She's destroying the house!

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:43 pm

Atticus has taken to chewing the timber around the top of the staircase resulting in big chunks all over the place. I tried rubbing lemon juice on it but it seems that she likes that too! I have heard of some bitter stuff that can stop bird chewing things they shouldn't - does anyone have any idea what this stuff is and where I can get it? Please help - there won't be any timber left by the time she's finished!

Post by **Datsun and Family** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:58 pm

Does she wander around the house without supervision? Is she clipped?

You could try the bitter stop pick stuff designed to spray on pluckers. You can get that from most pet or bird stores or maybe vet clinics.

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:10 pm

She's clipped but she climbs down from her playgym and goes for a chew - it's only about a metre away from the stairs. It is also behind the lounge so she sneaks down and before you know it she's having a munch. She's due for a vet check next week anyway so I'll see if they have anything. Thanks for the reply!

Post by **Datsun and Family** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:16 pm

Carrie try to discourage her leaving her gym, these babies are just too small to see on the floor if you are not really hunting for them! Even then they can get trampled.

I was told a story just recently about a teil who was walking up some stairs to get his mum and she was walking down and stepped on him. He survived but its so scary to think we could endanger our fids.

Mikaela · Post by **Mikaela** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:17 pm

I worry about paint/varnish poisoning :!:

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:35 pm

Okay how do I keep her there??? I know it's my fault because I should have trained her from the start but now as soon as I put her up she's down again, and again, and again. Do I just keep persevering with that? Cause you know I just give up in the end. I don't want to cage her when I'm around but she just wants to follow me everywhere - especially when I'm in the kitchen and there's food involved! I have timber floors so I can hear her when she's coming but I have tripped over her a couple of times and could think of nothing worse that trodding on her.

And yes, there is varnish on the timber which concerns me greatly which is why it has to stop!

Jade · Post by **Jade** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:12 pm

I had a dog that ate my timber frame around the back door. Someone told us to put chilli and stuff on there but it encouraged further chewing - it added a nice flavour I think!!!

ANYWAY, birds are easier to stop....

Put vaseline/petroleum jelly thickly over the timber. The birds HATE the oiliness and won't touch it. Keep the vaseline on there for a few weeks and your bird will forget all about the good wood and just remember the yucky vaseline and will not go back to it. Then you don't have to coat your timber anymore!! Good luck

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:41 pm

Excellent idea! Why didn't I think of that? Thanks!

Jade · Post by **Jade** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:37 pm

No worries. Glad to help.

Post by **kyria** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 2:57 pm

I love all the stuff I learn here !!!!!!!

Mazziemom · Post by **Mazziemom** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 7:39 am

Just a note on stand training.

When you put a wandering bird back on a stand, do it quickly, with no eye contact, and no talking. You want to make it as boring as possible, don't allow it to become a game of getting you to get them back on the stand.

Then, when the bird is on the stand, and you have moved a bit away, praise praise praise! Always praise for being ON the stand.

If they start to climb down, turn your back, act like your ignoring, and don't stop them and return them until they have actually left the stand. Some birds test to see how far they can roam on the stand, and they should be allowed to roam the whole stand.

It works pretty quickly if your very very consistent. With everything but Cockatoos... they just don't seem to learn at all.

Athena

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 7:30 pm

Okay - quick update. The vaseline worked like a charm! She went over for a chew, tried to bite it and spent the next five minutes wiping her beak frantically. Mind you, she went back for another go, but that was the end of it - hasn't been near it since. Thanks so much Jade. I will now use this trick for anything she chews that she shouldn't. I wish everything was that easy - screaming, biting, being a brat! Now back to trying to keep her on her stand..................

Neokireina · Post by **Neokireina** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:21 pm

Maybe I should try that with my birds. I have had to actually take them and put them outside in an aviary because of the destruction. It's very sad. I miss them too much.

but its a different scale, my birds are flighted, and they are left out of their cages all day unsupervised. The cage is too small to leave all 4 of them inside it all day.

Sun Conures chew more than ringnecks and they were chewing the walls and we dont own the house. So I dont know what to do.

Jade · Post by **Jade** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:29 pm

Glad the vaseline worked!

Also works well on birds who pluck their feathers or feathers of other birds!!!

natalie · Post by **natalie** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 4:08 am

Jade u really r a clever girl. Im gonna remember that vaseline tip just incase marley starts to chew. He is so nosey and into everything im jus waiting fir him to find something that feels good to bite, hoping its something in the house rather than my finger!! :wink:

Anyway 'we r not worthy' etc etc hehe, natalie xx

Jade · Post by **Jade** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 4:47 pm

jen5239 · Post by **jen5239** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:51 pm

That's our Jade, full of insight and wisdom! Love ya' girl!

Jen, Byndi, Remmi, Milo and John

Jade · Post by **Jade** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:17 pm

right back at ya babe!

IndianRingNeck.com

She's destroying the house!

She's destroying the house!

Jade wot would we do without you.