She's Too Young, Right?

So Chicken has been getting very testy lately. She actually bit me pretty good a few days ago. She is only 17 months old, so she is too young to be getting hormonal, isn't she? As much of a hellion as she already is, puberty is not something I'm looking forward too. She hasn't shown any nesting behaviors, but then again, she is never given access to anything that would serve as a "nest" anyway. It just seems an odd shift in behavior, and I would attribute it to puberty, if she were older. Is it possible she is starting early? How could I tell, like what signs should I look for, other than the more aggressive, and defensive behavior?

A good example of her new defensive behavior was when I was scrubbing out her cage this morning. I've always done it with her in it with no problems, but today the scrub brush was evil. She was fluffed up, charging it, growling. She wasn't playing, she wanted it gone. Same brush I've always used.

Sounds like testing limits more then puberty, She has her own mind, and today her mind didn't like the brush.

That makes me feel much better, Al. I can deal with testing. I'm terrified for puberty. I guess it's sort of like if you're scared of spiders, anything that moves, you see as a spider.

I agree with Al. It does sound like testing boundaries more than anything else. Normally speaking, she might have another year or so before hormones begin to kick into gear. Could happen earlier or later, but that's roundabout when it is likely to happen.

it can be tough, but some definitely have a more... intense transition than others. But honestly? Considering how well you do working with a blind bird, I'm not exactly worried about your ability to cope with the puberty stage. There'll be an adjustment period, but you'll do just fine.

wrench13 said:

Sounds like testing limits more then puberty, She has her own mind, and today her mind didn't like the brush.

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Looks like Al nailed this one!

Use this time to really lock into her body language, etc. to develop your understanding of her as she pushing to find limits and what more importantly to her, what she can get away with.

OutlawedSpirit said:

That makes me feel much better, Al. I can deal with testing. I'm terrified for puberty. I guess it's sort of like if you're scared of spiders, anything that moves, you see as a spider.

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Or worse, hormonal spiders.

Kentuckienne said:

OutlawedSpirit said:

That makes me feel much better, Al. I can deal with testing. I'm terrified for puberty. I guess it's sort of like if you're scared of spiders, anything that moves, you see as a spider.

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Or worse, hormonal spiders.

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Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! Oh, I laughed good and hearty on that one!

Maybe she just likes her new bigger cage a little too much. She is just being a grouch. I went over to talk to her in her cage, and she growled at me when I walked away from her, but she didn't want out. I asked, and she opened her beak and puffed up, so I know she did not want me to pick her up. Grr Chicken.

I think I have it figured out. I was just holding Chicken and noticed she is getting a bit of a bald spot on the top of her head, and she has a few spots I've felt new pins. She seems to want me to give her scritches in some spots, but then seems to get upset when I do. I think she is going through a mojo moult, and I feel bad for her. She was happy when my wife gave her a shower in the sink today, and she usually doesn't like them there, but I think she was happy to just get a bath. I am going to up her baths significantly, and maybe make her some egg this week to get her a little extra protein since she is moulting so heavily. Poor Chicken.

Why do you think it is a Mojo molt rather than just a heavy molt? My poor Bixby suffered from a Mojo molt, and that was an ordeal that went on for around half a year! I'm hoping that's not the case with your Chicken. Statistically speaking chances are against it, as the condition tends to afflict males rather than females, so I'm hoping the odds bear out in this case as well.

New pin feathers would certainly leave her feeling somewhat grouchy and out of sorts, so I suspect you're right about the cause of her recent testiness.

Well, I was thinking mojo because her face and head are getting bald. However, I think I might have jumped to conclusions. First, I spoke with a friend who has a hen and she said when her face moults, she will rub it on her perches and stuff making bald spots where it itches, so I think that might be what Chicken is doing. Especially since I was really looking at her face after her shower this morning and she has little pins all over her cheeks. The poor thing has to be miserable with the number of pins she has all on her face.

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