Bird Owners - Advice?

[OFRD_GRL]

OK So I have 2 cockatiels.
I got lucy (6y/o female) and a couple months later got Woodstock (3y/o male) to keep her company because she didn't totally enjoy people's company.

Anyways Woodstock used to love her and follow her around and try to swoon her. She didn't mind him around but she didn't want him too close (she would scream and hiss if he got in her space). And what ended up happening was she actually started enjoying my company alot more. They have been together for a couple of months.

Anyways... Im not sure if she has turned him sour on other birds.. or if hes just so addicted to the mirror that it is causing my problems....

The last couple of days - He now attacks her kind of violently if she is anywhere near him (in her cage only because only her cage has a mirror because I took his mirror away because he got violent with me when he was around his mirror). He ONLY sits by the mirror in her cage.

So Im not sure if hes attacking her, or defending his mirror/selfimage/girlfriend/whatever he thinks it is.

Suggestions?

Im tempted to just take her mirror away too because I think thats the main issue...?

[Tom N]

We only have 1 bird and it ignores the mirror that is in its play area and we don't have one in it's cage. From what you posted I would say get rid of all mirrors around him and see what happens. :shrug:

[SPY]

Dumb and Dumber (1994)
Directed by Peter Farrelly, starring Jeff Daniels, Jim Carrey, Lauren Holly
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/4/49/180px-Saltshaker.jpg

Lloyd: This didn't come out of our travel fund.

Harry: Oh.

Lloyd: Yeah, I was able to raise 25 extra bucks before we left.

Harry: Where did you get 25 extra bucks?

Lloyd: I sold some stuff, to Billy Enforsee.

Harry: The blind kid?

Lloyd:(Laughing) Yeah, yeah.

Harry: What did you sell him Lloyd?

Lloyd: You know, stuff.

Harry: What kinda stuff?

Lloyd: Few baseball cards, a sack of marbles, (coughs) Petey.

Harry: Petey? You sold my dead bird to a blind kid? Lloyd, wh- he- wha- Petey didn't even have a head!

Lloyd: Harry, I took care of it.

[Jeffro600]

Pretty bird....yes, can you say pretty bird?? Polly want a cracker?? :lmao:

Try taking the mirror away...we had a cockatiel, cockatoo...whatever the hell it was...but when the mirror was in the cage, it would stand in front of it and scream all damn day and night. Took the mirror away, problem solved.

[JeepWheelin02]

Take the mirror away!!

[denverd0n]

Separate them. Or at least keep a VERY close eye on them!

My wife does volunteer work with wild bird rehabilitation. Because of a lack of cages, and a desire to have the birds socialize, they often keep several in the same cage. But any display of hostility AT ALL results in separating them! They have just had too many birds that got along fine for a while, and then for no apparent reason one kills the other.

[OFRD_GRL]

They have seperate cages, and when I am not here to watch them, are locked seperated.
When I am here I leave both cages unlocked so they can fly or get out and move around. I feel it is not right to leave birds caged up all day. The cages are in my living room (which is also the room I work in)
Woodstock goes to lucys cage (im assuming) for her mirror because I took his away. He went into her cage when he had his mirror too, but there were no issues then.
His mirror has been gone for a month now. No issues till the last couple of days literally. I have taken her mirror away, so we will see if that fixes the problem. I hope it does.
Because I do not want to have to get rid of one of them (well I would have to get rid of him because I doubt many people would take her. Shes a rescue case in every aspect. Hes a rescue case too, but just cuz his owner wouldn't keep him anymore).

[meatblanket]

I have Umbrella Cockatoos. Years ago I had a male and female in a shared breeding flight with a nest box, and the male became very aggressive toward the female at times. At one point he attacked her and he bit through her eyelid, lacerated her foot, and nearly tore her beak off.

I thought this was bizarre, as they were a proven pair previously. At any rate, the vet concluded that it was most likely the result of the male "wanting it" when the female wasn't interested. Go figure.:shrug:

Keep 'em seperated until they calm down, and good luck!

[OFRD_GRL]

LMFAO isnt that always the case? the guy wants it and the girl doesnt!

:D

i have him locked up for the time being. im gonna take him out and wear him out later (fly him around) and let em interact then LOL

[Renegade_Jeeper]

god i just hate birds damn i say let the cat in that works

[starbreaker666]

You're trying to psychoanalyze your birds? ROFL! Just cook them and be done with it.

[OFRD_GRL]

if they were chickens i would have by now :D

[Leon Phelps]

Pull the other mirror oona, or else you could potentially have a territorial dispute, your female will prolly survive it.

[OFRD_GRL]

lol lucy kicks serious butt i dont doubt she would survive. woodstock is a pansy

[meatblanket]

You're trying to psychoanalyze your birds? ROFL! Just cook them and be done with it.

I used to feel the same way, before I had been around birds. But the larger parrots in particular are very intelligent creatures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_(parrot)

Not only are they smarter than a lot of dogs and cats, but they live longer too. Now Alex was an exception, passing away at a relatively youthful 31 years of age. Cockatoos are very affectionate, cuddly birds. Unfortunately ours just loves cheese and pepperoni, which probably isn't good for him.....

[OFRD_GRL]

actually there are some things that are bad for birds, and that is not one of them!

more info here on people foods for birds
http://www.petcraft.com/docs/safebird.shtml

[meatblanket]

I know that cheese and pepperoni aren't toxic to the bird, it's just the fat content and the quantities involved that have me a little concerned. He would be quite happy eating nothing but pepperoni pizza and peanut butter for the next 40 years.

His staple foods are healthier, but he gets a little crazy on the treats sometimes!

[OFRD_GRL]

I give my two these seed balls that are put together with some fruity syrupy crap. they love them

they also LOVE bread and eggs :D
and chikn is pretty good too LMFAO but only chinese food chikn (orange chicken is their fav)

[Budman]

I have Umbrella Cockatoos. Years ago I had a male and female in a shared breeding flight with a nest box, and the male became very aggressive toward the female at times. At one point he attacked her and he bit through her eyelid, lacerated her foot, and nearly tore her beak off.

I thought this was bizarre, as they were a proven pair previously. At any rate, the vet concluded that it was most likely the result of the male "wanting it" when the female wasn't interested. Go figure.:shrug:

Keep 'em seperated until they calm down, and good luck!

UNA;

I can barely read tonight, and forming a logical post is just not going to happen. I will answer this again tomorrow, but for now seperate them, and take away the mirror.

They are either fighting over territory, or there is sexual tension. My birds can't seem to get in synch. Either she is in the mood, or he is. If they ever get synched up, I am gonna have some really beautiful birds for sale.

[DADA_JEEP]

one shotgun

two shells, you can use one if you angle the shot right



and one mop and bucket




problem solved

[starbreaker666]

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/04/15/roastquail_wideweb__430x428.jpg

Sure looks tasty to me...... Mmmmmm:drool::drool::drool:

[OFRD_GRL]

i dont think you could get meat off a cockatiel if you paid a butcher to do it.



and thank u budman :)
i dont have a nesting box for them, ive kinda been thinking about one because both of them are really pretty. and the babies would be talkers for sure LOL.
i just dunno if i wanna deal with hand feeding the babies.

[JeepWheelin02]

and chikn is pretty good too LMFAO but only chinese food chikn (orange chicken is their fav)

Could this be considered canibalism?

[OFRD_GRL]

you skipped the eggs part :)

but yes i think it is!

[cheftyler]

i dont think you could get meat off a cockatiel if you paid a butcher to do it.


Give me a shot, I'll make you a good scooby snack :D