Possessive? Possessed?

[spizella]

Hi Everyone-
I'm not so much worried about this as I am bemused, but I did want to check to see if anyone else had had this type of thing happen: I gave Sophie (adopted hen, indeterminate age, so far a former feather-shredder) a small piece of wood to use as a bridge from her cage to a chair, to give her some exploring time. She never did use the six-inches-wide, foot-long, half-inch deep, unfinished board as a bridge, though she did nibble it once or twice, and found other ways to go exploring. At the end of the day, I went to move the board, and Sophie was very unhappy and vocally let me know it. Rather than having the board leaning against the cage, she preferred that it be left on top of her cage. So there it sits (it's just a piece of unfinished scrap wood). Is this a case of "now it's mine and you can't take it back"? Or does she thinks it's now part of her cage? Or is she maybe too bored (this would be a concern, of course)? She really didn't touch the board except to nibble it once or twice, as I said, so the reaction surprised me. And I know parrots of all sizes can be possessive (a budgie hen I once knew would come out of her cage to drag back inside toys that had been taken out for cleaning!), but Sophie doesn't seem particularly attached to any of the toys I've given her. Any clue as to why she'd be this way about a piece of scrap wood? (Or is this just her way of keeping me on my toes? Kidding.)
Thanks!

[kyria]

lol .. if you can psych these birds out please let us know...

She probably likes it there to imagine she is brave enough to come out and explore, lol

Or she just enjoys chewing it.

Maybe she see's it as a protection thing ? or maybe being female considers it a part of her nest ? and gosh if you touch their nest do they tell ya off.

[Lauren]

I havn't experience with females but I do know they can 'claim' things without even really liking it all that much. Have you tried giving her something else to occupy her?

I bought a calcium perch for Jibby, he hated it, never even touched the thing, so I moved it into Yodas cage. He still hates the perch. But when I go to clean it, Jibby goes into tantrum throwing mode and won't let me take it away.. and its in Yodas cage! He also hates it when I clean 'his' poop up. They baffle me sometimes!

[spizella]

Thanks for the hints as to what might be going with Sophie, they're very helpful. (That's very funny about the perch that is no longer in Jibby's cage still being Jibby's.) It's a few days later, and the most-favored board can now be rested alongside the cage, but still has to remain in sight. I'll try distracting her with some other stuff. Thanks again!