*VENT* the hormone monster

chris-md

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

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
We were in such a great place, sweetest boy on earth for the last few months. No more.

The growling, the wandering (nearly stepped on him tonight). The intensity. Lord is he intense when he’s hormonal.

I just can’t with this boy tonight.
 
Apr 3, 2013
944
23
MD, USA
We were in such a great place, sweetest boy on earth for the last few months. No more.

The growling, the wandering (nearly stepped on him tonight). The intensity. Lord is he intense when he’s hormonal.

I just can’t with this boy tonight.

As silly as it sounds, whenever my birds (past or present) are giving me a hard time, I equate them to owning a falcon or eagle. When I remember that they are wild animals, it reminds me how cool it is to own them, despite the challenges.

Hang in there! This too shall pass
 

Kentuckienne

Supporting Vendor
Oct 9, 2016
2,742
1,631
Middle of nowhere (kentuckianna)
Parrots
Roommates include Gus, Blue and gold macaw rescue and Coco, secondhand amazon
You have my sympathy. I’m rarely without a bandaid myself. It’s frustrating when they go from sweet to feisty so quickly.
 

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
What sweet Parker-doodle? Aww, like everyone says this too shall pass. I dread Saltys onset of the the hornies.
 

AmyMyBlueFront

Well-known member
Apr 14, 2015
6,315
Media
4
3,034
Connecticut
Parrots
Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
All I can say is BUMMER...Chris!





Jim
 

Kiwibird

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2012
9,539
111
Parrots
1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
Sorry Chris, I don't buy it. Parker is just too nice of a bird:16::D

Hope he gets back to his normal self soon!
 

Anansi

Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Dec 18, 2013
22,301
4,211
Somerset,NJ
Parrots
Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
Sorry, Chris. It's tough when they flip the script like that. But at least Parker tends to be somewhat consistent with the duration of his bouts. So you know there's an ending in sight.

Guess I should be thankful Jolly's hormonal ire doesn't go any further than a shout of exasperation when I (politely) turn down his advances... and a bit of the side eye.
 

reeb

New member
Oct 23, 2017
568
Media
4
Albums
1
84
Cape Town, South Africa
Parrots
Berry (♀ Cockatiel) hatched June 2017
Opal (♂ Budgie) hatched 13 August 2017
Pearl (♀ Budgie) hatched 15 August 2017
+ an aviary of 16 other budgies! all hatched 2014-2017
I know the feeling! Both of my budgies are going through their bird version of puberty, and they’ve turned from sweet cuddle puffs of feathers to nippy, nasty monsters! Such is life though, the phase will definitely pass.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

coopedup

New member
Apr 8, 2016
383
0
CA
Parrots
7y/o eclectus Wrangler
So sorry to hear he's giving you fits. The joys of Parronthood. Wrangler has a new evening ritual of trying to feed/hump my hand/wrist/shoulder/chest....I thought hormones were a spring-summer thing...what's with the winter hornies anyway?
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,643
10,007
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
What to trade? Last week Julio spun into a rage while playing with a small ball with a bell inside! The only thing he didn't do was that full head spin around thing. Afterwards, he sat on the floor looking transfixed upon something that wasn't there! After a bit he puffed-up and acted like nothing had happened. At 510 grams, the last thing I want is him hanging-off me, doing some kind of Amazon version of the Twist (very old dance). :D

Drop what you are doing and back slowly away from the Hormonal Amazon!!!

You're not alone Chris; It only feels that way!
 

Teddscau

Active member
Sep 25, 2015
640
Media
2
123
Ontario, Canada
Parrots
Budgies: Sunshine, Blanco, Azure; Peach-faced lovebirds: Rosie and Jaybird; YSA: Jasper (♀)
Fun fact: parrots evolved from falcons! That's why they're some of the few birds who can actually tear chunks out of you >_<. Luckily my guys never really seem to be overly hormonal, but then again, most of my guys are opportunistic breeders, so I can easily control their hormones with lighting.

The only one I have to deal with is Noah, and he can be a real pain. Sometimes he does this thing where he'll charge at my fingers if I have my hand at the top of the cage (I put a plate of fresh food there everyday, along with a bath, etc.), and he starts beating me up. I think he might be trying to chase me away from Rumi or something. Honestly, he's really inconsistent when it comes to fighting with me. Man, and even when I make it clear that I'm not trying to pick a fight with him, he'll sometimes keep biting me just to tick me off, at which point I may or may not lose it and restrain him in my hand while we tell each other off. I normally keep my cool, but sometimes he does things intentionally to get me riled up, and doesn't stop until I snap. We have similar personalities, so he knows how to push my buttons. We end up apologizing to each other afterwards and we go back to being friends ;).
 
OP
chris-md

chris-md

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

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #12
Thanks guys:). I just feel more frustrated than usual because I wasn’t expecting it at all, caught me completely off guard.

Stephen you’re right, his hormonal periods are well defined. This snapped from zero to 60 in no time flat, though. No ramp up this time! This is a first for him So unfortunately I have no gauge for how long this bout will last. Usually his more intense bouts last longer than average but that includes the slow ramp up.
 
OP
chris-md

chris-md

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

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
What to trade? Last week Julio spun into a rage while playing with a small ball with a bell inside! The only thing he didn't do was that full head spin around thing. Afterwards, he sat on the floor looking transfixed upon something that wasn't there! After a bit he puffed-up and acted like nothing had happened. At 510 grams, the last thing I want is him hanging-off me, doing some kind of Amazon version of the Twist (very old dance). :D

Drop what you are doing and back slowly away from the Hormonal Amazon!!!

You're not alone Chris; It only feels that way!

Thank you sir! And no trades thanks! These are the very reasons I have zero trust for amazons. I’m waiting for the flying attack story.
 
OP
chris-md

chris-md

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

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #14
So sorry to hear he's giving you fits. The joys of Parronthood. Wrangler has a new evening ritual of trying to feed/hump my hand/wrist/shoulder/chest....I thought hormones were a spring-summer thing...what's with the winter hornies anyway?

I think I’m preaching tot he choir here - you know this I think? - but ekkies can get hormonal whenever. Unlike most other birds they can breed whenever, not isolated to the spring time.

It’s fujnny cause I turned to my partner last night and said “I should have gotten a Macaw. At least hormones would only be once a year and done”.
 

Violet_Diva

Member
Aug 30, 2016
843
Media
6
Albums
1
19
Norfolk (England)
Parrots
Bella (Vosmaeri Eclectus Female) + Dexter (Red Sided Eclectus Male) + Gerry (Vosmaeri Eclectus Male)
Thanks for sharing chris_md (and everyone else) it's threads like this that are insightful and helpful to new parronts and prospective parronts-to-be in terms of letting people know what they are in for! I still have the 'joys' of my birdies 'coming of age' to look forward to! So reading things like this is a valuable resource.

I'm sure it can be all too easy for humans to take things too personally sometimes when their birdies go hormonal and haywire and finding threads like this, pointing out the 'normality' of of their 0-60 potential is assuring.

:)
 
OP
chris-md

chris-md

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

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #16
I was all prepared to make a post this morning about how he’s calmed down. Much of the signs have disappeared as quickly as they came. Just being an absolute sweetheart.

Then he goes and bites my ear...after I break my rule and let him up on my shoulder.

This damn bird...
 

coopedup

New member
Apr 8, 2016
383
0
CA
Parrots
7y/o eclectus Wrangler
lol.....and so who's fault is that???? Sorry he is giving you fits right now, just enjoy the loveable moments when they are there
 
OP
chris-md

chris-md

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

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #18
Lol yep I don’t deny it. I know better than to let him on my shoulder. But at night he’s so sweet that I’ve dropped my guard the last couple days.

Never again!
 

katie_fleming

Active member
Oct 30, 2012
881
31
Montreal, Canada
Parrots
Jasper (6yr old Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot)
I guess I really can't complain. Jasper becomes a gigantic squealing fluff ball who couldn't be any more gentle....lol. I just have to get him off my shoulder and he calms down.
 

Rival_of_the_Rickeybird

Well-known member
2x Parrot of the Month 🏆
Jul 31, 2016
1,367
1,863
Ohio
Parrots
None. My wife has one too many. Kidding!
Ever since the Rickeybird hit sexual maturity at about 3-4 years of age, the Missus has had to manage his hormones! If kept on too steady a long day, and too much light, he stayed "in the mood" (aggressive, even louder than usual, pleasuring himself on the wife's neck ) year round. If we keep him on a natural light schedule... up with dawn, down with dusk, year around... THEN he's only a little monster rooster from July to September). He has his own room, so we can do that easily.
It's now December, of course, with wonderful short days and a very mellow rooster...
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top