Grey began acting odd, seems to have settled down now.

[joea]

Right now, she has calmed and is sitting on my chair, acting normally, as I type.

She began by making it clear she wanted "up" and we spent some time, but she became a bit agitated and kept going for my glasses and making short "eh-eh" sounds, almost frantic.  Nothing seemed to calm her and she would nibble at my finger trying to keep it above her head, as if trying to "nurse" from it.   I did not encourage that and tried to put her on cage and present treats.  Did not go for that.

Back sitting down, she began began keeping her wings and bottom end down, as if ready for flight, while making the "eh-eh" noises again.

There was a thunderstorm brewing, but there have been worse with no such behavior.

I thought to ask here for advice.

[neoow]

Without seeing the behaviour it's hard to advise/judge what it might be.

However it's possibly a hormonal behaviour- she might have been a bit over stimulated. Alfie drops his wings and makes some baby bird clucking noises when he gets a bit hormonal/randy. He keeps all his feathers down and his wings quiver and he steps from side to side whilst clucking. He usually ends up regurgitating. At the moment it usually happens in the morning whilst I'm getting ready for work. If he doesn't settle down I have to leave the room because I'm the trigger for it. 

[Greytness]

Definitely sounds like the hormonal love dance. One of my greys immediately starts up as soon as I look at him. Very difficult to hold him because his behavior escalates, no matter what I do. I can't not hold him, so I minimally interact with him while he's being held.

[joea]

Thanks, that does seem to be the issue.  I asked a few other grey people and they gave similar response or "nesting behavior".

I never noticed it before I gave her cardboard boxes to "play with" as a diversion from destroying wood trim in the house.    She has not left her play area, except with me, since introducing the boxes.  

She plays this game where she comes to the side of the cage play area, gets my attention, then immediately scurries back to the box and begins shredding or knocking, occasionally taking a discrete peek to see if I noticed.  I guess.

 

Edited July 2, 2021 by joea

[Greytness]

Boxes are notorious for promoting nesting/hormonal behavior, so it makes perfect sense.

[joea]

55 minutes ago, Greytness said:

Boxes are notorious for promoting nesting/hormonal behavior, so it makes perfect sense.

Yeah.  I did not know that at the time.   I would like to reduce that behavior but I don't want her going back to destroying the wood work.

Edited July 2, 2021 by joea

[joea]

Now she is spending almost all her time in the box, almost completely destroyed, but will pause and look back at me when I approach, then back to destruction, but with a brief raising and wiggle of her hind end.  I'm guessing this is just more of the "hormonal" behavior?

 

[neoow]

Sounds like nesting behaviour unfortunately.

[joea]

2 hours ago, neoow said:

Sounds like nesting behaviour unfortunately.

Why "unfortunately"?  Should I attempt to stop it somehow? Is it something I need to research more or can someone describe what to do and expect? 

[Timbersmom]

If you have a female, nesting behavior can promote egg laying as I understand it. I'd assume that is what you would want to avoid. I'm no pro though, I've just read things like that on the forums.

Timber's hormones seem more governed by seasons than boxes or circumstances, but he's a male.

[joea]

Perhaps I need to consult an Avian Vet?  

I'm not certain how to proceed.  If I remove the box, she may react badly and/or return to destructive behavior.  For all I know, removing the box may cause some problem with a partially formed egg being retained.  Then again, if she does produce an egg, it will obviously not hatch and will eventually, if not immediately, have to be removed.  Causing possibly other issues.