what is he doing?

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stewartsma
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2013 6:19 pm

what is he doing?

Post by stewartsma »

I think I may have crossed the line with Stewart. He was hatched on March 31st this year and is getting his ring in(it's gray and the line behind his neck is slowly getting softer blue). Stewart has been with me for several months. He was a bird at work that I grew attached to. Stewart felt the same, essentially choosing me. He would only come out of his cage for me and enjoyed hanging around on my shoulder.

Onto the issue. I probably am at fault. Stewart enjoys his beak to be stroked. He pins his eyes and makes soft sounds whenever I scratch his head, neck and a little around his beak. Well I had Stewart out and I was playing with him. I wasn't doing anything bad with him just a little head scratch. I like to make kissy noises and Stewart will come over and put his beak on my lips. I noticed he started "showing" for me. Wings go out slightly, head stretches out, eyes pin and a soft noise then he'd return to normal posture change position and come back and do it again. Then in between stretches of the wings going out slightly and the neck stretch he started regurgitating.

Has he decided he loves me so much he wants to mate with me? I never touch his tail feathers or scratch in inappropriate spots(under wings, tail feathers etc) only his head and neck get touched. Any assistance is appreciated!
Doodlebug
Posts: 319
Joined: Tue Jul 16, 2013 7:14 am
Location: Suffolk, UK

Re: what is he doing?

Post by Doodlebug »

Hi there, I think this is quite common from what I read, my first IRN that I grew up with formed that kind of attachment to me. They usually will choose a 'preferred person' and although mine was hand reared and so tame he almost thought he was human, it caused no problems for me but I have read since joining the forum that this kind of a bond can lead to potential problem.

I'm by no means an expert but there are others on here that know all about it, maybe try using the Search option to find out more? Has he shown any kind of aggression or other unwanted behaviour?

Loo :)
Loo :)
stewartsma
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2013 6:19 pm

Re: what is he doing?

Post by stewartsma »

He hasn't shown aggressive behavior unless it's in the morning or I haven't allowed him out of cage time the day before, usually he gets an hour or two before bedtime but sometimes things don't work out.He gets a toy rotation every week and he spends a lot of time destroying them.

I know he's chosen me. He chose me while he was still in the store. He was aggressive when anyone else attempted to get him out but with me he would take his beak and position my hand so he could step up. He made nice soft noises when I'd rub his beak but he didn't trust head scratches until later when I brought him home.

I'm concerned that he's taking the relationship to far though and maybe this is my fault. I'm worried hes chosen me as his mate, not a flock mate or pal but a mate. I don't mind being a flock mate or a pal but Im not a bird and I'm unable to provide that sort of relationship for him. I also worry that he'll become extremely aggressive towards others. He's not aggressive towards others now, he just seems freaked out but still.
AlphaWolf
Posts: 289
Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:06 am

Re: what is he doing?

Post by AlphaWolf »

Lol, I wish that Aero just stopped acting like I will eat him, poor little green chicken. Sorry for not being of any help, but just got my ringneck so totally inexperienced.
"Live with parrots and you learn to panic"

AlphaWolf
Doodlebug
Posts: 319
Joined: Tue Jul 16, 2013 7:14 am
Location: Suffolk, UK

Re: what is he doing?

Post by Doodlebug »

Have you read the topic 'Sexual behaviour' in this same Taming section? Ellieelectrons and skyes_crew knows more about it than I do and they are always happy to help.

Loo :)
Loo :)
ellieelectrons
Posts: 2708
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2010 1:17 am
Location: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

Re: what is he doing?

Post by ellieelectrons »

Hi stewartsma

I haven't had the problem but I have heard of people who have. The general line of thought on it is that someone else should do the main looking after and treat-giving to your bird. To be honest though I can't imagine being able to implement that in my own household.

Part of the reason we got a second bird was because we wanted to prevent that kind of behaviour - however, I'm not suggesting you should get a second bird. Getting a second bird may stop the bond with you but it won't necessarily do that... and it may cause new problems.

I've never had a bird regurgitate to me, but I'd have to think it's pretty gross?

If he's not showing aggression, you could monitor it and see how it goes.

The other thing to do would be put him down or in his cage any time he tries to regurgitate to you. He needs to learn that that type of behaviour won't get reinforced. Claire may have more to say here as her bird sometimes tries to regurgitate to her hand.

Sorry, not much help here.

Ellie.
InTheAir
Posts: 2040
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:24 pm

Re: what is he doing?

Post by InTheAir »

Hi,

I have had some similar behaviour from my boyfriends bird, he started doing his boy dance for my hand when I was signalling for him to do tricks. He even started trying to regurgitate for me couple times. He actually prefers my boyfriend for company though.
I just walked off every time those wings started coming out and have stopped training any tricks that get him excited for a couple weeks. I tried running through some tricks with him the other day and he was fine. I'm still keeping the trick training very minimal until breeding season is over. My boyfriend has taken over quite a lot of the bird care and bird is going to work with him more often.
We are also getting another ringneck to keep him company. We decided that he needed a friend independently of breeding season, it's just our personal preference for flock animals to have company of their own species. I won't give you any recommendations on whether you should do this, if your bird is too bonded to you be may not take kindly to another bird vying for your attention.

I think what Ellie suggested about ensuring the diet is not to high in fats or sugars is important, though I haven't seen a significant reduction of breeding behaviour from it yet. ..

If another member of your household, or even a close friend who visits regularly, makes friends with your bird and socialises with him it could be a helpful, even if they can't take over all the bird care.

Also, if you notice something you are doing gets him excited it would be advisable to avoid doing it until you have cleared up this misunderstanding.

Training tricks with positive reinforcement is recommended by a few behaviorists, to encourage a teacher/student type bond. The tricks I have found problematic are the ones that don't require props and he has been able to do for over 6 months, so he is not exactly challenged by them. I think our bird does about 30 different tricks, so the amount of trick training we have done in less than a year is probably a wee bit more than average. .. I usually pinch the treats between thumb and forefinger, I do think that with my long fingernails it may have been giving him the impression of a beak feeding him, so I've been trialing a different delivery style too, when I do try some training. So far so good.

Good luck with him!

Regards,
Claire
stewartsma
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2013 6:19 pm

Re: what is he doing?

Post by stewartsma »

When stewart regurgitates its not very bad. He does the head bob it comes up then he nibbles on it then swollows it. Its gross to describe it but i dont really see what hes thrown up. Its not a whole lot. Well most of the suggestions have already been implimented. When he begins the dance I dont mind it but when he reguritates I turn my back to him and dont pay attention. If it doesnt stop he goes back in his cage to calmdown.

I am the only one who takes care of him since my boyfriend hates birds. Hes changed out stewarts lining but that happened once. Everything else is up to me.

Stewart already has another bird around for company. Stewart is my second bird. I have a quaker whom has never shown any interest outside of just usually flock mate wanting to be near me behavior.

The suggestion for trick training is a good idea though. Ive gotten slivered almonds from the store so I can begin training with him.
ellieelectrons
Posts: 2708
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2010 1:17 am
Location: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

Re: what is he doing?

Post by ellieelectrons »

Hi Stewartsma

Sorry, when you said regurgitate, I thought you meant the food actually came out of the beak onto you... ewwww, gross.... that does actually happen for some unlucky folks. I think you are doing the right thing. You need to be aware of it, try to ignore and not encourage the behaviour in any way.

Try the slivered almonds. You can also try pine nuts or anything else for that matter. Make them as small as possible. Even slivered almonds can be cut smaller. For whatever reason my birds like whole almonds and pieces of almonds but they don't like slivered almonds - go figure!

Ellie.
InTheAir
Posts: 2040
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:24 pm

Re: what is he doing?

Post by InTheAir »

I always walk away from any hint I will get the dance. My logic is that if I accept his dance he will be frustrated that I don't want to eat his tasty treats afterwards. It seems like I would be giving him very mixed signals otherwise.
Nila seems to be over the worst of it at the moment, I have been training him again with no trouble, apart from him being a bit rusty on cues.
ranechild
Posts: 295
Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2013 12:57 pm
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: what is he doing?

Post by ranechild »

Sorry to hijack the thread--I'm dying for opinions.

So, I guess it's coming into mating season in Baltimore...
Fats regurgitated last night for Camo the Quaker. Camo didn't seen impressed, but they were bonding a little bit.
It was funny, I had one bird on each shoulder as I was playing games on my phone. I was trying to keep them from fighting, cause Fats will try to get to Camo. He was standing on my chest and Camo was as far back on my shoulder as "he" could get considering the chair. Fats was talking to Camo, eyes pinning. sometimes he'd lift his head up, sometimes he'd put his beak on my shoulder blade. They beak fought a little bit. I was giving both of them "kisses" alternately. Camo was trying to eat a pimple near my lip--gross little bugger-- and Fats decided he'd imitate Camo and try to nibble my lip. Eventually they stopped fighting and Fats even got a "kiss" off on Camo beak to beak....
THEN Fats regurgitated, nibbled on his yuck and swallowed it back down. I knew that was what was going on by the smell--digested broccoli with coconut oil on it. Luckily Camo didn't step up to recieve. This was all happening inches from my face.
So my lingering question---Does Fats know something we don't? My boyfriend has always treated Camo as a boy not knowing Camo's true sex. I have suspected Camo to be a girl from reading about parrot behaviors. Does Fats think Camo is a girl? Does he know Camo is a girl? Is he clueless? Does this change the probability that Camo is a girl?

Then the next question---is it ok for Fats the IRN to try to woo Camo the QP? Would this help them to become friends or will it end in worse fighting? Would this be a generally bad thing to allow behaviorally?
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