Cuddling, blankets etc and sexual maturity

G3ck0

New member
Dec 23, 2014
14
0
Australia
Parrots
Blue & Gold Macaw
I know that cuddling your bird, letting them under blankets and petting them anywhere but the head is bad when their hormones are kicking in, but what about other times of the year? Should you avoid it constantly, or only when their hormones are affecting them?
 

plumsmum2005

New member
Nov 18, 2015
5,330
94
England, UK
Parrots
Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
I do stroke Plum but my thinking is I wanted to be able to feel him for anything amiss. I am aware and do not do it for long as I am not sure if it is a bit like foreplay and then not doing the deed to them. Frustrating!

It really is useful to be able to physically assess if your bird is OK and they accept being touched.

Plum heads under a cushion or blanket when he is out, Ok or not depends on where it goes. A short play session Ok but if it leads into being defensive and/or aggressive then no IMO.
 
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tlfisher

New member
Apr 28, 2013
179
0
Iowa
Parrots
Cockatiel (daughter's bird)
Rare Parakeet(daughter's bird)
Sunny crawled into my bed when I was sleeping because my youngest daughter let's him out of his cage. The meeting of dog and bird in my bed when I was sleeping will never be forgotten by all three of us. LOL. I felt like I was on the Carol Burnett show as the straight man.

I did not know it was bad for him. He falls asleep on my shoulder when I am reading and writing.
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
I think the no stroking the body is a general rule, as probably most (or at least commonly) parrots will see this as you instigating sexual relations, and lead to frustration and unwanted behaviors. I'm very fortunate that the one parrot who lets me cuddle him, didn't read that memo. I can literally touch, pet, cuddle, restrain with both hands, touch and kiss under his wings or anywhere on his body, etc. Without ANY behavioral problems. He really enjoys it too, and we can cuddle for a long time. Even more astounding is that he's a Red Bellied Parrot (Poicephalus) who thinks he's a cuddly Cockatoo! He's 22 now, and isn't nearly as inclined to bite as he was when he was younger, so maybe his hormones have mellowed out.
 
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G3ck0

New member
Dec 23, 2014
14
0
Australia
Parrots
Blue & Gold Macaw
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Awesome, sounds good. I was worried you'd never be able to do anything but scratch their head once they hit a certain age, good to hear that a lot of people seem to get away with a lot more than that.
 

GaleriaGila

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
May 14, 2016
15,045
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Cleveland area
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The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
Patagonians (aka Burrowing Parrot, Loro Barranquero in native lands) burrow into limestone cliffs and defend the burrows year round, so any kind of burrow is risky, as it brings out extreme aggression...
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
Keep in mind too, that many parrots, even hand fed ones will not allow you to touch more than their head. Many will not let you touch them at all. The majority of species as a general rule do not like "cuddling". Sometimes you get lucky and get one with an individual personality that will be receptive to becoming accepting of it and come to enjoy it.
 

tlfisher

New member
Apr 28, 2013
179
0
Iowa
Parrots
Cockatiel (daughter's bird)
Rare Parakeet(daughter's bird)
That makes sense cause he gets real annoying when I won't let him burrow in the blanket.

He is mad at me cause I had to go to town. He hates it when I leave.
 

davefv92c

Banned
Banned
Nov 29, 2016
441
2
Awesome, sounds good. I was worried you'd never be able to do anything but scratch their head once they hit a certain age, good to hear that a lot of people seem to get away with a lot more than that.

16 yr old U2 here and hell he wants all the petting he can get he even raises and spreads his wings to get petted everywhere and no adverse reactions what so ever. getting this bird at 15 and a rescue I did not think anything like that would have been possible for a long time. when meeting he came right out of his cage to the wife and said hello so sweetly he ended up coming home with us that day.
 

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