Alexandrine called Baby

[lesleyk]

Hi, Just wanted to say hello after being happy alexandrine novice owner for 10 months and to thank you for your help right in the beginning.
When we first got baby, I was horrified to learn that she didnt like me much although I was/am the caregiver. Well guys, things have changed a lot! I had to learn infinite patience but for a few months now, she responds to me well and we have kissing games and she loves it when I sing to her. We are going good. 2 things i would like to ask tho'.
1. I think we are heading into mating season and now she wants me to stroke her when I come home, and not my MALE partner ( i come home first). I feel a bit embarrassed rub her head a bit but dont touch her back. Talk to her and try to direct her attention elsewhere.
2. She screams like mad when we leave the house. My neighbours tell me this goes on the whole day. I wanted to bond with her and give her a good home but now I'm thinking that I've done my job too well. I make a huge effort to make it up to her on weekends and evenings but I worry that I am doingt more harm than good.
Can anyone advise.
Thank you, happy alexandrine girl.
PS Closing the curtains hoping it will help her to be calmer when I am not at home but worry that she needs the light. I dont close her in her cage, its open all the time.

[avinet]

I suspect you are giving her too much attention when you are home and she is starting to expect attention all the time - perhaps back off a bit and give attention in short bursts and so encourage her to amuse herself even when you are home.

I found it to be a very common problem with new bird owners that they give far too much attention to the young bird when it first goes home and the bird rapidly expects attention all the time and doesn't learn to play and entertain itself. When we had our pet shop it was an issue that came up often.

Foraging activities are a great way to keep a bird occupied when you are not there - don't present the food in a convenient dish but instead hide it around the cage - there are plenty of foraging type toys available these days that help. That means the bird is busy looking for the food it knows is hidden around the cage - it is having to work for it's food.

One such toy is shown in the photo below - I stuff the holder with torn up newspaper and hid 2 or 3 almonds in the paper. My Greys have to pull out all the paper to find the almonds - takes 2 or 3 hours and sometimes I don't actually put any almonds in there at all to keep them guessing!

There is a good DVD about foraging - www.birdkeeper.com.au/bird-dvds/dvd91-captive-foraging-the-next-best-thing-to-being-free-dvd - and other DVD's on the Birdkeeper site by Barbara Hedenreich are also excellent resources.

And I wouldn't worry too much if the curtains are drawn during the day if that is necessary to appease the neighbours. Not only will it help to keep her quiet but the darker conditions may well turn off the hormones that appear to be flourishing at present.

cheers,

Mike