My breeder told me not to rub my Zero on his sides under his wings because they have sex glands there and can start to think of you more as a mate which can lead to jealousy and not wanting to spend time with anyone else. She said not to do this type of rubbing if you want him to form bonds with others in the house. Have any of you heard this before ??
Yes, rubbing a bird under the wings and by the tail is a sexual thing for parrots. I don't know if you have ever seen birds being "romantic" with eachother, but when they do they rub under the wings and by the tails...the Hyacinths at my work are always doing it! LOL!
Down the back is another area to avoid along with the wings and tail, you don't want your bird to be sexually frustrated:blink: :S
Never take life seriously, no one gets out alive anyway!
I am not sure I understand, are you saying that the only place that you should touch your bird is on the head, if the wings tail and back is out?
Carolyn & Mika
Touching is one thing Carolyn, but when you pet or rub your bird you should avoid the back, tail and under the wings. When a bird gets old enough to have hormones starting to emerge those areas are where the bird is stimulated by their mate and you don't want to be your bird's mate.:laugh:
wow, I learn so much from this forum! I was so excited tonight, we were told by previous owner that Beau did not like to be touched but tonight when I went to take him from his perch to sit by me on a portable perch her put his head down for a scratch and that went on for five min and then he continued that even on the portable perch and later while sitting on my shoulder! I was even petting his back but will no longer do that now.
A question here: in the video that comes with the aviator harness, the trainer is shown stroking the bird a lot under the wings and on the sides, to get the bird used to being handled that way before trying to put the harness on him. Does anyone have an alternative method?
Your grey is only 17 months so you should be ok for the purposes of getting him used to the harness handling him on his back and wings. Once he is used to the harness you wont need to do that anymore. Its really as the bird gets older that you need to avoid stimulating him.
Thanks, siobha9! That brings up another question which I feel sure I should already know the answer to: at what age does a Timneh normally reach sexual maturity? I have read that there is a difference in the maturation rate betewen TAGs and CAGs...
LindaMary - Some say TAG's can become sexually mature a 3, most Congo's become so at 4 or 5 years old.
The wing rubs and such are ok, you just need to stop when you see them getting their birth control devices out.
Within all of us is a varying amount of space lint and star dust, the residue from our creation. Most are too busy to notice it, and it is stronger in some than others. It is strongest in those of us who fly and is responsible for an unconscious, subtle desire to slip into some wings and try for the elusive boundaries of our origin. ~K.O. Eckland, "Footprints On Clouds"
Dayo in flight....
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