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Hi! I'm new to the cockatiel forum, but not to birdkeeping. Currently, I have just two cockatiels - a whiteface boy named Greyson, and his new friend, an Albino female named Angel.

Greyson is obsessed with a McDonald's cup.

We have had him for about a month. The morning after we brought him home, I let him out to play on top of his cage. My husband and I were sitting on the floor a little ways away, eating breakfast, and Greyson climbed down off of his cage and came to sit on my knee. All of a sudden, he jumped off of my knee and ran over to my husband's McDonald's cup and started courting it. We thought it was kind of cute... so we have kept the cup nearby. He screams if it's moved.

We thought maybe he needed a 'friend', so we purchased Angel. Greyson is not impressed... LOL. They are sharing the same large cage... but Greyson still is obsessed with his cup (which we keep outside the cage but within his sight, or else it sits up on top of the cage with him.

Should I take the cup away, or is this a harmless infatuation?

I've raised many cockatiels, but never have I had one in love with a cup!

It really doesn't matter to me if the birds ever bond and breed, because we enjoy them as they are... but I'd love to hear from anyone else who has experienced something similar.

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to being part of 'tiel town!

~Lisa in Kokomo, IN

The obsession is just that, remove the cup and don't allow another. He sees the cup as a mate, and will scream for it, but you have to be strong and let him "mourn" for the loss of his mate. He will scream, but this kind of obsession is not healthy in any creature. Mirrors also cause this kind of obsession in cockatiels, especially male ones.

Thank you, Christie! That's what was concerning me most, that it might be unhealthy for him. I wasn't sure if it was worse to let him have it, or take it away!

I appreciate your advice. Have a nice night!

You're welcome Mariposa. My oldest tiel is 22 this year, and he has had his fair share of obsessions over the years, a stuffed dragon, a stuffed Tigger toy, mirrors, and unfortunately, my feet!

I took all the toys away, and limit his access to my feet, and he is much better for it.

A McDonald's cup?!? wow...birds are funny, eh?
My budgies were obsessed over a bright yellow clip. For some reason this particular clip garnered interest from all the budgies to the point they grew combative over it. I put a bit of masking tape over it and they mellowed out.
Yeah, I would remove the cup. That is an unhealthy fetish for your tiel. I would play with your other tiel so that this male tiel might become interested in the female seeing that you make a fuss over her.

Yes, birds are funny indeed! Thank you for the advice!

We are leaving the house today for dental appointments, and the cup is gone. That will give him some time to holler as loud as he needs to, with no 'reward' for his behavior (i.e., us giving him his cup back so he'll be quiet).

Here is a link to a picture of him with his cup... it was too big to post ...

Have a great day!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v151/ ... ird013.jpg

The image link doesn't work, try wrapping it in the url code [ url]image link here[ / url] without the spaces in the brackets.