Puberty? how do I know?

birdiemama

New member
May 11, 2020
40
3
Las Vegas
Parrots
Doobie, a Pineapple Green Cheek Conure baby about 6 weeks old (on May 11, 2020)
Just wondering at what age does a conure enter puberty?
What are the signs of puberty?
And why does cuddling or snuggling trigger hormones?

My bird likes to snuggle up to my cupped hand and he sits there so sweetly and makes little cheepy noises as I scratch his neck with my thumb. Usually is very content to stay there for awhile and then gets curious and roams around the desk to see what he can chew on! Then gets mischievous and demanding and wants to bite and doesn't want to go back in the cage! Thanks for any insight.:gcc:
 

lollipoppy

New member
Mar 10, 2020
303
2
Canada
Parrots
Mama to Milo the Pineapple X Cinnamon GCC
Sounds like my boy who’s 3.5 months old [emoji1]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

wrench13

Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Parrot of the Month 🏆
Nov 22, 2015
11,383
Media
14
Albums
2
12,567
Isle of Long, NY
Parrots
Yellow Shoulder Amazon, Salty
Signs of puberty include butt rubbing on things, regurgitating, changes in mood, sound level. Minimize ( but never prevent) it by no scratching anywhere but head and neck, no dark hidey holes or dark places, 12 hrs of quiet sleep, low or no sugars ( like fruit), lots of excercise like flying or foraging, no nesting like materials available.
 
OP
B

birdiemama

New member
May 11, 2020
40
3
Las Vegas
Parrots
Doobie, a Pineapple Green Cheek Conure baby about 6 weeks old (on May 11, 2020)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #4
Minimize ( but never prevent) it by no scratching anywhere but head and neck, no dark hidey holes or dark places,

Why is scratching anywhere but head and neck not good?
And why are dark hidey places not good? I don't understand.
I try to touch my bird all over and under his wings. In my mind it makes me the alpha. Is this not right? (I guess I'm used to dogs!) Thanks.
 

chris-md

Well-known member
Feb 6, 2010
4,349
2,119
Maryland - USA
Parrots
Parker - male Eclectus

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
Oh yes, definitely used to dog language. Remember, prey animals =/ predator animals

The term allopreening explains your question about petting various places.

The head is the one place they can’t reach, so need help from others to preen feathers up there. So they welcome touching there by a range of other birds. Everywhere else is considered sexual in bird language. They only let their mate touch them places that aren’t the head.

Dark places = nesting. Give a bird a nest-like location, it triggers them to start nesting/brooding behaviors to prepare for eggs.
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
Minimize ( but never prevent) it by no scratching anywhere but head and neck, no dark hidey holes or dark places,

Why is scratching anywhere but head and neck not good?
And why are dark hidey places not good? I don't understand.
I try to touch my bird all over and under his wings. In my mind it makes me the alpha. Is this not right? (I guess I'm used to dogs!) Thanks.

Why is making out in your unmentionables "not good"? Same reason...I hope I don't get in trouble for saying that, but it's the bird equivalent-- birds don't even have alphas...(but if that is your intention, you are throwing away a lot of your power by doing this--> hormones are one of the first things that you must control when dealing with parrots--scrap the dog mindset- you cannot even compare the 2).

Also-- hormones are not always so obvious-- sometimes a plucking or screaming bird can be doing that as a result of hormones (of course, never use that as an excuse not to get vet care or ignore behaviors...but it can lead to those problems).

My bird kind of clicks or lightly twitches while gazing up at me adoringly and obsessively wants to find dark spaces...she also will sometimes mess with her tail feathers or preen more than usual. She will act extra lovey, or sometimes (if the right people are around)....jealous?

You will know based on your bird's age and you should avoid triggers even before that, as they set a bad precedent for future interaction...So, you should always avoid petting on head and neck and allowing access to shadowy spaces (even before puberty). They DO tend to have behavioral changes as they mature as well.
 
Last edited:
OP
B

birdiemama

New member
May 11, 2020
40
3
Las Vegas
Parrots
Doobie, a Pineapple Green Cheek Conure baby about 6 weeks old (on May 11, 2020)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
thank you....very helpful.
 
OP
B

birdiemama

New member
May 11, 2020
40
3
Las Vegas
Parrots
Doobie, a Pineapple Green Cheek Conure baby about 6 weeks old (on May 11, 2020)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #8
thank you very much....very helpful.
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
Conures generally mature sexually around 1 year, but hormones kick in before then. I just realized you didn't get an answer to that part of your question.
 
Last edited:

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top