Ask Lafeber

Question:

December 6, 2021

Cockatoo Loves my shirt


My cockatoo is about 13 years old and she has recently started climbing down my shirt nearly every time I have her on my shoulder. Is this a nesting thing? How long will this last and should I be doing something different? She does not have a mate.


Answer:

Hi Kimberly,

This is definitely a hormonal behavior and something you should discourage. We love cockatoos because they are cuddly. Unfortunately, this leads to hormonal issues which leads to behavioral and/or health issues. We now understand that we should limit any pets or scratches to a bird’s head and neck. When you pet your bird on the body, this sends the message that you are a mate. Only a bonded mate is allowed to have that type of contact. This is particularly an issue with female birds, and especially female cockatoos and cockatiels. Both are notorious for becoming chronic egg layers, to the point that it becomes a serious health issue and can cause death if not stopped. Many end up needing hormone treatments just to stop the egg laying. Cockatoos are very prone to cloacal prolapse due to straining to mate or lay an egg. There is no cure for this, and often regular treatment or even surgery is necessary to manage a prolapse. When your bird tries to get under your shirt, find something to distract her. Get a toy or move her to a playstand and give her a treat. If you are in the habit of cuddling with her, sadly this needs to stop. Limit touching to her head and neck. Instead find other forms of enrichment such as foraging games or trick training. This is for her own health and to keep her from getting in a chronic hormonal state, which causes her anxiety and stress along with the physical issues. I know it’s not what anyone wants to hear, but this is not a temporary concern – this is a new way of interacting with her that you need to commit to in order for her to remain a healthy, happy pet.

We do have a series of webinar on this topic – hormones are one of the leading causes of behavior problems. We also have a series on foraging with lots of fun ideas! Links to these playlists are below.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda

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