid mushy warm foods, do keep nesting materials away, do provide lots of novel activities, do avoid excess bathing (can simulate weather in mating season), but also do remember that she is still pretty new and that Toos often have ups and downs lol.

 

[sunshine.within]

Thank you! Where should I go to get her some wood to shred?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Depending on where you live, you could find some branches outside and bake them (assuming they are a bird safe wood) and give it to her just in her cage. Or you could go to your local home improvement store and get plywood.

DO NOT GET PLYWOOD...it is often treated with chemicals and pressure washed. It is not all bird safe (at all)...They treat it to keep bugs out etc. There may be a special variety that is safe, but wood from a hardware store is not (in general) safe.


Here is a quote/link:
"If you are making your own bird toys, remember that NOT ALL WOODS ARE BIRD SAFE. Avoid Cedar, Red Cherry, Plywood. Oak and especially pressure ..."
https://www.birdsupplies.com/pages/bird-safe-wood


You can buy parts for chewing toys in bulk and it isn't that expensive to make your own this way.


Also, while you probably have encouraged nesting behavior (no boxes, blankets, caves etc are ever good....albeit fun)....You must also keep in mind that you haven't had her for that long, so some of this could also just be her settling in and showing a bit of that famous cockatoo personality.
Again---do only pet on the head, do watch the hours of light vs sleep, do avoid mushy warm foods, do keep nesting materials away, do provide lots of novel activities, do avoid excess bathing (can simulate weather in mating season), but also do remember that she is still pretty new and that Toos often have ups and downs lol.

Avoiding mushy foods is the hardest... she will only eat the pellets if I add them to the oatmeal, which she loves... I’d be so sad if I have to take it away from her.

Also, I’m going to get her wooden toy blocks for now since it’s easier. I hope she likes them!


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[Flboy]

Ditto,ditto, ditto! No plywood!

 

[Scott]

Most of my cockatoos love to chew wood. Some prefer fancy toys on chain with some hard plastic pieces, other enjoy plain blocks of pine or birch and birch.

Main priority is to minimize sexually-charged handling and the nesting behaviors you described. I would also recommend taking action sooner than later. The time to modify behavior before having an antisocial bird is "yesterday."

 

[sunshine.within]

I removed all the things in her cage that she could crawl into. This morning she was her usual self and enjoyed a quiet breakfast with us. Now she’s playing with her plastic cups. I hope I didn’t cause her too much frustration.


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[Scott]

I removed all the things in her cage that she could crawl into. This morning she was her usual self and enjoyed a quiet breakfast with us. Now she’s playing with her plastic cups. I hope I didn’t cause her too much frustration.


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Excellent idea. Cockatoos are extraordinarily "tactile" parrots and just love all manner of body contact, even with inanimate objects. Tunneling through rigid objects might stimulate hormonal activity.

 

[sunshine.within]

Well, now we’ve been evacuated because of the fires so now Bianca is freaking out in the carrier


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[Laurasea]

Oh my! Be safe!!!!!!

 

[sunshine.within]

Thank you I’ll try my best. We’re driving towards Nevada now.


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[noodles123]

Oh no! I'm sorry- how stressful!