I Have 2 Female White Bellied Caiques,and One Of Them Has Recently Started Picking At The Inside Of Her Cage!?
December 17th, 2009 by Outdoor Kitchens Orlando in Outdoor Kitchen Questions
It seems almost obsessive-compulsive..! Like a nervous tick or something. I shower them both with equal amounts of attention and kisses and play with them and let them play in an outdoor flight cage every day, if it is too cold then I have an indoor play area in the kitchen that they go to so they can play and eat treats. We talk to them all the time and just adore them! It makes me worried that she is picking like this, she has picked of a lot of the paint finish on the inside of her cage! She isnt hurting herself or her cage mate, but I was just worried that something is wrong mentally, has anyone ever seen a bird do this…? thanks!
I have a black headed. They are awesome aren’t they. Ok you two options first and most importantly is how old is that cage. MAKE SURE THE PAINT IS LEAD FREE. Most new cages come with lead free paint, but is it is not you bird can get lead poisoning which is horrible and can lead to expensive vet bills, a sick bird, and even cause death. So please check up on that. Caiques as Im sure you know a fearless birds so get a new cage. It shouldn’t be a problem doing a cage change. If that is not in your budget then try to get toys that will help distract him/her from doing that. You should have at the least 3 toys in their cage and you should change them around every week. This gives them a new environment and makes it interesting for them. You can get the weave which is like paper and wrap it around the area that he/she chews. Then they will chew the weave paper and not the cage. Dr foster and smith website sells it. I have it in my birds cage. Its weaved through the bars its sooo cheap and my bird loves it. Here is the link to it http://outdoorkitchensorlando.net/directions/" Its all natural too. its called Shredders Woven Palm Bird Toy. If you have any questions feel free to ask me at any time. Hope this helps
Try some natural wood like wood from a nut or fruit tree some birds get bored with toys if they cant chew them apart it will also help with filing her beak. I have a military macaw that plucks if he is bored and mainly prefers thing he can destroy or break apart I’m constantly making him toys because anything else he gets bored with and them either he is destroying something in the house ( has free rome at all times ) or himself.
Does she have a cuddle bone in her cage to chew on? Maybe she just wants a chew toy, but get something fast or she might start plucking her feathers!