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they go through stages and it will pass, just be patient. If you dont handle as much- dont feel guilty, better to leave alone than to push and get a result you both dont want or need.

That's too much!!!!!

She seems better this weekend. We need to get her out & play more.

I don't feel too guilty. I remember where she came from the 2 x 2 cage she was in & she is an M2. The food & water bowls on the bottom, now a huge cage external food, water & treat bowls. Most importantly out of cage time she wasn't getting at all.

I just want her to be happy is all.

When a bird starts not wanting to go back to their cage.....maybe ask what is the consequence of going to the cage? Is she dropped off and that's it? If you gave her some incentive such as a head scritch in the cage, singing a favorite song or that favorite piece of almond or other food....what ever a good incentive might be for HER....maybe that would help. Try to look at what's going on from her point of view.

As far as your wife. You may need to look at how you are handling your bird...as far as not sexually arousing her by stroking, petting, excessive cuddling. And maybe your wife needs to figure out a way to increase her value in her eyes. It may be stopping by the cage several times a day to offer/give???what? And for a while it may even be that she can't be out when you're both in the room together...or it may be as simple as changing the seating arrangement some. But take a look at it from the point of view of what might be triggering her behavior? What's the pay off for that behavior? Behavior doesn't continue without some sort of reinforcement.

Shauna

Thanks, We are looking at all possibilities. I'm sure it's been my cuddling her , I'll just have to change the way we interact.

Think about how you want her to behave and not about what she's doing wrong. Its easy to forget to praise when they're being good....so praise her for any behavior that you like...even just sitting on a perch.

I live with 7 large cockatoos of my own and get to play with around 150 at various times of the year and these are active birds that really can enjoy taking walks, playing games, clicker training they LOVE, watching you dance, sing and act silly, showering with you or hanging out on the sink doing dishes......etc. There's so many ways to interact other than cuddling which can tend to eventually get them in trouble. Cuddling isn't a natural activity for these guys. the closest thing is when they are actually hormonal and they will take their beaks and stroke them firmly down each others back....to excite each other.

If your going to cuddle its helpful to remember that most of the bird's body is excitable .....the safe area is the head, where other birds would be preening her. Beak can be a turn on though. And the feet.

Also make sure she's getting a healthy dose of exercise...by flapping, playing, taking walks and such.

Shauna...who DOES steal the occasional cuddle but keeps it short and watches body language....closely

Shauna,

Very good points & that's just what we are doing now. Anything she does that we like we praise & reward. I always thought we did that but after some thought we really weren't. It was the exceptional behavior we rewarded. Now it's the good as well.