His preening me is at OCD level

[CrazyBirdChick]

And it's driving me mad


He has become absolutely obsessed and it's not always very gentle. I try to redirect him with other things but that only lasts for a minute or two at most and then it's back to me. Preening my skin, my hair, my clothes. I get that he's just trying to help me but it's honestly quite annoying. Especially when it hurts.

What can I do to bring it down a notch?

 

[Mizzely]

Does he have preening toys available?

 

[CrazyBirdChick]

He has a couple. A leather octopus looking thing and the aronico shoelace preening toy but he doesn't really preen those.

I gave him a little piece of balsa this morning but that only helps for like a minute before it's back to me

 

[CrazyBirdChick]

Dropbox - 20171107_091836.mp4

Look how obsessed his little eyeballs are. This is not even the worst of it.

I wish Blu could take a lesson in preening from Saroj's Jackson. Jackson preening looks so cute and gentle.

 

[DQTimnehs]

Do you have hand cream on or something? It looks like he's tasting something. I don't know if there was sound or not, but I would be reminding him "gentle, gentle" and shove a toy in between his beak and your hand.

 

[CrazyBirdChick]

Lol, he tastes my skin and he ate something from behind my nail in that clip! I have nothing on. He also plucks my arm hairs right out of the socket.

I will try telling him to be gentle and shoving a toy in his beak but I have a feeling it won't help much because he's utterly obsessed. I sometimes give him q tips when he does this and it stops him for a second but it's always right back to me. When he sees my hand or finger his little eyeballs zooms in on the skin and goes to it like moths to a flame.

 

[BirdGuy21]

Maybe its hormone related? I know Alex gets a little nippy and has a tendency to pull out hairs when shes hormonal.

 

[CrazyBirdChick]

Maybe its hormone related? I know Alex gets a little nippy and has a tendency to pull out hairs when shes hormonal.

Heh, that work make sense! I kind of hope that's what it is so that it could eventually for down.

 

[Princessbella]

Dropbox - 20171107_091836.mp4

Look how obsessed his little eyeballs are. This is not even the worst of it.

I wish Blu could take a lesson in preening from Saroj's Jackson. Jackson preening looks so cute and gentle.

Unfortunately, this is how some birds preen. Bella can get a little rough so when she starts, I say no, and if she continues, she gets put up on top of her cage. But she has a lot of toys that she plays with.

 

[CrazyBirdChick]

Unfortunately, this is how some birds preen. Bella can get a little rough so when she starts, I say no, and if she continues, she gets put up on top of her cage. But she has a lot of toys that she plays with.

That's a little discouraging that some birds are just rough preeners. I wish Blu would stay on his cage top but I've tried putting him there when he gets carried away and he always comes flying back almost immediately.

 

[Castiel]

Awe he wubs you.

 

[CrazyBirdChick]

Awe he wubs you.

Awww, how can I get mad at that?

 

[BirdGuy21]

Heh, that work make sense! I kind of hope that's what it is so that it could eventually for down.

Hope so, for your sake! I know Alex and Scully are pretty hormonal right now, so maybe Blu is feeling it too.

 

[Mizzely]

Have you tried wearing something he can preen instead? Or a sweatshirt or something? Have you worked on "stay" with him to train him to stay on his cage so you can get some relief?

@JLcribber is going to recommend a friend, you know

 

[CrazyBirdChick]

Have you tried wearing something he can preen instead? Or a sweatshirt or something? Have you worked on "stay" with him to train him to stay on his cage so you can get some relief?

@JLcribber is going to recommend a friend, you know

He does preen my clothes sometimes. Lately though, the hand/fingernail and face preening has been the main attraction. This is pretty new, that it's so constant and such an obsession. Within the last week, I'd say.


I have not worked on training him to station because I don't know how? I would love some advice on that if anyone can help.

I know people say to make the cage/cage top more fun and interesting but I think when I'm here I'm more fun than anything else


Which leads me to knowing that someone would probably recommend another bird

I just feel in my heart that would bring more problems than help cause he's obsessed with me. I know he would appreciate another bird a little but then it would be me juggling 2 birds who will probably be fighting over me. I just can't right now.

 

[Mizzely]

For Gizmo I would put her down and treat even if she hesitated before flying to me. I'd hold out my hand and say STAY. Did it from a foot away for 5 seconds, 10 seconds, building up time before extending distance

 

[CrazyBirdChick]

For Gizmo I would put her down and treat even if she hesitated before flying to me. I'd hold out my hand and say STAY. Did it from a foot away for 5 seconds, 10 seconds, building up time before extending distance

Thank you so much! I will start working on that with him. I really appreciate it!!