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I just have lots of questions. Now.....if I go get a Happy Hut or something similar....how do I get Mango to try it out? Put him in it? Leave it alone? Stories and suggestions welcome!!!!!

I've read too many tragic stories of conures chewing on happy huts and dying of blockages to think it's a good idea to give Mango one.

Paca

Oh really??????????? Jeeeeeeeez.....I'm learning more and more every day. Do you use any type of "house" for your birds Paca?

tonia1961 wrote:... Do you use any type of "house" for your birds Paca?

I don't. All but one of mine are sexually mature and "houses" can look like nests to them. I don't want to give them thoughts of making babies. Some people create little dens for their birds who want privacy by arranging toys or nearby room furniture or plants to partially block off a back corner of the cage for the bird to retreat into, especially for sleep. You might thread a bunch of 1-inch blocks of wood onto a half-dozen short pieces of rawhide and tie them together at one end. Hang it on the outside of the cage to serve as one wall of Mango's den.

Some people make or buy the teepee style hut -- just side pieces gathered at the top and a perch. No bottom. Conures seem quickest to chew the bottom of the happy huts, so the teepee seems much safer and still private and cozy. I would still worry about it sparking the nesting urge, so I've not given one to any of my birds.

I just have so much to learn. Why would a "house" cause them to want to nest and lay eggs? I need to a BIRD PSYCH 101 class...hahahaha!!! Thanks Paca for helping me learn. You're super!

tonia1961 wrote:I just have so much to learn. Why would a "house" cause them to want to nest and lay eggs? I need... a BIRD PSYCH 101 class...hahahaha!!! ...

You can get one of Barbara Heidenreich's great training books for only $10 at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/searc ... ss=default

Unlike humans, birds can see a dark place as a place to nest. Depending on species it could be only the females, or it could be both males and females. When they get nesty, they get nasty, usually. They become very territorial of their space, and will defend their perceived nest. In a female this is not a good idea because it could lead to her laying eggs... and then sitting on the eggs... and if they eggs don't hatch she'll lay more... or if the eggs are removed she could lay more... thus depleting her body of calcium.... not to mention the health problems that come about when hens are laying eggs. If they are not in the best physical health as well as nutritional health, there could be complications such as egg binding, soft shelled eggs, even egg parotonitis.

Different conures take to hidy holes differently. Noel (sex unknown, thought to be female) would happily use a box to sleep in whenever she feels like taking a nap or just sleeping in at night. I'm sure she wouldn't view it as anything else however her buddy Casey thinks a place to nest. Charlie (male no doubt but he hasn't been DNA sexed) LOVES dark places! He'll go in one and just start singing away, head bobbing, making noises, etc. He may even get a bit defensive over the area. Thus he's not really allowed in dark places frequently.

And then there are those conures who just think that some dark place such as a happy hut or a nestbox is just a toybox where they store their toys!

Thanks bunches for all the info!!! You guys are really a wealth of knowledge. I appreciate you sharing it with me. I'm learning!