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Post by sherri on Mar 10, 2015 19:21:01 GMT -5
Rascal has been hormonal for a while and has chosen a toy for his/her use. Today, Rascal was at the toy and saying tickle, tickle, tickle while rubbing on it. Can't decide which I prefer to hear, heavy breathing or tickle, tickle.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Mar 10, 2015 19:48:55 GMT -5
Mr P was at it over the weekend with his toy. It's the first time I've ever seen him do this. Up until now, he has never exhibited any kind of sexual behavior and this is the 2nd spring I've had him and he just turned 6. guess he was a slow starter. Thankfully, he did not speak  |
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Post by aaron on Mar 10, 2015 20:31:29 GMT -5
Cupcake has yet to exhibit any such behavior either... She will turn 4 in June. She definitely behaves hormonally, but she hasn't discovered this outlet yet  |
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Post by sherri on Mar 10, 2015 22:04:07 GMT -5
I wish Rascal was a slower starter, he will be 2 in August.
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Post by biteybird on Mar 11, 2015 4:00:17 GMT -5
Obviously I have a lot to look forward to...  |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Mar 11, 2015 7:38:39 GMT -5
On recommendation of other quaker folks, I removed that particular toy. I am waiting to see if Mr P will find a substitute..so far he has not
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Post by sherri on Mar 11, 2015 8:14:08 GMT -5
I haven't removed it but I did move it to a less accessible location in his cage. I will take it out tonight.
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Post by easttex on Mar 11, 2015 9:28:10 GMT -5
I take a slightly different view of this. I try very hard to head off hormonal behavior in my female CAG because I really don't want her laying eggs. The reason I might want to head it off in a male would be if he was getting aggressive. Peppy has the occasional romantic tryst with his favorite toy, and I don't worry about it. He's not obsessive about the toy, and I see it as an expression of a natural instinct, which does not present the risks that it does with a female. (Sex discrimination, I know! ) I can't site an expert to support this, and it is just based on my observations and gut feeling. I'd be interested to hear how others feel about it. |
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Post by julianna on Mar 11, 2015 10:46:06 GMT -5
I agree with you easttex. It is a natural thing that everyone and thing does at some point. Oscar is also in heat and he gets a little more aggressive with me. To help him through this troubling time... I set him up with a sock that he can consider his mate for a little while. He really needs to release these pent up hormones of his and hopefully he will return to the good little boy he normally is.
When the hormones calm down, Oscar will ignore the sock. We have gone through this many times and it certainly did not hurt anything.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Mar 11, 2015 12:39:28 GMT -5
I can see both sides to this discussion. Mr P is most defininately getting aggressive and has bitten both myself and Rick more in the last 2 weeks then in the last 6 months. He also has these bouts where he refuses to come out of his cage or refuses to come in from his outside playstand. His behavior has certainly changed and I feel as though I would like to discourage this. IF it turns out that taking away his toy doesnt seem to change the hormonal behavior, then I will just give it back to him.
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Post by easttex on Mar 11, 2015 17:28:50 GMT -5
To me, this is one of the harder issues with keeping parrots. I haven't been convinced that there is a definitive answer yet on what is the best approach, though people have their opinions. Are they better off if they are not able to engage in those aspects of normal life, i.e., is it less frustrating for them, or do you let nature take its course and take the chance that they will be frustrated by their inability to raise offspring? Not there is much of nature in a captive environment. I wish I knew what was truly best for them. |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Mar 11, 2015 20:36:35 GMT -5
Shah likes the boing and his happy hut when he is hormonal, however, he has lost interest in the last 12 months and just maintains the bitey, hysterical side of hormones. I never stopped him from doing it even when it was at 3am in the morning. I think it would just add to his stress - after all he mutilates when he is hormonal, however, I am hoping this might stop since the female cockatiel has now passed away. Will soon find out I guess.
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Post by grimtheparrot on Mar 11, 2015 21:01:02 GMT -5
Grim used to try to make love to my shoulder, but I would swat him off, he'd get pissed off and fly to his cage.
It works with human males as well, in case anyone was wondering.
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Post by easttex on Mar 12, 2015 3:54:01 GMT -5
That must be some shoulder! |
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Post by biteybird on Mar 12, 2015 5:16:00 GMT -5
Oh yeah, your shoulder must be sexy, Grimtheparrot! Unfortunately, my feet are my best feature...  |
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