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" Subject: INDOOR - female cockateil Message-ID: 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