cuddling toy at bottom of cage

by Angela
(Galax Virginia)

I have 7 year old African grey named Harley he has been taking down a toy hanging in his cage. he cuddles on it in the bottom of his cageovertime we hang it uo he takes it back down what could this mean

Comments for
cuddling toy at bottom of cage

Click here to add your own comments

Sep 03, 2012

Cuddling toy at bottom of cag
by: Anonymous

Not too sure. I have a conure that does the same thing with paper towel roll sections. He won't play with it if it is hanging like a toy. but will take it down, sit on it (straddles it actually), talks to it and generally treat it like a big egg until he gets bored then starts to tear it apart. Sometimes he reaches down from his lower rope perch, picks it up, and puts it into his food bowl so he can peck at it some more.

It makes him happy and I have a plenty supply of paper towel roll sections when it becomes too messy.

My guess is your African Gray is doing much the same thing. Could be some sort of nesting thing, but as long as he is happy and consistent I don't see anything to worry about.

Sep 02, 2012

cuddling toy at bottom of cage
by: Linda

First thing is that it's not good for him to be in bottom of cage where poop and such are dropped. Not knowing what kind of toy this is, I say maybe you should give him a wooden chew toy instead of whatever this is. Parrots love to chew on wooden toys, and you can find them already made in many pet shops especially online.I make my Amazons' toys, and can help you with that if you wish. It's easier to buy them already done, and is fun to make them. I use safe wood pieces with a 3/8" hole drilled through them and like Manzanita as it lasts a while and 100% cotton rope 1/4" diameter. You have to put knots before and after each toy piece to keep birds from chewing through the rope, and they like the knots too.

There is also a possibility your bird is feeling lonely for some reason, so you will need to think about that. If he has changed his behavior suddenly, this indicates he may be sick with some kind of infection. If it has been longer than a year since his last checkup, I'd take him to Avian Vet ONLY to see if he has any infections or other physical issues. I'd do this before changing the toy in case he's sick and feels comfort from this particular toy.

Make sure you take him to an avian vet only as they are the only vets licensed and trained in the care of birds.

Let us know how everything goes.

Linda

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Parrot Questions #2