shirt color trigger mating behavior?

[burdman]

Tonight Riley was sitting in my lap and started rubbing his head in my shirt and rubbing his tail on my leg.
Pretty sure it was mating behavior. He has never done anything like this before. I was not able to pick him up. He was not aggresive, just wouldn't get on my hand.
It dawned on me that I was wearing a bright red t-shirt that I've never worn around him before.
I had a long sleeved blue shirt on the table so I slipped it over the red shirt, and he let me pick him up.
Is it possible that the shirt triggered this response? It sure seems like it too me.

 

[BillsBirds]

He's an Ekkie, right? His girlfriend would be red.

 

[moni.k]

I do notice they have color preferences. Nalani won't touch her red toys, if it's in a bundle with other colors, she'll destroy everything but the red dyed toys. Pretty interesting. Hehe you must have been one sexy red "lady" for him to go that lovey on you

 

[lpolliard]

Sounds reasonable to me. I have never seen a color preference with Chico.

 

[coltfire]

yes the colour can trigger hormones, and it seems he has found his girl in your shirt lol.

 

[burdman]

Thanks for the replies!! I hope I haven't started something that can't be turned around.
I have not worn the red shirt, or anything with red since the first incident but he is still exhibiting the behavior every time I hold him.
He is obsessed now. He can't wait for me to sit down so he can jump onto my lap and start nuzzling my shirt and swishing his tail around.
I am hoping once spring passes this will stop. I'm not sure how to deal with him when he does this. I ignore the behavior but that does not stop him.
Any suggestions?

 

[forbey]

No suggestions. But, I do have a related funny story.

I was attending Woodbadge training (it's an advanced Boy Scout training for adults) The scout camp had two peacocks.

One of the peacocks became hormaonally excited over one of the camper's tents. It was primarily blue with trim of other bright colors. He also got excited over a light green sportscar.

By the end of the weekend, someone needed a new tent and someone needed a new car paint job.

I was never so glad to have a bland colored car and a dark green tent!

 

[drlisaort]

Well, I won't be wearing a red anything anytime soon with Oliver!!!

 

[JerseyWendy]

No suggestions. But, I do have a related funny story.

I was attending Woodbadge training (it's an advanced Boy Scout training for adults) The scout camp had two peacocks.

One of the peacocks became hormaonally excited over one of the camper's tents. It was primarily blue with trim of other bright colors. He also got excited over a light green sportscar.

By the end of the weekend, someone needed a new tent and someone needed a new car paint job.

I was never so glad to have a bland colored car and a dark green tent!

ROFLMAO!!! Forbey, you're a riot!!! That story had me laughing my head off!!!

 

[weco]

I hope I haven't started something that can't be turned around.

Just be sure you don't shake or droop any tail feathers at him ! ! !

 

[burdman]

No suggestions. But, I do have a related funny story.

I was attending Woodbadge training (it's an advanced Boy Scout training for adults) The scout camp had two peacocks.

One of the peacocks became hormaonally excited over one of the camper's tents. It was primarily blue with trim of other bright colors. He also got excited over a light green sportscar.

By the end of the weekend, someone needed a new tent and someone needed a new car paint job.

I was never so glad to have a bland colored car and a dark green tent!

Too funny.

Well I'm glad Riley is not the size of a peacock. It would be a lot harder to ignore his advances!!!!!

 

[burdman]

Ok, so Riley seems to be really affectionate towards me now.
When I'm sitting in my chair and let him out, he climbs all over me like a jungle gym. He'll walk around on my legs and then go from hand to hand, maybe take a detour up my chest to nuzzle his head under my chin, then back down to the legs or back and forth from hand to hand, or from arm rest to armrest.
He grabs my finger with one claw and then tightly clenches his other claw and starts to swish his tail around.
I don't encourage the behavior, nor do I scold him. I just kind of let him do his thing hoping he'll lose interest, but he rarely does.

Will this behavior which I am attributing to hormones eventually stop? Is it possible this is not hormonal??
Will he still be a close buddy if it is hormonal, and the behavior does stop?

He's such a buddy right now, I'd hate to lose that.

Can't figure out why he thinks a 6'7" bearded man is dating worthy to him, but I'm not here to judge.