chris-md
Well-known member
- Feb 6, 2010
- 4,354
- 2,135
- Parrots
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Parker - male Eclectus
Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
UNDERSTANDING NONSTOP MALE HORMONAL BEHAVIOR. THIS VIDEO IS A MUST WATCH FOR ANY EKKIE OWNER.
When we talk about hypersexual behavior, we are talking about year long expression of breeding behaviors, including regurgitation, masturbation, aggression, and territoriality.
Ekkie owners, and those with males especially, understand the struggles of nonstop masturbation and especially regurgitation. This video places this behavior in a nuerohormonal context and explains much of what we see, with mild emphasis on linking this physiology to in-home behaviors we see.
It also puts some of the oft repeated refrains (āekkies can breed any time of the yearā for example) into greater context.
For those who are able to synthesize this information to everyday life, itās insightful.
[ame="https://youtu.be/IXw3BDJ9U2Y"]Male Hypersexuality in Eclectus Roratus (Eclectus Parrot) - YouTube[/ame]
TL;DW (too long, didnāt watch)
ALL parrots - including ekkies - are sensitive to photo regulation of hormonal release to some degree. Ekkies CAN have a breeding season. What sets them apart is the disproportionate importance of non-photoregulated cues such as food abundance and availability of nesting sites in regulating this behavior alongside photoregulation. These shifting cues are what shift the breeding window around and breaks the bounds of āspring and fall breeding periodsā.
In the wild, Males quite likely rely on social cues to turn off hormone production responsible for copulatory behaviors such as humping/masturbation. The cue? Female rejection of this behavior.
In the home, males who EARLY IN THEIR LIFE donāt get this cue from their favorite person (e.g. their chosen mate) can develop a life long habit of uninhibited hypersexuality, leading to feather destructive behaviors, immunosuppressive, to name a few. Did you catch that? THE PERSON WHO THE BIRD CHOSES AS THEIR MATE/FAVORITE HAS AN OUTSIZED CAPACITY TO SHUT DOWN THIS BEHAVIOR FOR THE YEAR. Non mates in the home likely lack the ability to affect this expression of hypersexuality.
Let that sink in. Thatās deep.
ALSO: constant regurgitation can lead to nutrient deficiency, manifested often as feather loss around the nares and pale beak color.
Essentially, it comes down to this:hypersexuality is the result of desensitization to testosterone reduction hormones due to failed sexual communication early in life.
As a new eclectus owner, it really is up to you early on to make sure youāre giving all the proper signals.
As an owner of an adult bird with hypersexual tendencies - like many of us - thereās not a WHOLE LOT you can do, because it is a combination of learned behavior and physiological deficiency. This explains why we say to use hormone control measures but not to expect them to eliminate anything. Continue with hormone reduction measures to take the edge off, but hold on to your seats because you really just have to ride it out.
Early intervention is key.
Hope you found this as informative as I did!
When we talk about hypersexual behavior, we are talking about year long expression of breeding behaviors, including regurgitation, masturbation, aggression, and territoriality.
Ekkie owners, and those with males especially, understand the struggles of nonstop masturbation and especially regurgitation. This video places this behavior in a nuerohormonal context and explains much of what we see, with mild emphasis on linking this physiology to in-home behaviors we see.
It also puts some of the oft repeated refrains (āekkies can breed any time of the yearā for example) into greater context.
For those who are able to synthesize this information to everyday life, itās insightful.
[ame="https://youtu.be/IXw3BDJ9U2Y"]Male Hypersexuality in Eclectus Roratus (Eclectus Parrot) - YouTube[/ame]
TL;DW (too long, didnāt watch)
ALL parrots - including ekkies - are sensitive to photo regulation of hormonal release to some degree. Ekkies CAN have a breeding season. What sets them apart is the disproportionate importance of non-photoregulated cues such as food abundance and availability of nesting sites in regulating this behavior alongside photoregulation. These shifting cues are what shift the breeding window around and breaks the bounds of āspring and fall breeding periodsā.
In the wild, Males quite likely rely on social cues to turn off hormone production responsible for copulatory behaviors such as humping/masturbation. The cue? Female rejection of this behavior.
In the home, males who EARLY IN THEIR LIFE donāt get this cue from their favorite person (e.g. their chosen mate) can develop a life long habit of uninhibited hypersexuality, leading to feather destructive behaviors, immunosuppressive, to name a few. Did you catch that? THE PERSON WHO THE BIRD CHOSES AS THEIR MATE/FAVORITE HAS AN OUTSIZED CAPACITY TO SHUT DOWN THIS BEHAVIOR FOR THE YEAR. Non mates in the home likely lack the ability to affect this expression of hypersexuality.
Let that sink in. Thatās deep.
ALSO: constant regurgitation can lead to nutrient deficiency, manifested often as feather loss around the nares and pale beak color.
Essentially, it comes down to this:hypersexuality is the result of desensitization to testosterone reduction hormones due to failed sexual communication early in life.
As a new eclectus owner, it really is up to you early on to make sure youāre giving all the proper signals.
As an owner of an adult bird with hypersexual tendencies - like many of us - thereās not a WHOLE LOT you can do, because it is a combination of learned behavior and physiological deficiency. This explains why we say to use hormone control measures but not to expect them to eliminate anything. Continue with hormone reduction measures to take the edge off, but hold on to your seats because you really just have to ride it out.
Early intervention is key.
Hope you found this as informative as I did!
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