Do male eclectus get hormonal?

[chris-md]

hello all,

Could you please give me the skinny on hormonal behavior in the males?

I've been researching male eclectus for a couple months as a potential new parrot. Everything talks about how sweet and level headed they are after maturity, not one bad thing to say. Imagine my surprise then when last night I stumble across a forum replete with stories on mature males and their hormonal cycles.

Is this a common issue in males? All the literature I am seeing always talks about the females with next to no mention of hormonal males. after a a couple months searching, only now seeing this, I have to assume it's not very common, on average at least.

 

[drlisaort]

I don't have an answer but I can tell you Oliver is two and a half years old and quite sweet for the most part. Now when he's uncomfortable...like when he's molting or needs his nails clipped or beak trimmed he can get moody just like we humans can when we are uncomfortable. As for sexual maturity, he's not quite there yet so I'll be curious to hear the responses. From my readings and research it seems during the seasonal (hormonal) times he'll be a bit moody...some more than others, but the other times he'll be his sweet self.

I look forward to hear from others to see what they have to say to you...

 

[labell]

The males can get hormonal not typically in the overt way that the females get but some become cage territorial. Others can start to pluck or begin feeding their chosen person or favorite toy. Of course there are some who become overly amorous and masturbate by rubbing all over their person and can become bitey if allowed. Training can circumvent much of this but mating behavior, how much or how little is also going to be an individual thing with some males showing hormonal behavior more than others. Solomon Island sub species are typically the most easy going and predictable in their behavior so if this is something that concerns you I would look at them as your first choice.

 

[Birdman666]

Yes they do. (ALL birds do to some extent or another.)

They just don't get as bossy as the females when they're hormonal.

 

[Scott]

My male Vos Ekkie was very even tempered, did not typically display excessive hormonal behaviors.

 

[chris-md]

Thank you all. As I reflect on what is defined as hormonal, I realize I was speaking very directly to concerns about cage aggression. I now realize that I've read plenty about masturbating and regurgitIng, and didn't give them a seconds though as hormonal behavior.

I understand the cycles can last a couple weeks, but how does one handle (literally, move them around from cage to playstand, etc) a cage aggressive bird during this time? I assume you can't just leave them in the cage (unless that's what they want, depending on the day). If you do manage to get them away from the cage, do they calm down?

 

[EdwardH]

Cage aggression is territorial in nature (guarding their nest site) so the behaviour decreases the further away they are from the cage. If they become nippy (my Jade rarely did) just use a stick for him to step up on and take him into another room. Use the stick to bring him back to his cage.

 

[labell]

Yep stick training is the way to go. Mine are trained to step up on my hand of course but if they are feeling bratty they step up onto a stick.