Every year around the same time, parrots become what can be described as little mean monsters.
During the springtime, they experience an increased production of reproductive hormones, which basically tells their bodies to breed and reproduce.
The raging hormones bring an onslaught of behavioral problems and mood swings that make them hard to put up with.
However, it is not just the seasonal changes that make parrots hormonal but a myriad of other factors that could easily be amplified during this time. These are things like an increased amount of daylight, the presence of a mate, certain foods, and nesting material.
It is perfectly normal for parrots to experience hormonal changes, but you have to be aware of the different things that influence it in order to manage the situation.
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What Triggers Parrot Hormones?
A combination of factors triggers parrot hormones. These include:
- Seasonal changes
- Presence of a mate
- Nesting opportunities
- Longer daylight hours
- Petting in the wrong places
- Fatty foods such as seeds and nuts
How Long Are Parrots Hormonal?
Hormonal surges typically occur in early spring. However, it is not just the season that makes parrots hormonal.
In the wild, hormonal periods start with the onset of the breeding season, which is in the spring. During this time, parrots get clear signals from their environment that tell them that the time is most suitable for breeding.
Consequently, when the spring season is over, they get environmental feedback that makes it apparent to them that the conditions are no longer conducive for breeding.
However, in captivity, the prospects for successful breeding are positive year-round, with consistently available food, warmer indoor temperatures, and a stable nesting site.
So in order to keep parrot hormones in check, you need to make adjustments in their routine to help them get out of the cycle of breeding behaviors.
With the proper changes made in their environment, it can take up to 2-3 months for the effects of the heightened hormones to subside.
Signs Of A Hormonal Parrot
Below are the common signs of hormonal behavior in parrots:
Increases Aggression
Hormones can turn an otherwise friendly and lovable parrot into a nippy and bitty freak. Parrot owners often get confused when their parrot suddenly becomes aggressive for no apparent reason.
It may lunge at everyone who comes near it and make undesirable vocalizations like hissing. You shouldn’t take any of this personally but it is best to keep your distance from your parrot when it is being aggressive.
Most of the time the lunging and menacing vocalizations are to scare people and not actually hurt them. But if you get too close despite being warned, you will get bitten.
Nesting In Dark Places
Parots have a strong instinctive urge to nest during the breeding season. They look for dark, secluded, and small places that they can hide inside. Anything that resembles a cavity can work as a nest for hormonal parrots.
If your parrots are out of the cage, they may go under the sofa or back of cupboards as those areas are dark and small enough to nest. Parrots can also try to nest inside their cages if they have a cozy space that they can fit themselves inside.
Territoriality
Hormonal parrots also tend to be more territorial. Parrots are territorial by nature but when they’re in hormonal mode, they can become overly possessive of their belongings and threaten anyone who tries to approach them. They assert ownership over their cage, toys, food bowls, and other items.
Mating Behaviors
Being too friendly and cuddly is also a sign of a hormonal parrot. When parrots are hormonal, they are surprisingly more accepting of petting, which makes many people want to pet their parrots all over, touching them on their back, holding their beak and even kissing them.
Regurgitation
Regurgitation is a courtship behavior through which parrots show their willingness to mate. They offer regurgitated food to each other before they mate.
However, their mate does not necessarily have to be another bird. In the absence of a bird, parrots may choose to bond with one of the toys in their cage or even their owners.
Masturbation
Single parrots often get sexually frustrated because they do not have a partner to release their energy. They typically bond with a toy in their cage or some other object which helps them redirect their sexual energy.
If you see your parrot rubbing its vent on a toy in its cage, you should remove that toy from its cage. Masturbation can keep parrots from coming out of the hormonal cycle and can have negative effects on their health.
Female parrots usually stop masturbating once they become gravid. However, male parrots have the tendency to masturbate excessively. A male parrot that is constantly masturbating can put too much strain on the cloaca, which can eventually lead to a cloacal prolapse.
Excessive Screaming
Being noisy and screaming at the top of their lungs is kind of what parrots do. They make different types of vocalizations throughout the day, which can be fairly loud. And we might become somewhat accustomed to it.
But with the hormones in overdrive, the screaming vocalizations can become way more excessive. These vocalizations are usually not pleasant and are more continuous compared to what they do normally.
Feather plucking
Sometimes, but not always, parrots may start to pick their feathers when hormonal. Parrots pluck their chest feathers and use them as nesting material when they cannot find anything else.
Feather plucking can also be a consequence of sexual frustration that comes as a result of being hormonal. In most cases, parrots stop plucking their feathers when the season is over and their hormones have calmed down.
But if this behavior is unchecked or if the parrot has been hormonal for too long, they may continue to pluck their feathers.
How To Handle Hormonal Parrots?
When you are dealing with a hormonal parrot, it is important to recognize that none of what’s happening is your parrot’s fault. The hormonal behavior of parrots is something that every bird has to deal with from time to time.
Many people ask if this is a recurring problem why not have their parrots sterilized, as is done with many other pets. Neutering or spaying parrots is not a very safe procedure and is only used to treat reproductive diseases. No vet will suggest sterilization of a bird unless it is necessary.
Also some of the things that we discuss, like limiting petting, consistent routine, quality sleep and not giving nesting material should be practiced regardless of whether it is the hormonal season for your parrot. These are
Reduce High-Calorie Foods And Mashed Veggies
Avoid giving your parrot foods that are high in calories and protein as they encourage breeding and egg laying. According to the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, in the wild parrots plan their breeding based on the seasonal availability of protein-rich foods, suggesting that amino acids in the diet are crucial for breeding success.
These include foods like seeds, nuts, eggs, and legumes. The availability of such high-energy and protein-rich foods can signal the parrot that the season for breeding is in their favor.
Instead, you should feed them a diet of low-calorie foods like vegetables and fruits that are low in sugar. Also, do not feed them vegetable mash as its texture can resemble regurgitated food from a mate.
Do Not Pet In Inappropriate Areas
Hormonal or not, you should always avoid petting your parrot in inappropriate areas. Limit petting to your parrot’s head and back of the neck. Petting your parrot in other places like the abdomen, back, or down can be sexually stimulating for them.
This can turn them on and view you, the owner as their mate. But we cannot be our parrot’s mate, and this can be quite problematic. It only makes the parrot more sexually frustrated.
Many people like to blow in their parrot’s face, which is seemingly an affectionate action to us. But for some parrots, that can also be sexually triggering.
Reduce Exposure To Daylight
Make sure your parrot gets 12 hours of quality sleep. Cover their cage when they sleep or have the room completely dark. You need to ensure they are not exposed to daylight more than they should.
Discourage Nesting In Any Shape Or Form
Do not let them hide in dark places or nest inside their cages. If you have put anything inside your parrot’s cage that can be used or construed as a nest such as a cardboard box or a sleeping hut, take it out of there.
Also, change your parrot’s cage position occasionally. And rearrange their toys. This tells the parrot that the nesting location is not suitable for breeding because it is not stable.
More Toys And Playtime
Anything that can get your parrot to not engage in hormonal behaviors is a good thing. When you give your parrots more attention, play with them, and train them, they do not have time to think about breeding activities. Toys are also a great distraction and can keep parrots mentally stimulated.
