How long is mating season?

[tashawithanekkie]

Just like the title says. How long can I expect Mister Duke's amorous advances to last? He's getting rather offended that I put him on a perch every time he tries to "get his swerve on." (Seriously, the way he moves his tail -- that's the only phrase that fits.) :18:

 

[LordTriggs]

how long is a piece of string?

Some bird rarely if ever go into hormone mode, others are like it year round. Normally from what I can tell it lasts about a month. There's things you can do to help it move on of course. Start with limiting daytime hours for them making sure they get around 10-12 hours sleep. Also limit the high energy foods and make sure you're not feeding warm foods. The other way to help is to make sure he gets lots of exercise, nobody wants to diddly the doodly if they're exhausted.

Aside from that, just ignore the bad behaviour, definitely keep removing when he starts doing the "sexy dance" and unfortunately he will be frustrated. He has those hormones flowing and he wants to act on them but he can't, and the one thing that seems to act how he wants suddenly refuses to let him seal the deal, so he's understandably pissed off and horny

 

[tashawithanekkie]

Thanks LordTriggs! I am trying to keep his nights long, dark, and quiet. Just lately his royal highness has decided to try to extend them himself by refusing to go into the cage no matter what treat I offer. He's getting lots of flight, following me all over the house after I put him down. We'll keep trying though.

I totally understand his frustration. I'd be upset if I was massaging my partner and constantly giving kisses and they just walked away. Mister Duke may learn to say "I'm not that kind of girl," or "I'm a mammal, dammit."

But apparently I am done typing now, as HRH has decided to walk all over my hands. XD

 

[LordTriggs]

haha HRH sounds liek the perfect description of an Ekkie. I found a good way to make going to the cage easier was to every now and then duringthe day put them in but not to close the cage and just play in there for a bit. Should also help with any territorial behavior.

Good Luck with his majesty!

 

[SilverSage]

LordTriggs gives good advice.

Here is an article on hormone control that goes more in depth and can hopefully help out a bit more.

http://www.silversageaviaries.com/handlinghormones/


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[LordTriggs]

LordTriggs gives good advice.

Lies and slander!

 

[Anansi]

Excellent advice above! I'd only add to watch how you are handling him. Avoid touching his back, under his wings, around the vent area (obviously), or stroking the length of the tail. Any of these are potentially arousing for your bird.

Great article, Dani!

 

[tashawithanekkie]

Yeah, great article! I did read, promise.
Thought I had my randy fella occupied with carrots and cold wild rice but he's stomp-massaging my forearm and beaking my fingers.
Seems like if I touch his beak I'm also accepting advances . . . reminds me of adolescent boys that believe *everything* is a sign of desire. "Did you see that? She touched my shoulder, she totally wants me dude."


Had to place him on the perch 4 darn times trying to reply. Poor guy just trying to do what nature intended.

 

[Anansi]

Hahaha! If he's anything like my Jolly, the most intense phase of this will only last about two weeks or so and then cool off... until next time. Though, as LordTriggs mentioned, hormones affect different birds in different ways.

 

[SilverSage]

And different ways at different ages! Try everything. Keep your chin up!


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[coopedup]

Keep your chin up....and hands under the blankets! I woke up the other morning with dried regurge in my hair and on my arm....sigh. Fortunately I only get the prelude, i have the hump bunny for him to "work it out". Just redirect, redirect, redirect!

 

[tashawithanekkie]

I'm laughing at the bunny, but mostly because I've presented him with a small stuffed Mario to love on.

We moved the cage today, from the living room to the enclosed front porch (summer here so it's not going to be cold.) With the kids home for summer break it seems he wasn't getting enough sleep.

. . . and he has, once again, decided I don't need to type! lmao

 

[chris-md]

Lord what I wouldn't give to have your all issues with hormones. Parker became hormonal this week and its intense. He's an aggressive hormone so I'm constantly being lunged at right now. The infamous ekkie growl is a constant.

And wow is he loud!! When he's hormonal he can't stand to be alone, and becomes significantly more vocal. So if we are out of sight he'll scream his fool head off. So mornings aren't fun when he wakes up and we want to sleep in.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Lord what I wouldn't give to have your all issues with hormones. Parker became hormonal this week and its intense. He's an aggressive hormone so I'm constantly being lunged at right now. The infamous ekkie growl is a constant.

And wow is he loud!! When he's hormonal he can't stand to be alone, and becomes significantly more vocal. So if we are out of sight he'll scream his fool head off. So mornings aren't fun when he wakes up and we want to sleep in.

Thought of giving a smaller sleep cage a try, smaller and more portable, may work if he is in the same room as you?

 

[chris-md]

Then he'll keep us up anyways. We've done that when we stay at my moms house. He crawls around a lot at night so he'd keeping us up at night doing that.

 

[LordTriggs]

he clearly doesn't go to sleep straight away then which will add to the problems. Try an hour or so before his bed time giving some flight drills or excessive play time to tire him out. Ideally you'd want him to get in the cage and go find his sleeping perch but we all know they can and do find a way to be naughty and stay up late

 

[tashawithanekkie]

that's rough, chris. my son gets all the growls here, as he's the human who makes sudden movements and loud sounds. (not that you're like that, obviously.) i hope you can find the way to get things back on track.

 

[chris-md]

lordtriggs, it's not that serious. We keep him up late and that's usually sufficient. Hormones are hormones, not much you can do about it. You just have to ride it out.

 

[chris-md]

that's rough, chris. my son gets all the growls here, as he's the human who makes sudden movements and loud sounds. (not that you're like that, obviously.) i hope you can find the way to get things back on track.

I get the growls cause I'm the nasty disciplinarian. When he acts up I'm the one who deals with it. So I'm the awful person always putting him up in timeout for 10 minutes or shooing him away from attack mode.

 

[jess.reco]

My girl has been hormonal all year!!! I put her in her night cage and she goes off. Banging her beak on the floor of the cage. Sitting in the corner. Rubbing her beak up and down the cage. Lunging if I get close............ Love it.