Hyperactivity and excessive urination

Posted a couple of weeks back in the Poicephalus forum, about how my Senegal is driving me crazy, as he's become so hyperactive the past few weeks. It's been like Spring hormonal behaviour x 10 .... aggressive, very very loud - and I mean constant. It's like he's been given drugs or caffeine or something (he hasn't). He literally can't sit still for a minute and doesn't know what to do with himself. I'm being bitten badly, most days. I've tried everything - playing with him, dancing with him, head scratches - he's not interested. I've then tried keeping everything very calm, so as not to over stimulate him - he's still screaming and can't keep still (running, swaying, dancing). It's like he's on hyper alert, all the time. He wants to be with me, but then he's still running on and off me, screaming. He's like a toddler on e numbers. It's like he's "wired".

Anyway, I took him to the vet just before Christmas and he had bloodwork done, which all came back normal. The vet said it was behavioural and just to see how he went. It hasn't stopped - he must be exhausted. He won't even have his afternoon nap and is taking ages to sleep at night. Nothing in his routine, the house, or his diet has changed. He's not going through a moult, either.

The past couple of days, I've noticed he has polyuria. His first morning dropping is normal but then the rest are very watery. This morning, for example - he did three in the space of half hour and they were mostly urine - with just a small strand of faeces in them. I've also noticed that this seems to go with the times he's mostly hyper and manic - like when they have that fight or flight poop. It's when he's running around and looks like he's going to take off (body low, wings ready and quivering).

I have no idea if the polyuria is because of his hyperactivity - like a stress thing - or if it's more to do with an illness. But then, if he was ill - would he be so manic and overactive? He's eating normally and not drinking any more than usual. I do have another vet appointment but not till after New Year (the Avian vet only works certain days).

If it was just the behaviour, I'd think it was purely psychological but the polyuria with it, is more concerning. It's all a bit of a mystery, as he is so manic, I'm thinking he can't be ill, with all that energy. But his level of manicness isn't normal. Do parrots urinate more, when stressed?

Sorry this is so long. It's taking over my whole day - checking poop, trying to calm him etc. I'm getting no work done and am just having to devote my whole day to him - and yet it's not helping. He won't play or settle - just running from one thing to another - screaming and seeing how much chaos he can cause. He's just turned 10 and I've had him since he was a few months old. I've never seen him like this - even when his hormones are going crazy. But the polyuria is a new thing completely - yet only happens when he's at his most manic.

I'm just wondering if the polyuria is to do with his hyperactivity. I know I have a vet appointment in a few days but am getting concerned. Though he certainly does not seem like a sick parrot. I have no idea where he's getting this energy from. I'm so exhausted.

What are you feeding him during the day?

He's on the same diet he's always been on - Harrison's pellets and a couple of Nutri Berries (the veggie ones), bit of apple, orange occasionally, other fruits, sugar snap peas, various veggies (not that he's very keen and doesn't eat them often), nuts, egg occasionally, wholegrain rice, various grains and pulses, chicken sometimes, fish sometimes, sweet potato sometimes, wholegrain bread, organic peanut butter sometimes (no additives) and porridge oats made with just water every night before bed.

He's fussy about veggies and fruit and prefers his grains and pellets.

Sorry I have nothing useful to add. Just wanted to say how exhausting this must be for you. How many hours of lights out does he get? Could he be seeing something outside the window that is making him unsettled? Hopefully the vet visit sheds some more light to this.

How old is he?
It sounds like boredom and restlessness. Maybe try new things to stimulate his mind, going out or flying if that's an option. Showers can also help usually tires these little guys out.

It sounds like his hormone is going over drive, how old is he??? I take it this is his first hormone cycle, it's always the worst when they hit it for the first time. For me, I let them be until the cycle is over.

BoomBoom said:

Sorry I have nothing useful to add. Just wanted to say how exhausting this must be for you. How many hours of lights out does he get? Could he be seeing something outside the window that is making him unsettled? Hopefully the vet visit sheds some more light to this.

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Thank you. He's not in his cage much, so don't think it's anything spooking him. Have got a new vet appointment for tomorrow morning, so hope to shed some light then.

SandyBee said:

How old is he?
It sounds like boredom and restlessness. Maybe try new things to stimulate his mind, going out or flying if that's an option. Showers can also help usually tires these little guys out.

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I've been swapping toys around - plus he's had new ones for Xmas. He gets a shower most days and he's with me all day - I play, dance, sing - he has a lot of interaction. But still he screams. At one point I thought maybe he was being over stimulated - so I calmed everything, to the point of covering him in a dark room. Nope - still hyper. He's 10, by the way. Maybe it's his mid life crisis. He's not seeming to be able to concentrate enough to play - he can't sit still long enough and isn't interested in anything to occupy him. He just wants to run and scream (and bite).

MikeyTN said:

It sounds like his hormone is going over drive, how old is he??? I take it this is his first hormone cycle, it's always the worst when they hit it for the first time. For me, I let them be until the cycle is over.

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He's 10 and usually bad in the Spring, when his hormones kick in. This is much worse. If it wasn't for the polyuria also - I'd be not so bothered (apart from having a constant headache). Still, have managed to get an earlier vet appointment for tomorrow - so hopefully something will get sorted.

Quick update - today he's back to normal. For the past few days he was so territorial and aggressive over a small gap behind one of my kitchen units. Plus he wanted to be on the kitchen floor all the time, exploring - which made me think hormones. Do male birds do this nesting behaviour? Though is Winter really the time for this? Also, he's been fanning at me and preening a bit more. Though he's done none of his mating dance, or regurgitating, which usually happens when he's feeling frisky. So can't work out if it's hormones or not.

Today, he's just being his normal manic self - instead of this crazy, wired bird he has been. I've noticed that he's much better behaved when my daughter is here - even though he prefers me and, if she takes him, he tries to get back to me. So I have no idea what's going on there.

Plus the polyuria has been a bit better today - though he has been eating more. When he's been manic, the polyuria has been worse but I think that's partly to do with he won't sit still long enough to eat and he has so much adrenaline taking over, that he's pooping more often, in his fight or flight mode. There has been a couple of mushy poops though - but the rest have been normal. Nothing to do with food or drink, I don't think.

Still going to take him to vet tomorrow though - as daughter is away again at end of week for a day or two - so I know it will all start up again. Plus the polyuria is making me neurotic (even though it seems to be linked somehow with when he's most manic).

Have you tried taking him out his element entirely and taking him somewhere? Mine is super hyper also, and when he's being almost impossible I take him for a drive and sometimes stop at a friends house. Something about being outside of his normal environment seems to calm him down. Hopefully you get some clear feedback from the vet, and that he checks out healthy

I don't drive, so it would mean walking with him in his carrier. The weather isn't really right for that just now (storms). May get someone to pick me up though with him and go to my Mum's - we haven't been for a while.

Thank you - if anything, the vet will hopefully put my mind at rest.