Sexual Behavior

Question
I trully apreciate your help.
I will follow your advice. However, I would like to know if there are ways to make it easier for his for example introducing new toys or handling him more often.

Thank you again
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Followup To

Question -
Hello,
I have a 4-year old Derbyan Parakeet. I've got him when he was 8 months old. I've been witnessing his development since then. This spring he is displaying a different sexual behavior than in previous years. He has never showed sexual interest in me or my husband. However, he shows a lot of affection to one of his toys - a plastic bowl. At the beginning of spring I felt happy that he was treating the bowl as his mate. He dances around it, talks to it, masturbates on it and feeds it. Since he has been doing it for last 3 months I started wondering if it was normal length of time for parrots to mate. It seems too long to me. In addition, he is not interested that much in food or in playing with his other toys. When I try to remove the bowl from the cage in order to clean it he asks for it or wants to fly after it.

I will really appreciate your advice on that matter

Sincerely,
Monika Jarosz

Answer -
You're are ABSOLUTELY right! Not only in noticing that he's bonded with this bowl, but in realizing it's not exactly a 'good' thing anymore.
He'll continue to bond to the object and become increasingly aggressive toward humans, including you and your husband. Since the bowl isn't rejecting him, he's not getting the message that it's time to stop. Also, if his daylight hours aren't regulated, he's got no natural guidance for turning this behavior off.
If he doesn't have the object removed and the behavior discouraged, one day you'll be wondering what happened to your sweet, funny companion and who is this mean bird who bites and refuses to leave the cage?

Take a look here for bird behavior modification and you need to be strong through this adjustment.  It may seem 'mean' at first, but if you want to keep your bird "your" bird, it's necessary to be cruel to be kind.

www.4AnimalCare.org   (click 'birds' when you get there)


Answer
It's obvious you're not just serious about finding out the right answers, but you're truly dedicated to the right care of this bird (big thumbs up!)

I think you'll appreciate this site (cut and paste it into your address bar)

http://www.birdrescue.com/problems.htm

This probably one of the best sites I've seen (and I don't own it )  

 Do you have your bird out of the cage every day? Some people pick the bird up when they get up in the morning and carry it with them as they get ready to leave for work. I've heard some pretty incredible routines that are shared as showers are taken, teeth are brushed (birds mimic this sound!) . It signals the start of the day and the bond between bird and human.  When they come home, they take the bird out and often keep them out until bedtime.  Portable perches are an option when you don't want the bird on shoulder.  We put a simple plant hook into our ceiling and attached a 'boingy' (spiral rope perch). Laying out a newspaper underneath is the only other measure we need to take (and make sure the bird is offered food and water at least every half hour or so).  We attach toys along the spiral (remember to include noise making items like bells)

Take a look at this site and check back ok?

http://www.birdrescue.com/problems.htm