Bird Crazies: while he is very clever he is also very stupid

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Pet Island > Bird Crazies: while he is very clever he is also very stupid

mikerock: Oct 29, 2005

SaNChEzZ posted:

Hey all, Ritz had some dried poop around his vent this evening but with his prior history of being able to somehow get poop on his head, I wouldn't put it past him to poop on something, then sit in it. It wasn't like an entire turd dried up as it came out, t'was just a spot, and not immediately ON his vent, but in the general area. Cause for concern, or should I just monitor and see if it keeps up after a bath?

Most likely just a messy bird, but it doesn't hurt to monitor.

# ? Jun 3, 2013 18:00

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# ? May 17, 2024 23:12

Frozen Pizza Party: Dec 13, 2005

mikerock posted:

Most likely just a messy bird, but it doesn't hurt to monitor.

That's my first guess, he's had poop basically on every part of his body. And almost on a daily basis he manages to get blackberry juice on his chest/legs. Wtf bird.

# ? Jun 3, 2013 18:22

mikerock: Oct 29, 2005

Congrats! Your conure is functioning at 100% efficiency!

# ? Jun 3, 2013 19:31

Kenshin: Jan 10, 2007

Oh god I need to get blackberries for Alexis and see what he does.

If, of course, I can get him to do something besides cling to me when he's not in his cage.

# ? Jun 3, 2013 19:33

Pip pip pip: Oct 24, 2010; The cutest little fascist

Kenshin posted:

So a little bit of background and then some conure questions:

Alexis has really only known his two owners his 18 months of life (besides, of course, whoever hand-raised him), and they said they didn't really have people over very often so he wasn't socialized well. Right now he's just super-clingy to the point where hands are fine UNTIL he's got himself latched onto my shirt, and then HANDS ARE THE ENEMY BECAUSE THEY WILL TAKE ME OFF HUMAN. Even to the point where he'll headbang angrily on my shoulder if I try to put my hand (without a food treat) anywhere near him. His bites hurt but not enough that I have to react or to draw blood, so so far I've just been letting him get his angry nips in and then slowly pulling my hand away, then trying another tactic to pick him up (usually involving bribing him with a treat, or just walking to his cage and seeing if he leans toward it).

Is there a better tactic than what I'm currently doing? Is this likely just him still being very confused about the situation he's been dumped into and feeling insecure?

Ozzy still gets bitchy at hands when they move in to remove him from a person (the angry squeals are adorable, though). Even if it is just for a quick potty break. It sounds like you are on the right path to discourage the biting, but don't be surprised if the attitude doesn't change a whole lot.

# ? Jun 3, 2013 20:43

Kenshin: Jan 10, 2007

Pip pip pip posted:

Ozzy still gets bitchy at hands when they move in to remove him from a person (the angry squeals are adorable, though). Even if it is just for a quick potty break. It sounds like you are on the right path to discourage the biting, but don't be surprised if the attitude doesn't change a whole lot.

Ok, thanks. I did notice that he didn't seem to do that with his previous owners, he'd more just run away from their hands if he realized they were trying to remove him from their shoulders, so hopefully the biting slows down/stops once he's more comfortable with me. I'm guessing more cuddles and scritches this evening will help with that.

# ? Jun 3, 2013 20:45

DarkHorse: Dec 13, 2006; Nap Ghost

Kenshin posted:

So a little bit of background and then some conure questions:

Alexis has really only known his two owners his 18 months of life (besides, of course, whoever hand-raised him), and they said they didn't really have people over very often so he wasn't socialized well. Right now he's just super-clingy to the point where hands are fine UNTIL he's got himself latched onto my shirt, and then HANDS ARE THE ENEMY BECAUSE THEY WILL TAKE ME OFF HUMAN. Even to the point where he'll headbang angrily on my shoulder if I try to put my hand (without a food treat) anywhere near him. His bites hurt but not enough that I have to react or to draw blood, so so far I've just been letting him get his angry nips in and then slowly pulling my hand away, then trying another tactic to pick him up (usually involving bribing him with a treat, or just walking to his cage and seeing if he leans toward it).

Is there a better tactic than what I'm currently doing? Is this likely just him still being very confused about the situation he's been dumped into and feeling insecure?

In better news we did have our first scritches and cuddle session on the couch last night--he moved down toward my chest and let me give him lots of head scritches and back strokes, while closing his eyes and slowly working his beak open and closed, so I think we're making progress. He just is extremely resistent to actually physically letting go of me!

You can practice having him step up, and then put him back onto you, then step up, then put back... until he gets the idea that stepping up doesn't always mean "I'm getting put away." If he really likes his cage/playgym/food dish, you can stick him on that, too. The general idea you want to stick in his little birdy brain is that "hands = good things" whatever that might mean. If clinging to you is the only thing that motivates him, just make a game out of it and give him treats.

Keep training sessions short and fun, five minutes or less will usually do it. You're doing a great job by not reacting to the bites, too, so it sounds like you're already well on the right track!

# ? Jun 3, 2013 21:06

Official Bizness: Dec 4, 2007; wark wark wark

Patience and repetition! And definitely agreeing with having him step off of you, praising him, and then putting him right back where he was. Stepping up and off doesn't always need to mean playtime is over.

# ? Jun 3, 2013 21:40

turn it up TURN ME ON: Mar 19, 2012; In the Grim Darkness of the Future, there is only war.

...and delicious ice cream.

Just got back from the vet, Captain Conure is pretty worn out (it's settled down on the towel beside me right now, no interest in playing). Lots of new things and sharp pokey things! Everything is a-ok though, with DNA testing coming back sometime next week.

One thing did come up and I think I'll have to do a lot of research on this: gotta get this bird foraging and on pellets! Since I knew Captain would be hungry after coming home from the vet, I went ahead and refilled the food bowl with nothing but pellets. We'll see if he goes for that.

How do you guys get your birds foraging?

# ? Jun 3, 2013 22:39

Battle Pigeon: Nov 7, 2011; I am dancing potato
give me millet

I leave tomorrow, early enough that I won't see the birds then, and was hoping to spend some time with the birds in the evening instead. Got back from running errands, and Steve wouldn't come out of the cage (and bit me when I offered a finger), and Ohtori wanted nothing to do with me.

I'm going to miss those little balls of fury and potato-ness. :unsmith:

# ? Jun 3, 2013 22:49

Official Bizness: Dec 4, 2007; wark wark wark

SquadronROE posted:

How do you guys get your birds foraging?

A short plastic box half-filled with Carefresh with a seed mix sprinkled over and then mixed in while the bird is watching. The tub's walls help keep the Carefresh in the box (in theory, Zeke and Zoe are lunatics).

When switching birds cold turkey over to pellets, some birds will actually starve themselves to death rather than try eating a pellet. Make sure you keep a careful eye on stool production. When I switched Chiyo, I gave her a breakfast and dinner of seed mix, but she only had pellets to free-feed from otherwise.

# ? Jun 3, 2013 23:21

BitchKitten: Apr 4, 2003

It has been a year, since my parrotlet Squeak passed away.

And, I have been wanting another parrotlet for quite sometime now. Sure enough, the local store near me had a baby hatch.

She was born in March and almost 4 months old. Total opposite of my first parrotlet. I named her Rarity because of her color. She loves to be scratched, sits in her food dish to eat, and tries to go after my conure Egbert.

(And her baby picture, from the pet stores website)

# ? Jun 4, 2013 00:22

Shark Sandwich: Sep 6, 2010; by R. Guyovich

I found this picture of Charlie and his siblings as babies. Charlie is next to the one on the left.

# ? Jun 4, 2013 04:37

Chido: Dec 7, 2003; Butterflies fluttering on my face!

Guys, hey guys. I know y'all love your birds and all, but can your potato birds convey such strong emotions like mine?

I don't think so :smug:

# ? Jun 4, 2013 04:52

Marshmallow Blue: Apr 25, 2010

Pip pip pip posted:

Do you guys have any other cool crafting ideas that I can use with tail feathers? Ozzy's red ones are so gorgeous that I want more ways to show them off I like Nugget's banded ones too. I only have like 2 of Sprite's tail feathers. Either she hardly ever drops them or I don't ever find them for some reason.

Dream Catchers!

I made one and it actually worked :stonk:

I didn't recall any dreams (good or bad) when I had it up. and now that I've taken it down for a long while. I've been getting night terrors.

# ? Jun 4, 2013 20:07

Kenshin: Jan 10, 2007

So: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/alexis-the-dusky-conure

I mainly set it up so I can watch and see how he behaves when he's alone while I'm at work. I also just bought a bunch of new toys and stuff and set his cage up differently, so we'll see if he plays with those toys.

# ? Jun 4, 2013 20:11

Frozen Pizza Party: Dec 13, 2005

Kenshin posted:

So: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/alexis-the-dusky-conure

I mainly set it up so I can watch and see how he behaves when he's alone while I'm at work. I also just bought a bunch of new toys and stuff and set his cage up differently, so we'll see if he plays with those toys.

I'm watching you. I'm jealous of your conure that doesn't squeeze out of the foodhole when you move bowls in or out. I can't even open the side doors on the cage without Ritz shoving some appendage out the hole so I can't close it

We have the same thing setup, of course it's offline today. derp.

# ? Jun 4, 2013 20:17

Jose Oquendo: Jun 20, 2004; Star Trek: The Motion Picture is a boring movie

Man, I never thought of setting up a Ustream feed for Hannah. Definitely setting one up tonight.

# ? Jun 4, 2013 20:28

Marshmallow Blue: Apr 25, 2010

Are we going to have a birds looking at streams of birds looking at streams of birds of birds looking at streams of birds few posts coming up? (similar to the one with birds looking at pictures of birds etc...)

# ? Jun 4, 2013 20:37

Eejit: Mar 6, 2007; Swiss Army Cockatoo
Cacatua multitoolii

Ahhhhh too cute. But now I think he's hiding from the camera on purpose.

# ? Jun 4, 2013 20:38

Amaya: Aug 5, 2006; Paws up!

Just got back from Disney! My bird sitters did great, one of them even managed to bum rush Finn fast enough to scoop him out of his cage and not get bitten haha. We woke the birds up last night around 10:30 and they were all extremely excited to see us. I had an awesome time but everytime I saw birds creeping around wanting french fries I wanted to cry. I missed my babies so much I just :'( SO GLAD TO BE HOME.

# ? Jun 4, 2013 20:50

H110Hawk: Dec 28, 2006

Kenshin posted:

So: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/alexis-the-dusky-conure

I mainly set it up so I can watch and see how he behaves when he's alone while I'm at work. I also just bought a bunch of new toys and stuff and set his cage up differently, so we'll see if he plays with those toys.

We do the same thing with Mindo.

# ? Jun 4, 2013 23:08

turn it up TURN ME ON: Mar 19, 2012; In the Grim Darkness of the Future, there is only war.

...and delicious ice cream.

Man, I feel so bad for Captain Conure. All she wants to do right now is cuddle with me and nuzzle and maybe preen a bit. However, I'm a bit nervous about letting her do that because I don't want to be identified as a mate, or encourage nesting or whatever.

I wonder if I'm just being overly paranoid.

# ? Jun 5, 2013 00:09

Frozen Pizza Party: Dec 13, 2005

SquadronROE posted:

Man, I feel so bad for Captain Conure. All she wants to do right now is cuddle with me and nuzzle and maybe preen a bit. However, I'm a bit nervous about letting her do that because I don't want to be identified as a mate, or encourage nesting or whatever.

I wonder if I'm just being overly paranoid.

She? Did you get results back already, if so that's rad! I think given enough time all birds identify with their humans as mates, the best you can do is just try to stop the masturbating (when she tries to do it on your arm/hand/face whatever). It will happen eventually.

# ? Jun 5, 2013 00:16

DarkHorse: Dec 13, 2006; Nap Ghost

SquadronROE posted:

Man, I feel so bad for Captain Conure. All she wants to do right now is cuddle with me and nuzzle and maybe preen a bit. However, I'm a bit nervous about letting her do that because I don't want to be identified as a mate, or encourage nesting or whatever.

I wonder if I'm just being overly paranoid.

Cuddling should be ok, just be careful with petting anywhere besides the head. I'm not sure what conures do in the wild, but I wouldn't be surprised if they hung out in big cuddly balls :3:

- in any case, you just want to keep the bird from thinking it's mating season, not necessarily from thinking that you're its mate (though if you can do that, more power to you).

Side note: humans are one of the few animals that are "in heat" throughout the year. Most other animals only get the urge during certain seasons, usually so that gestation ends at the time when there's the most resources for new young.

# ? Jun 5, 2013 00:29

Eejit: Mar 6, 2007; Swiss Army Cockatoo
Cacatua multitoolii

SquadronROE posted:

Man, I feel so bad for Captain Conure. All she wants to do right now is cuddle with me and nuzzle and maybe preen a bit. However, I'm a bit nervous about letting her do that because I don't want to be identified as a mate, or encourage nesting or whatever.

I wonder if I'm just being overly paranoid.

Isn't Captain pretty young? Do conures not take multiple years to reach sexual maturity?

It is a good idea to get the bird comfortable with being separated from you, though. It's great to chill with birdbrain all day, but there are times one has to work or do something in the house where the bird can't be on you and having the bird be accustomed to that is a good thing.

# ? Jun 5, 2013 00:46

turn it up TURN ME ON: Mar 19, 2012; In the Grim Darkness of the Future, there is only war.

...and delicious ice cream.

Thanks for all the info! We haven't gotten the results back just yet, but I'm planning on worst case scenario. Worst case because it seems like every possible birdy illness happens to females. I do make sure Captain gets plenty of alone time in the cage. Usually when I get home it'll be out for a couple hours as I play games or whatever, then it's back in the cage while we eat (and then bed time). It's in the cage constantly while I'm at work.

# ? Jun 5, 2013 01:05

Tasty_Crayon: Jul 29, 2006; Same story, different version.

Haha, Leeloo is mad because she can't find an edge to peel my nailpolish off. At first she was just skittering her tongue across it trying to get purchase, but now she's angrily whacking it with her beak over and over... "WHAT WITCHERY IS THIS?" :catstare:

# ? Jun 5, 2013 05:22

Agent355: Jul 26, 2011

Tasty_Crayon posted:

Haha, Leeloo is mad because she can't find an edge to peel my nailpolish off. At first she was just skittering her tongue across it trying to get purchase, but now she's angrily whacking it with her beak over and over... "WHAT WITCHERY IS THIS?"

My cockatiel has really taken to 'talking' to shaking noises. Shake a box of pasta and he'll start chipring and chattering away, and he stops whenever you stop shaking it, doesn't matter what it is. If he's in a really good mood he'll talk and chatter to your finger if you tap it on the desk in front of him.

# ? Jun 5, 2013 07:25

Eifert Posting: Apr 1, 2007; Most of the time he catches it every time.; Grimey Drawer

Chido posted:

Guys, hey guys. I know y'all love your birds and all, but can your potato birds convey such strong emotions like mine?

I don't think so

I didn't know "rear end in a top hat" was an emotion. :colbert:

Forgive me, I lived in a small Georgian (the European one) village for a half year and the. loving. Chickens.

# ? Jun 5, 2013 08:23

Official Bizness: Dec 4, 2007; wark wark wark

IT'S A DUET BETWEEN A COCKATIEL AND THEIR HUMAN ACCOMPANIST ON PIANO. It's theme from My Neighbor Totoro and I exploded from the derp.

# ? Jun 5, 2013 12:43

Chili: Jan 23, 2004; college kids ain't shit; Fun Shoe

Official Bizness posted:

IT'S A DUET BETWEEN A COCKATIEL AND THEIR HUMAN ACCOMPANIST ON PIANO. It's theme from My Neighbor Totoro and I exploded from the derp.

Good lord... that is just too much..

# ? Jun 5, 2013 13:14

Eejit: Mar 6, 2007; Swiss Army Cockatoo
Cacatua multitoolii

Official Bizness posted:

IT'S A DUET BETWEEN A COCKATIEL AND THEIR HUMAN ACCOMPANIST ON PIANO. It's theme from My Neighbor Totoro and I exploded from the derp.

Oh. My. God.

# ? Jun 5, 2013 14:14

Deadly Chlorine: Nov 8, 2009; The accumulated filth of all the dog poop and hairballs will foam up about their waists and all the catladies and dog crazies will look up and shout "Save us!"
... and I'll look down and whisper
"No."

Official Bizness posted:

IT'S A DUET BETWEEN A COCKATIEL AND THEIR HUMAN ACCOMPANIST ON PIANO. It's theme from My Neighbor Totoro and I exploded from the derp.

Oh my god the way he stares up and eagerly sings the theme. :3:

# ? Jun 5, 2013 14:15

Amaya: Aug 5, 2006; Paws up!

Official Bizness posted:

IT'S A DUET BETWEEN A COCKATIEL AND THEIR HUMAN ACCOMPANIST ON PIANO. It's theme from My Neighbor Totoro and I exploded from the derp.

This is so cute! ...The related videos though? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXfmnY6QIOc D:

# ? Jun 5, 2013 16:16

Deadly Chlorine: Nov 8, 2009; The accumulated filth of all the dog poop and hairballs will foam up about their waists and all the catladies and dog crazies will look up and shout "Save us!"
... and I'll look down and whisper
"No."

Amaya posted:

This is so cute! ...The related videos though? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXfmnY6QIOc D:

Oh god one baby cockatiel makes enough irritating sounds :gonk:

Seriously I love following the related videos for Chinese or Japanese videos, they ALWAYS have the cutest goddamn bird videos. :3:

# ? Jun 5, 2013 16:34

Amaya: Aug 5, 2006; Paws up!

Deadly Chlorine posted:

Oh god one baby cockatiel makes enough irritating sounds

Seriously I love following the related videos for Chinese or Japanese videos, they ALWAYS have the cutest goddamn bird videos.

I agree! last link, I just love that the title translates to "I get angry violently!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZme_YdOCL0

# ? Jun 5, 2013 16:36

Eejit: Mar 6, 2007; Swiss Army Cockatoo
Cacatua multitoolii

Oh man, I love birds talking in foreign languages:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ejsdVOILY Grey speaking Japanese
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhMrFd6yv1Q Konichiwa!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7G_NgIgHZo KONBAWAAAAAA

# ? Jun 5, 2013 16:46

Pookah: Aug 21, 2008; 🪶Caw🪶

Official Bizness posted:

IT'S A DUET BETWEEN A COCKATIEL AND THEIR HUMAN ACCOMPANIST ON PIANO. It's theme from My Neighbor Totoro and I exploded from the derp.

That is just too much :kimchi:

# ? Jun 5, 2013 17:00

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# ? May 17, 2024 23:12

Battle Pigeon: Nov 7, 2011; I am dancing potato
give me millet

Official Bizness posted:

IT'S A DUET BETWEEN A COCKATIEL AND THEIR HUMAN ACCOMPANIST ON PIANO. It's theme from My Neighbor Totoro and I exploded from the derp.

Woooow. What an amazing little potato :3:

# ? Jun 5, 2013 17:23

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