Nibbling? What is this?

[vdm]

I've got this Galah here (for 3 months - was untamed when we got her). She likes to do this nibbling activity every once in a while.

Video:

I am wondering if this is something I should discourage. She does it for about 10 minutes, then gets bored.

 

[MuzMuz]

Do you have plenty of chewing toys for her?

 

[vdm]

Do you have plenty of chewing toys for her?

Heaps! She always has something to chew.

I did notice she became "friendlier" after she started doing this. This is a parent-raised bird... was completely untamed.

 

[MuzMuz]

Is she target trained?

 

[MuzMuz]

What I would recommend is when she starts doing this gently blow on her. This will be something interesting for her and it will divert her attention

 

[MuzMuz]

or move your hand carefully up and down to make her focus on balance instead of nibbiling

 

[JLcribber]

It's a form of foreplay. It's not that sexual in nature yet. But it can/will be.

Give this a read. Prerequisite reading for all parrot owners but especially cockatoo owners.

Site Name - Articles - Behavioral - Sex And The Psittacine

 

[macawpower58]

Have something in your hand and try to redirect her to play with it.
John is right, and it's not something you want to encourage.
As for blowing on her, don't do it as an aversion therapy, nor should you make her think she's doing something wrong.
Just distract her, and get her interested in other things.
It can also (My Goffin starts to bite when excited) become less gentle over time if she gets wound up.

 

[vdm]

Thank you for your replies guys. I will just avoid this.

She does this to all family members, but it's not all the time, so it's easy to control.