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Post by prettybabyrio on Jul 21, 2014 22:27:14 GMT -5
I have only had my Quaker since Thursday, we have gotten very bonded already as I take her out for hours a day, she often is on my shoulder or perched on my hand. Sometimes though I let her sit atop her cage and leave the door open so she can go in and out as she pleases. I keep a sheet on top of her cage but push it back to let in the light during the day, its kind of rolled up. I've been noticing lately that she likes to go under it when on top of her cage. One day I went and sat out of the room for a while and came back and couldn't find her. I looked all around and called her, she made a noise and poked her head out from under the sheet on top of the cage. She has been so affectionate and is actually getting better about her cage aggression. It seems though she loves hiding under this sheet, she will pull at it like she's trying to put it in place and if anyone but me approaches her while she is near it, she acts like she will nip. We have become so bonded I'm thinking she has taken me as a mate (and I don't even know she is for sure a she) as I can go up to her and "knuckle bump" her beak (like a fist bump but with one knuckle) I can scratch around her neck and such, at least some of the time...other times if she is hiding under it she kind of charges out.
Every day she is up there she sits in the same spot. She doesn't like me to try and have her step up off it, but is fine with me touching her and such. Could she be nesting? The previous owner said she had a hidey hut before but that she destroyed it. I've been debating about getting her a new one, but I'm starting to think it may make her more cage aggressive. I've noticed as long as I don't mess with the sheet while she is up there, or try to have her step up she loves me petting and talking to her and petting her beak with my finger or knuckle. She will literally snuggle up under the sheet. Could she maybe just like having a "snuggly" spot? I'm not sure if itd make her happier to have the cozy spot or some time of nest, or make her more aggressive or possibly make her lay eggs (if she is in fact female). Not sure whats best for her but I've never seen a bird actually like snuggling under covers, maybe its different with Quakers because they build nests in the wild? |
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Post by easttex on Jul 22, 2014 13:04:56 GMT -5
I had a lovebird who spent most of his time under my clothing. He was happy as a clam under my shirt. It never led to any problem behaviors, so we both just kind of enjoyed it. My guess is that you are seeing breeding behavior there. Does she have access to paper and is she shredding it? You may get different advice from different people on this, but my feeling is that you should do what you can to gently discourage this. You don't want her laying eggs that she can never hatch. It introduces the potential for complications for no good purpose.
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Post by prettybabyrio on Jul 23, 2014 10:58:12 GMT -5
I haven't put anything in the cage for her to shred or anything, I worry if she does feel the need to nest that she will act up. If she does start laying eggs I guess I'd know she was a girl for sure, but I don't want her to because I know it can cause calcium problems (even though she has a cuttlebone she doesn't use it) and behavior problems. She really only acts like she's nesting on top of the cage with the sheet, she doesn't really act like that otherwise. I don't think I'll get her any nest type things (like the happy hut or whatever its called) because I think it'll make it worse.
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Post by benegesserit on Jul 23, 2014 13:08:51 GMT -5
All birds are individuals, so only you can determine what's going on. Happy laid eggs her first year with us, and she led up to it by sitting on the bottom of her cage, snuggled down on her chest rather than sitting on her butt. She has a happy hut, but she only sleeps in it at night. During the day she might sit in it occasionally to play with the toys that hang near it, but she doesn't stay in it long if she's not asleep. Lots of birds love something to snuggle, and will groom their happy hut or other soft toy as though it's another bird. It's hard to 'make the call' as to whether a toy or hut will be an obsessive item.  |
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Post by biteybird on Jul 24, 2014 6:19:48 GMT -5
I wouldn't worry about it. Our QP is 7 months old (too young for nesting) and just loves hiding under the pages of the newspaper when we flip them over while reading. She makes a noise like a braying donkey! She does the same when she lands on a high wall shelf & straight away hides behind a photo frame. Maybe it is just playful behaviour.
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