rjg@sialis.mn.org (Robert J. Granvin) (05/11/91)
My female cockatiel just passed her third year in the household. She was
bought as a hand raised baby. She's bonded well. (She's adopted my
computer as her own :-).
Last year she started an annoying behavior which lasted for a while. There
is a spot just behind her left wing that by _appearance_ is irritating her.
She will "chew" at the spot, and squawk as if in pain when she does it.
She started this last year about late spring, and now she's starting it
again.
On a vet trip, she was discovered to have Giardia, and was treated for it.
The time spent under the vets observation didn't reveal any reasons for
this particular "interest" she has. While in this mode of behavior, she
is not interested in being approached. If you try to scratch her head, or
pick her up, she'll choose to fly away, but only for a moment.
She is also not plucking feathers. As a matter of fact, she's causing no
damage or soreness at all. The old assumption that this is an attention
getting device, therefore ignore it has worked for all other tricks she's
come up with, but not this one.
However, she primarily seems to do this "trick" when people are in view.
Of course, to be totally fair, that's also the time when she's the most
active and alert (she loves human company, at least nearby.) When alone,
she's normally very calm and quiet.
There's been no medical or environmental explanation for this behavior
(so far, at least.) It seems to be most prevalent when its warm, and
only seems to be a "problem" when she isn't alone.
Any of the multitude of experts out there ever had any similar problems,
comments, ideas, suggestions, or solutions?
I'd prefer email, as it becomes difficult to keep up to date with news
sometimes. Sigh.
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