Hormones, This article, Confused...

[bluecrownmama]

Ok, so I'm trying to be a good bird owner but I'm completely confused now. Long story short I have blue crown conure (about 3yrs old) that seems to always have some serious "attitude" (pretty aggressive) since about 1 yr old and onward. He seems to constantly have pin feathers coming in. Sometimes a ton, sometimes a few. So today I decided to do more research on bird hormones and came across this article: Hormones and Your Parrot: the Triggers and What to Do. | Students with Birds
Can someone give me a second opinion if that all sounds about right? Based on that article I feel like my bird is hormonal all year round (does a lot of things mentioned in article) and we're doing everything wrong...
Some examples:
1.I switched to Harrison's Adult Food and have been adding in some High Potency (because they said it was good for molting birds and he seems to molt for really long times). But the article says pelleted diets are REALLY bad for hormones?? Harrison's is considered pellets right?
2.The article says head bobbing is bad because it means regurgitation to the bird. "Dance dance" head bobbing is like the one trick the kids can do with our bird where he doesn't act like he wants to eat them...so we shouldn't do this?
3.Article says don't cuddle but its ok to scratch their head and neck. Whats cuddling then? It also says showing off and flinging its wings is a sign of hormones. My bird loves to stretch out one wing at a time whenever I pick him up-is he actually showing off instead and I've totally missed that?
4.Article says "Don't offer food from your hands" ? But I do this...
5. Article says don't let the bird have shredded material or cloth to play with. My bird loves both-plus don't alot of bird toys have shredded material in them? He also like to sleep under strips of cloth that we hang in his cage...which brings me to another question-is that considered nesting? Liking to sleep huddled under a toy or fabric? I was thinking of adding one of those cloth hanging huts for him to snuggle into-would this now be a really bad idea?
6. I have a light for my bird set to turn on a sunrise time and off at sunset time...I'm thinking I should change that now so its on even less...?

Or am I just totally over-thinking all of this? Any recommendations for a really thorough book so I can just read something concrete instead of trying to google this?

Oh and if these things are only to be avoided during the mating season-when exactly is the mating season? What I've read says "Spring and Fall" but can someone be more exact? Are we talking a couple weeks as spring starts or like months that could possibly blur into fall? My bird seems to always be this way but maybe if I knew more clearly when and what I was looking for then I can start changing what I'm doing and help him/her out a bit...

Thanks for reading all of this! I suddenly feel incredibly ignorant...

 

[sstull]

Hi, Blucrownmama,

Good on you for doing your research and asking questions! I'm the author of the article you'd linked to - sorry if points were confusing. I intend to have a second look when I get the chance.

I'll try to clarify (and, in case you're curious, my source for this post is and was the Island Parrot Sanctuary in Scotland, who are behavioural experts). Never feel ignorant for asking!

Your first point: Pellets are often a major hormone trigger for a lot of birds. With each of the questions you raised, the answers boil down to individuals. So some birds may not be affected, while others (like my Senegal or cockatoo) get to the point where they are untouchable. It's because the protein in pellets - specifically the soy in Harrison's - signals breeding season to them. On that note, Totally Organic "TOPS" pellets are an alternative to Harrison's. I haven't tried them with my flock, but have heard good things about them, plus they are organic and have no soy.

Dancing is indeed a mating ritual for many species of parrots. All I can say is know your birds, and if dancing and head-bobbing doesn't seem to be encouraging them to look at you as a mate, go for it. My Senegal will instantly regurgitate if I bob my head, while my parrotlet is unaffected, for example.

Cuddling in the traditional sense is petting your parrot all over, especially along its back or maybe gently tugging on the tail. That kind of touch really is something to avoid. Some people with larger birds will also wrap them up in blankets, clothes, or their arms, which can simulate nesting. Heads and necks are safe to pet because parrots are hardwired to allow communal preening, while only mates preen elsewhere, usually as a way to initiate sex.

The wing display is actually pictured on that post with my cockatiel - it is a prolonged stretch, both wings. Like us flinging out both arms at once and holding. The one-winged stretch you describe is typically a hello greeting, and is a very good thing!

As to not offering food from hands, that is a measure for if your bird is already aggressive and hormonal - which I need to go clarify! Handing out treats on a tongue depressor or spoon works well if you need to avoid that, or you can always pop them into an obliging bowl. Typically hands are fine, but some birds are looking for any and every sign that you're their mate, and will even take a morsel of food the wrong way. My 'too was that way. I could never feed him from my hands.

Shreddable toy bits should be removed as they are shredded, if you choose to use them during hormonal seasons. For example, I never give my parrotlet paper or cloth during the spring, or he goes nuts nesting. With my others, I just make a point of scooping the pieces out ASAP before they can get possessive over them. Noise-making toys, wood and leather toys, foraging toys, and puzzle toys are all great alternatives to paper or cloth. On that note: Spring and fall are both periods where you'll notice parrots becoming more aggressive and eager to mate, and probably starting looking for nest sites. There is no set time for this, sadly. It all has to do with the particular birds. Some may be hormonal for months or never stop, while others are barely affected. It can also hinge on external factors like how much daylight (including lamps), and what the current diet is.

Nesting occurs when a bird finds a place that is typically very dark and enclosed and/or full of shredded and shreddable materials such as wild birds might use - behaviours include increased aggressiveness and horniness (for lack of a better word), for example, and problems arise when the birds try and keep you, owners, away from what they see as their territory. It can get ugly. Allowing them to hang out in dark, tight places can sometimes even trigger other behaviours like screaming and plucking, besides the biting. It depends on your bird whether he sees sleeping under cloth as his nest... Does he charge after your fingers when you disturb him, or puff up angrily and act like he wants to bite? Reducing daylight hours - gradually - is a very simple way to reduce hormonal aggression in most captive parrots. I would definitely recommend trying it! It does wonders for all my birds and those of people I've worked with and talked to.

Yep, I've never seen a parrot who was NOT territorial over a cosy hut or tent, and always suggest people stay away from them. My parrotlet had one briefly, and became aggressive over his entire cage. He would furiously attack anyone who came too close. His little bites HURT! Took the tent away and he instantly mellowed out again. Tents and cloth huts present added danger in that internal seams and stitches can be lethal if a parrots pulls them loose and gets caught. I'm just not a fan.

Hope that helps! If I think of any reading, I'll let you know, but the difficulty as you've found is that parrot behaviour is still a very new science. Any more questions, feel free to ask!

-Sarah

 

[clofromco]

Useful info. I am a new owner of a 11 yo scarlet macaw, male. Trying to shorten story, his previous owner couldn't care for him. He had little outside cage time, outdoor time and little handling. I dont know these birds body language, and don't know if it's hormonal of over stimulation after being in "solitary". He offers to come down, talks and is generally social. Today he seemed snippy...acting nice then pinching my collar bone..twice! Is head bobbing a mating sign? He also does the baby regurg act which I say "no" and walk away. He also moves his head from side to side..?? Is that?
He seems happy, talkative and all around healthier in the 2week Ihave had him. Just want the unexpected agression explained if hormones or over stimulation......thanks

 

[ZephyrFly]

Yep, I've never seen a parrot who was NOT territorial over a cosy hut or tent, and always suggest people stay away from them. My parrotlet had one briefly, and became aggressive over his entire cage. He would furiously attack anyone who came too close. His little bites HURT! Took the tent away and he instantly mellowed out again. Tents and cloth huts present added danger in that internal seams and stitches can be lethal if a parrots pulls them loose and gets caught. I'm just not a fan.

Your response to the original post was very informative and very useful.
But how would you go about an alternative to a happy hut or tent?
I'm in then UK and although we don't get extreme temperatures it can get cold, and my home heating is either off or on high (doesn't need long to warm the place) and it doesn't stay on for long. So how would you go about keeping our parrot comfortable?

 

[weco]

Re: Hormones, This article, Confused... - An Informational Update

Not trying to usurp bluecrownmama's thread, but I'm not sure our new member, sstull received proper recognition for posting the link to her blog and given that many of out members' birds have been leaving them searching for answers to their fall/spring (depending on what part of the world you live in) hormonal urges/mood swings, I think those with hormonal birds and looking for answers might want to give Sarah's blog a read through, especially new parrot owners: Hormones and Your Parrot: the Triggers and What to Do. | Students with Birds

I don't read all the posts to the forums, but information about Sarah's blog showed up on another parrot group I belong to, so took a look see & while much of what the blog offers is in the forums' archives in various places, I found Sarah's blog well written & the information to be better reading than some of our archives.....

I enjoyed reading Sarah's blog.....


Enjoy your reading ! ! !