TheSpoiledReckless
New member
- Apr 7, 2016
- 31
- 0
- Parrots
- Bonnie-rescued orange-winged Amazon
Darwin-my baby girl, pineapple green cheek conure, also a rescue. RIP Darwin, dearly missed
Kiwi and Damon, the devilish lovebird twins
Charlie-Umbrella Cockatoo,
Charlie is doing pretty well, settling in and being showering in affection and toys. It has become obvious very quickly that even though he is only four months old and hand feeding, he is very much displaying the behavioral issues of cockatoos.
He wants to step up constantly, it is a 24/7 battle to get him to sit down on his own. He cannot maneuver his cage well, yes, it is a bit small for him (plans for a new cage are already in motion, not a problem. It is still a comfortable size for him). He flops and falls all over the cage, throwing his wings out and hurting himself. He tries to stand on balls and objects that rolls away from him. He is absolutely OBSESSED with getting on people's heads (My mother encourages this and thinks it is hysterical, even though she knows very well that I do not allow this or sitting on anyone's shoulder under any circumstance). He is trying to scream, not often but enough to worry me and is starting to pick up biting. None of these behaviors are extreme, and I was prepared to deal with them and expected them. Which bring me to my point.
What do you guys think? What are solutions that you have found helpful. I plan on starting strict training as young as possible to ensure as few behavioral issues as possible. Parrot experience tells me that it is not possible to prevent all issues but I believe that it is in both of our best interest if I have control over Charlie so that he can enjoy our life together without issue.
BTW-he loves baby toys and playing tug-a-war with my tablet first thing in the morning. He's so lucky he is cute or else I would have eaten the adorable coconut the first time I caught sight of beak on screen action. (Shockingly, I threaten to eat several of my eight pets on a daily basis, my mom doesn't think it is as funny as me, hehe. It started with one of my cats, a notorious food thief who ran away with your dinner if you turned your back for a second, I told her if she kept trying to eat my food that I would eat her and well...now my pets hear it so often that they would roll their eyes at me if they could)
He wants to step up constantly, it is a 24/7 battle to get him to sit down on his own. He cannot maneuver his cage well, yes, it is a bit small for him (plans for a new cage are already in motion, not a problem. It is still a comfortable size for him). He flops and falls all over the cage, throwing his wings out and hurting himself. He tries to stand on balls and objects that rolls away from him. He is absolutely OBSESSED with getting on people's heads (My mother encourages this and thinks it is hysterical, even though she knows very well that I do not allow this or sitting on anyone's shoulder under any circumstance). He is trying to scream, not often but enough to worry me and is starting to pick up biting. None of these behaviors are extreme, and I was prepared to deal with them and expected them. Which bring me to my point.
What do you guys think? What are solutions that you have found helpful. I plan on starting strict training as young as possible to ensure as few behavioral issues as possible. Parrot experience tells me that it is not possible to prevent all issues but I believe that it is in both of our best interest if I have control over Charlie so that he can enjoy our life together without issue.
BTW-he loves baby toys and playing tug-a-war with my tablet first thing in the morning. He's so lucky he is cute or else I would have eaten the adorable coconut the first time I caught sight of beak on screen action. (Shockingly, I threaten to eat several of my eight pets on a daily basis, my mom doesn't think it is as funny as me, hehe. It started with one of my cats, a notorious food thief who ran away with your dinner if you turned your back for a second, I told her if she kept trying to eat my food that I would eat her and well...now my pets hear it so often that they would roll their eyes at me if they could)
