Newsgroups: rec.birds
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!saari@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
From: "Susan J. Saari" <saari@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Subject: INDOOR - female cockateil
Message-ID: <CMM.0.90.2.670787233.saari@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Sender: chohan@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Harpal Chohan)
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 91 12:47:13 EST
Lines: 29


Hello cockateil lovers,

My husband and I are the owners of a wonderful female cockateil
named Kih.  Kih is an adopted bird - she flew up to our apartment
about 4 1/2 years ago.  We tried to find her owner, but nobody claimed
her.  We knew nothing about birds, but she really won us over.  She
is a very affectionate member of our family.  I guess you could say
that she is on her third life.  Last fall she was diagosed with
diabetes.  I somehow learned to give her the insulin shots every
day and she is very healthy.

Now, here's my question.  At certain times (usually once a year since
she was 2 years old) she does something strange.  We theorize that
it has something to do with her mating urge.  In the morning when
 I take her cover off and let her out, she starts chirping for about g
2 hours.  The chirps are loud, but not her loudest, and are about
a second apart.  In the past she has done this about a week and then
returns to her normal lovable self.  This time though, she has been
chirping every morning for almost 4 weeks.  My husband and I don't
know what to do to help her get over this cycle.  As much as we try
not to let it bother us, it gets to us.  Do any of you have suggestions
as to what we can do?  We really love her and would like her to
get back to "normal."  She only does this in the morning right after
getting up.  She spends most of the day while we're at work, in her
cage, but she's out all the time we're home.

Thanks for your help,
Sue
