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Post by Carole_anne on Jun 16, 2015 11:38:21 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I have a very cute blue quaker bird. Her name is sky. She is the sweetest. Recently, she started being really cuddly with my face when I sat next to the cage. Then, one day she turned around, lift one leg and started humping my face. She keeps doing it every morning if I sit next to her. She is only 7 months old. Isn't she young to be sexually mature? I also have a green male quaker and he did that much later (they are not in the same cage, they hate each other). Is there a difference between a male humping and a female one? I am afraid she will be different with me know, distant or rougher.
Sorry about my English it there are mistakes, I am French.
Thank you
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Post by aaron on Jun 16, 2015 13:39:56 GMT -5
She is definitely on the young side, but like humans, the age that sexual maturity sets in can vary quite a bit. It is possible that there is something about her environment that is promoting hormonal behavior that might set things off early- Does she have any places that might feel like a nest to her? Does she get 12 hours of darkness each day? Do you often feed her warm and soft food? Do you pet her below the neck on a regular basis? All of these things can trigger hormonal responses.
I'm not sure about differences in humping behavior in males vs. females. There's no question that her demeanor will change somewhat as she matures, but it does vary-- some birds are more driven by their hormones than others. As I am sure you are aware, it is best to send a clear and decisive message when it comes to hormonal behavior as you don't want to encourage it in any way.
Good luck and let us know if you have any additional questions!
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Post by easttex on Jun 16, 2015 15:20:29 GMT -5
Sky is young to be fully sexually mature, as in capable of breeding, but for her to be exhibiting related behaviors at her age is probably not all that unusual. I wouldn't punish her in any way for such normal behavior. I would control her hours of light and her diet, as Aaron suggests, but would ignore the behavior otherwise.
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Post by Carole-Anne on Jun 17, 2015 10:04:06 GMT -5
It is possible that there is something about her environment that is promoting hormonal behavior that might set things off early- Does she have any places that might feel like a nest to her? Does she get 12 hours of darkness each day? Do you often feed her warm and soft food? Do you pet her below the neck on a regular basis? All of these things can trigger hormonal responses.Is it really a big deal? Should I really stop feeding her warm et soft food she likes so much? She loves when I pet her on the neck should I stop? When she seems like wanting to hump me, I just go away. It means she is happy if she feels like breeding no? I won't encourage it but I want her to stay happy and comfy like she is right now. Unless you tell me it is a bad idea. Thank you for your answer though it has really enlighten me. |
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Post by easttex on Jun 17, 2015 12:39:42 GMT -5
I would not be terribly worried about the food at this point. She may derive some comfort from warm soft food that doesn't have anything to do with hormones, but rather from just being young. I would start right in with making sure she gets a steady 12 hours of dark, though, throughout the year. Lengthening daylight is the primary signal that it is time to breed. Head and neck scratches are okay. Just beware of strokes along the body. The problem with encouraging a bird to see you as a mate is that the bird will eventually want to settle down with you and start a family.  In females, this will lead to egg laying, which introduces a number of health risks for her. A high level of hormones can also lead to behavioral problems. Plus, it's just unfair to a bird to create those expectations which you can never fulfill. It's not always easy to know where to draw the line, but as she grows into adulthood, it's better to transfer some of the physical affection and put effort into things like one-on-one training. |
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Post by aaron on Jun 17, 2015 13:10:23 GMT -5
I agree with Easttex that the warm and soft food is probably the least of these concerns and might actually be beneficial on some level at this young age. And also like easttex said, stroking the body is a problem, but head and neck scratches are fine. It sounds like you've got the right idea. Just make sure she's getting enough hours in the dark each day.
Good luck, let us know how things progress!
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Post by quakerfriend on Jun 20, 2015 21:20:29 GMT -5
I suppose you could give her something else to focus on - rotate toys, get something you can interact with together.
You could start target training or train her for nail trims etc. since it's something useful. You could of course just trick train her too - good ways to spend time together, but she has to think about what you want her to do instead of...other things lol.
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Post by aaron on Jun 20, 2015 21:24:31 GMT -5
Agreed-- distraction is a powerful tool for us Quaker parronts  |
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Post by Carole-Anne on Jun 26, 2015 19:20:42 GMT -5
Hi, thank you all. She is currently trying to make a nest. Is it bad? She stopped trying to have bird sex with me. What are the consequences for her and I if she continues making a nest? Should I stop her? She cannot reproduce because she does not get along with my other quaker. Well he doesn't like her, she seems to like him. I don't want her to because agressive with me. she is such a lovely and affectionate quaker. Should I remove her nest?
Thank you for you help I am so concerned for her well being.
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Post by aaron on Jun 27, 2015 0:40:01 GMT -5
Personally, I would not ever allow a female bird to make nests, because it increases the chances of egg-laying substantially, which is very taxing on the bird. That aside, in general, nest building has a strong potential to increase hormonal behavior, so if you are trying to control that sort of behavior, removing the nest is a good idea. She's obviously a bit young for egg-laying, but you may simply want to set the precedent that nesting is not allowed.
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Post by easttex on Jun 27, 2015 7:46:58 GMT -5
It's hard to stop a determined bird from nest building, but I would not provide any material that makes it easier for her. Small, dark spaces also should be eliminated. If your two Quakers do have chances to interact, I'd keep a watchful eye on them. His interest might perk up once she is mature. |
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In females, this will lead to egg laying, which introduces a number of health risks for her. A high level of hormones can also lead to behavioral problems. Plus, it's just unfair to a bird to create those expectations which you can never fulfill. It's not always easy to know where to draw the line, but as she grows into adulthood, it's better to transfer some of the physical affection and put effort into things like one-on-one training.
