Understanding and managing hormonal behaviors in pet birds is crucial for their well-being and for maintaining a harmonious relationship with their owners. As a breeder, identifying mating behaviors and their triggers is straightforward, but for many pet owners, these instincts can be misinterpreted, leading to escalating issues. It’s essential to educate yourself about your specific bird species, including their natural breeding cycles, as these behaviors are deeply ingrained. This knowledge empowers you to prevent and manage unwanted hormonal actions, ensuring your feathered companion remains a happy and healthy pet.
When mating behaviors are triggered in pet birds, owners may observe a range of concerning actions. These can include increased aggression, even towards their favorite people, heightened territoriality, excessive screaming, feather plucking, frustration, and the laying of infertile eggs, which can lead to dangerous conditions like egg binding. Such behaviors often contribute to birds being rehomed, particularly as they reach sexual maturity around 2-4 years of age. Feather plucking, while not always life-threatening, can become a difficult habit to break. For hens, excessive egg-laying poses significant health risks if they are not on a proper breeding diet, as an egg trapped internally can rupture, causing a fatal infection. Therefore, preventing hormonal behaviors is especially critical for female birds.
Common Triggers for Hormonal Behavior
Several common factors can inadvertently stimulate breeding instincts in pet birds. While this list is not exhaustive, understanding these triggers is key to proactive management.
Dark, Enclosed Spaces
Most parrot species are cavity nesters, naturally seeking out and preparing tree hollows. In a home environment, any dark, enclosed area can be perceived as a potential nest site. This includes spaces under furniture, inside bird tents or huts, or even cardboard boxes offered for chewing. It’s vital to avoid providing any item, especially within the cage, that could be interpreted as a nesting location. Problematic areas, such as gaps under furniture, should be blocked off or made inaccessible. For instance, a gap in a couch can be mistaken for a nest site and presents a danger if the couch reclines. Similarly, moving or shipping boxes, while enjoyable for chewing, can also be seen as potential nests.
Nesting Material and Shredding
The preparation of a nest often involves cleaning and modifying the cavity. For some birds, shredding materials can be a precursor to nesting behavior. Lovebirds, for example, tuck nesting material into their feathers to transport it. While birds should not have access to their cage’s substrate, they may still attempt to shred various objects. Shredding itself is a normal and healthy activity, and destructible toys are beneficial. However, during breeding seasons, providing alternative outlets may be necessary for birds prone to nesting behaviors.
Light Exposure
Extended daylight hours can mimic springtime, signaling to birds that it’s time to breed. Many owners inadvertently keep their birds awake long after dark, further extending their light exposure. Birds require a minimum of 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep, and this duration should be increased to 12-14 hours if hormonal behaviors are evident. Covering the bird’s cage or providing a separate, quiet sleep cage in a darkened area ensures adequate nocturnal rest.
Feeding Soft, Warm Foods by Hand
Bonded pairs often engage in mutual regurgitation as a sign of affection. While offering treats by hand during training is acceptable, it’s advisable to avoid hand-feeding warm, mushy foods, which can mimic regurgitation. Such foods should be offered in a dish. If your bird regurgitates food, do not encourage this behavior.
Excessive Protein Intake
A high protein diet is essential for growing chicks, and elevated protein levels can signal to adult birds that it’s an opportune time to raise a family. If a hen is already laying eggs, maintaining adequate protein and calcium intake is important to prevent her from depleting her own body reserves. However, for birds not laying eggs, a good quality diet should be provided without excessive protein. Calcium, available through pellets, cuttlebone, or mineral blocks, should be offered year-round, particularly to hens.
Providing Sexual Stimulation
Mating rituals often involve displays such as head bobbing, eye pinning, and flaring of wings or tail feathers. A receptive female typically droops her wings and raises her rump. The physical act of mating usually involves the male mounting the female and rubbing their cloacas together. The cloaca is the single opening beneath the tail used for excretion and reproduction.
Many forms of physical interaction with a bird can be interpreted sexually. Mutual preening, such as head scratching, is common between flockmates but more prevalent in bonded pairs. Petting a hen on her back can be stimulating, potentially triggering a response as if the owner is attempting to mount her. Direct touch of the cloaca should always be avoided. Some birds also become aroused when petted under the wings. It is crucial to be mindful of your bird’s body language during petting. If your bird exhibits postures indicative of sexual arousal, such as those described in mating behaviors, cease petting and allow them time to calm down before resuming interaction.
Birds may also engage in self-stimulation, which can involve mounting a hand or other object and rubbing their cloaca. This behavior should neither be encouraged nor discouraged directly. If your bird attempts to mate with you, gently move them to another location or place them back in their cage for a period. Offering a mirror or a fake bird is strongly discouraged, as birds can form intense attachments to these items and become defensively aggressive. However, if a bird masturbates on a variety of objects or toys, it may be less of a concern.
It’s important to note that many interactions can be stimulating. While it’s true that almost any touch can potentially arouse a bird, careful observation and stopping interactions when arousal is detected, alongside managing other environmental factors, can be effective. For instance, a Goffin hen might use the underside of a desk for self-stimulation, pressing her back against it while exhibiting signs of arousal like half-closed eyes and a blissful expression. If a bird begins to make clucking or cooing noises associated with arousal, it’s advisable to remove them from the stimulating object or situation.
The key to managing these behaviors lies in educating yourself about your bird’s natural lifecycle and body language. Developing the ability to correctly interpret their signals and providing healthy distractions like toys, exercise, and training can help redirect their energy when they become overly aroused.
Hormone Therapy as a Solution
For birds that exhibit strong hormonal behaviors seasonally, despite owners’ best efforts to manage triggers, consulting a competent avian veterinarian about hormone therapy is recommended. Injections are available that can help mitigate the surge of seasonal hormones, offering a potential solution for persistent cases.
© 2016 by Karen Trinkaus. May not be reprinted or used in any way without the author’s permission.
