I recently added a mirror to my birds cage for companionship. However, he is now throwing all his seed from his feeder onto the bottom of the cage. I am having to fill up his food dish 3+ times each week. Is there a possibility that he does not like "the other" bird that the mirror represents?
2007-10-02 13:51:21 · 9 answers · asked by djb 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
Hi there. Below is an answer I gave to someone who experienced similar problems with their parrotlet he wanted to hand tame but was concerned about the mirror in his cage. It may help you as well.
RE: the food... birds will play in their food and throw it around.. especially if they are digging for the good stuff in the bottom. Try chaning the bowl of food daily and see if that helps. I don't believe this behavior has anything to do with the bird in the mirror as most birds are known to do this. They are messy! 6 out of 7 of my parrots do it! I give them fresh food everyday and that minimizes them digging to the bottom with their beaks (aka throwing) to find the good stuff on the bottom!
My previous answer:
Yes, if you want to try to hand tame your bird, definitely take the mirror out. However, if you're not so concerned about that, either leave it in, or get him a friend :-).
If you'd rather him be hand tamed, remove the mirror and then work with him away from his cage. Birds can become very territorial around their cage. If you want to try to let him know that just because he lives in the cage, doesn't mean he can can be a nasty little booger about it... then do the following:
Start by approaching the cage and hugging it, or resting your arms on the top of it, for 5 - 10 minutes at a time. Do this several times a day and just talk sweetly to him while you're doing it. Make sure his cage is not in a position where he can be above your head level at any time. Every 3-4 days, if his cage is small enough, move it to another area of the room or house and continue with the hugging ritual and sweet talk. Try it for a period of about a week or two. Hopefully, this will convince him that you're the real owner of the cage but you mean him no harm.
As silly as this may seem, it works most of the time if you put the time and patience into it. Then, if you overcome this obsticle, he'll be much easier to train to step up out of his cage. Make sure you use positive reinforcement to reward him whenever he's a good birdy and when he's bad, turn your back for a minute and say nothing. Even when he bites, try not to say a word (as much as it may pinch!)... any emphasized words or reaction are only rewards to a parrot who loves drama! If he's on your finger when he bites, do what's called the wobble technique... gently wobble your finger back and forth to make him lose his balance... but be very gentle, you don't want him thinking that your finger is an unsturdy place to perch. You can also try giving him a dirty look for about 2 seconds, but say nothing. Any verbal reprimands will only serve as rewards to him!
Once you've calmed him down a little, the two of you can look forward to many hours of snuggling in front of the TV or a good book with him perched on your shoulder.
2007-10-02 14:33:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Parakeet Mirror
2016-10-18 08:41:07 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From personal experience, I would advise not putting the mirror in the cage. I bought a young budgie and he was getting very friendly, would get on my finger and I could walk around the house with him on my shoulder. Everything seemed to be going well until a put a mirror in his cage. At first he ignored it but after awhile, I noticed he stayed next to it all the time. Then I would try to get him to get on my finger and he would run from it..had not done this before the mirror. When I would get him out, he would always fly back to the cage. Then I figured out that this behavior started when I put the mirror in the cage. I just took it out today so hope he goes back to the way he was before. I think he saw his image as being that of another bird and bonded with the image.
2014-02-28 14:19:32 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My budgies have all had mirrors and have talked and bonded with me no problems at all. I use the mirror when I hand train them. If they are in the cage let him have it, it's his cage he should have toys that it likes in there. I've had birds for over 20 years all with mirrors, and never had a problem. All this fuss over mirrors is a crock of crap. There's nothing wrong with filling the feeder every couple of days, your bird is being more active in the feed dish. It could be regurgitating food to the mirror but that's normal, they do that to any toy they like. Stop worrying so much, having a mirror is O.K.
2007-10-02 15:00:57 · answer #4 · answered by Margastar 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I recently had the same problem with my parakeet. I think he was trying to keep the "other bird" from getting his food. I think in his mind food on the floor was better than food in the dish for the other bird.
I took the mirror out. He still "plays" with the other bird when he is out of his cage. (I have a wall mirror that has a sconce for a candle.) He did stop throwing his food out.
2007-10-02 15:08:26 · answer #5 · answered by amlgoing 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I too have a parakeet and have had a similar experience. The best solution is as you propose, get rid of the mirror, it does not help.
Good luck!
2007-10-02 13:59:18 · answer #6 · answered by dave s 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. Parakeets do this ALL the time...mine does it, and he doesn't have a mirror! *smiling* I would recommend tossing the mirror though, your bird will not learn to mimic words or talk with one around. He will associate his image as his 'companion'...and will try to talk to the mirror, not you.
2007-10-02 14:32:04 · answer #7 · answered by Michelle H 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
maybe he is scared and does not know what is going on is this a new bird for you? or he never saw himself in a mirror before my cockatiel loves to look at herself in the mirror when she is out of the cage but when she goes in she hisses and pecks at the mirror for awhile then calms down i always find her right in front of it in the morning where she sleeps all night i think the bird will get used to it plus he does not know who that bird is yet
2007-10-02 14:07:48 · answer #8 · answered by jc skywalker 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
TAKE IT OUT..
The bird will fall in love with his image
instead of you...but if he is doing what your
saying here...he is jealous of that bird....
they are dumb about stuff like this...By the way, don't keep filling up his dish...he is probably playing in it...
2007-10-02 14:01:07 · answer #9 · answered by Kerilyn 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
take it out ame thing happened with my bird and it might fall in love with it and will prefer his reflection over you
2007-10-02 14:20:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋