When will mine start seducing me?

[gig]

I've been reading all your cute (?) posts about cockatoos courting, wooing, humping - all that sexy stuff (even regurgitating - how taboo...). Zazu is 2 and I haven't noticed any pubescent behaviors, yet. Is he a late bloomer or just too young for that stuff? I had a Blue and Gold fall in love with me this winter. I know you're not supposed to reinforce these behaviors - but I have to admit I was quite flattered. He made me feel very safe spreading his wings and making "angry hawk" faces at anyone who came near me! I too got the "bouquet of roses" aka regurg. on my leg once!

 

[Safira]

Lol Lol I love the red face on him. My macaw's nose gets red but she's never gotten THAT red. I Think its so cute when they blush (as long as i'm out of the way of any excited biting.)

I don't know the average age for Goffins to become hormonal. I think the larger birds like Macaws is somewhere in the 7 year old ball park (?) I should google that.

 

[Tarkus]

You really do need to avoid those behaviors.
In time , as you know, this can lead to bites, neurosis and screaming. Your call.

Be Big,
Alan

 

[ann]

There's no garentee that a bird will try to be your mate, maybe your just lucky! Just in case limiting daylight hours and not letting them in small dark, nest like places, and avoiding petting them down the back, can limit hormonal behaviors. Also, if you don't mind me asking, where was the picture of you and the macaw taken, it beautiful, it looks like some parrot paradise jungle !

 

[Mare Miller]

When my oldest children were very young, 2-4yrs. old, I had days when I'd be so flustered and call my mom. She would tell me, "Aww, honey, enjoy them while they are young...they will be teenagers before you know it". Ain't that the truth!

Umbrellas sexually mature, from what I've read, at around 8-9yrs. old. I've been doing a lot of reading lately. Amigo is older than that, though, and exhibiting more aggressive behavior than he did at 8 and 9yrs.

Sooo...Honey, enjoy him while he's young! (thank's Mom in heaven, you were a wise woman).

 

[gig]

There's no garentee that a bird will try to be your mate, maybe your just lucky! Just in case limiting daylight hours and not letting them in small dark, nest like places, and avoiding petting them down the back, can limit hormonal behaviors. Also, if you don't mind me asking, where was the picture of you and the macaw taken, it beautiful, it looks like some parrot paradise jungle !

You're right! The picture was taken at Sarasota Jungle Gardens. They have around 36 birds (Macaws, parrots, conures, cockatoos, and ring necked parakeets)a large percentage of which were rehomed there by owners who needed to (or wanted to) give them up. Actually, most of the animals at this little zoo were exotic pets given up or found abandoned. My volunteer "job" was to pose the birds on visitors arms for pictures. I also made up their fruit and veggie platters, helped bring them in at end of day and most importantly helped to educate the visitors on the responsibilities involved with exotic pet ownership. When it wasn't busy I got to just spend time with the birds. The Blue and Gold in the picture was one of the "mean" ones (not allowed to pose with people!) who gave me the worst bite I got while there. After that I was determned to gain his trust - and in doing so I gained his er, love?! OOps...:54: