Rosella's behavior

[Alex99]

I've got my Rosella like a week ago, and every day in the morning he goes like crazy in the cage, jumps over and over, moves from one side to another, flies like crazy, and during the afternoon something like 1pm-3pm he starts producing sounds . At first i thought those are just whistles but then he rapidly started so it felt like he's talking. What troubles me is that i can't clearly figure out what's his problem when he's doing that, I've learned that when he's grinding the beak he's going to sleep. Now when he's shouting he's looking around, moving his head non-stop and just whistling(if that is the whistle). What troubles me is that i can't differentiate whistles from the angry sounds, nor the things he does in the morning. Anyone who can help me out a bit?

 

[Loko]

It sounds to me normal. A lot of birds will make flock calls and then start flying to food sources in the morning, and then flock calls again around that time. I dont know much about rosellas specifically but I know that my sun conure as well as many other species display the same behavior. My sun is like my alarm clock, I wake up every day when he takes his morning laps around the apartment. He knows to be quiet when Im in bed but I still hear the flapping, I would suggest letting him out and letting him move around a little bit, fly if he is flighted, and let him take his morning bathroom break then he will calm down.

 

[Flboy]

Inside free flight can help him burn energy! But please, be absolutely sure no door, or window is opened! Even when fully trusted, he will head straight to the brighter light when startled! Until he understands glass, find a way to protect him from crashing into windows!
You can start with one room only!

 

[Loko]

Inside free flight can help him burn energy! But please, be absolutely sure no door, or window is opened! Even when fully trusted, he will head straight to the brighter light when startled! Until he understands glass, find a way to protect him from crashing into windows!
You can start with one room only!

Thanks for mentioning that.

I saw someone once say how they brought their bird around the house allowing it to feel the walls, windows, doors, etc so it knows it is solid. Loco knows about windows from doing pretty much that as well. Putting something visible over them helps too.

 

[Alex99]

Well I'm soon planning to let him out of the cage like every day, problem is I'm scared a bit since he doesn't have some good connection with me, for now when I'm near the cage he would stand still and will stay like it 'till i like put my finger inside then he'll just move back a bit, but he'll take food from my hand if i place it inside the cage without problem. I'm just a bit scared that once i let him out of cage that he will never come back in there since he won't step up on my fingers nor anything.

 

[Quakerella]

Rosellas make very different noises than any of my other species. They don't squawk or squeak like my other birds. If I can get my camera working I will try to record to see if it helps. Rosellas mimic sounds very well. Rainbow lets out 5 beeps in a row, exactly like my microwave. A few times someone has come upstairs to see what was in it. When we first got her she would bark like a dog. It may be possible Koki is mimicking a sound he heard from the previous caregiver.
They are also very timid birds and scare easily, sometimes a shadow will send them into a frenzy. Always be very slow, and if your cage is in another room let him hear you talking before you reach the cage. This may calm him a little.

Leave the cage door open (while you are there) eventually he will come out on his own, but give him time. With a Rosella it could take a couple of months for him to trust you enough to come out, or it could be next week.

If you do get him out he will probably go back in the cage on his own when he is hungry and for water. If not get a long branch, he will more than likely step up on the branch if you are a good distance away.

Don't despair and have patience. Good Luck

 

[Alex99]

Thanks man this was really helpful, I've opened doors of the cage but he's like ignoring it and looking at the open doors, i suppose when he wants to he will come outside. I've bought him a swing and cuttlefish bone, hope it will help him a bit.

 

[Scott]

It will take some time for Koki to feel comfortable with the new environment. Here are a few links to threads you may find helpful!!

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/training/60435-clicker-target-training.html

 

[Alex99]

Thanks, I'll check it out, anyway when it comes to feeding, currently I'm feeding him with the seeds(commercial ones so there is like 5 types of 'em), I've tried giving him the carrots but still he didn't eat them. So what should be a good way of feeding him, like give him a spoon or two of seeds, then after he eats that to change to give him some vegs/fruits and that's it for morning, and then in the evening like same. once at like 7-8 am and like 5-6 pm. Any advice?

 

[Scott]

There are generally three types of foods for parrots. In order of health and nutrition, they are fresh vegetables/fruits (known as "chop") pellets, and seeds. Unfortunately most birds will prefer seeds due to the high fat content; it is like a human enjoying hamburgers, fried foods, etc. Pellets are a little better as they are grains, fruits, vegetables and some added vitamins that are ground, heated, and formed into "pellets" that are often colored to attract attention. Best of all is "chop" that consists of various vegetables and fruits served fresh. Preparing chop takes time and effort, but can be made easier by freezing portions in little bags that can be defrosted before feeding. Depending on the temperature in your home, it can last from a few hours to most of the day. Cleanup important to prevent bacteria, flies, and that nasty smell of rotting food!

Birds do not always like change, but providing fresh foods is important for health and long life. When first introduced, it is helpful to prepare a plate for yourself and eat the same foods in front of Koki. Birds are flock eaters, and YOU are part of his flock!

Check out this excellent thread! http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html

It will take a while to figure out what foods Koki will eat. Best to remove the seeds when giving chop to encourage him to try something better!

 

[Alex99]

Well, mostly i know what he wanna eat, prob is i don't have pellets since i didn't buy them gotta do it these days, what I wanna know is, when to feed him, since i doubt keeping food in his cage all the time is good, so when would u advice to give him to eat?

 

[Quakerella]

Rainbow eats many different veggies, but her favourite would have to be cucumber, broccoli and alfalfa. She absolutely loves hard boiled egg or scrambled egg. If I am making her scrambled egg I put the whole egg in the blender first, shell and all, before I cook it. Lots of calcium in the shell.

I will say she is not a big eater and eats much less than my quakers and Ringnecks. I keep pellets with some seed mixed in, in the cage at all times. Then I have a separate dish I use for her fresh food. I usually leave it in the cage for about an hour then remove it. If she is out of her cage I have a little place set for her to eat.

 

[Alex99]

Thanks, I'll try it out to see will Koki like the eggs. Is it wise just to feed him in the morning and at the evening while trying to give him some treats from the hand during the day?(btw he eats if i put the food on my palm and put hand in front of him he would look at me for few seconds and then eat, but if i hold the seeds with the fingers he'll just move back a bit and stay there.) And wanna see how he will respond to the swing, since for now he's just avoiding it and staying back probably has no idea what that is .

 

[Alex99]

I've ran into a problem, today when I've opened the cage he left it after few hours and now whole day he's sitting in kitchen on top of the locker(i have no idea the right english word for that), i know it's about time for him to eat but i can't get him back to cage he just flies away when he even see me approaching...Problem is he doesn't trust me so much, and i have no idea what to do now, since now its either he'll go back by himself(which i doubt), he'll die of hunger, or to aggressively catch him with something...any help?