Mature parrots experience hormonal surges, usually in the breeding season during the springtime. While elevated hormones cause bizarre and unwanted behaviors, the effects eventually subside.
Never neuter (sterilize) parrots because the procedure carries too much risk. The ovaries and testes are near parrots’ internal organs, so surgery should only be performed for reproductive diseases.
Adjust the parrot’s living environment and modify its diet (no high-calorie, fatty foods). Minimizing light exposure and reducing the temperature also make parrots believe spring hasn’t arrived.
Remove soft, warm materials parrots use to line their nests to insulate their eggs and hatchlings. If parrots can’t adequately care for their young, hormonal behavior is less likely to be triggered.
Many hormonal parrots are rehomed or taken to animal shelters. This volatility is natural and can’t always be entirely avoided, so we must understand why it happens to minimize the triggers.
When Parrots Get Hormonal
Hormone levels rise in the spring when environmental conditions are optimal:
- Warmer weather.
- Longer days (more light).
- Seeds germinate, so food is abundant.
Smaller birds (budgies, lovebirds, parrotlets, cockatiels, etc.) go into ‘season’ more frequently than larger birds (macaws, African grays, cockatoos, etc.)
There are 6 breeding stages, including:
| Pre-breeding: | This is where the body prepares to breed, including molting. |
| Mate selection: | Parrots engage in mating rituals and select healthy mates. |
| Find a nest site: | Parrots will find a hollow tree or nesting site to raise their young. |
| Prepare the nest: | Parrots create warm, safe nests. |
| Breeding: | Once the nest is ready, females lay their eggs. |
| Rearing their young: | Parrots forage for nutritious foods and teach their chicks how to survive. |
How Long Parrots Stay Hormonal
Once parrots become sexually mature, they’ll become hormonal at least once a year.
The season starts with the right environmental conditions and ends once the parrot has laid her eggs. Hormonal ages are species-specific, and symptoms can last up to 10 weeks.
Here are the ages at which parrots become hormonal:
| Parrot Species: | Age of Sexual Maturity: |
| Budgies: | 6 to 9 months |
| Cockatiels: | 9 months |
| African gray parrots: | 2 to 4 years |
| Amazon parrots: | 2 to 4 years |
| Conures: | 2 to 4 years |
| Goffins: | 2 to 4 years |
| Mini macaws: | 2 to 4 years |
| Pionus: | 2 to 4 years |
| Blue-and-gold macaws: | 3 to 6 years |
| Umbrella cockatoos: | 3 to 6 years |
| Moluccan cockatoos: | 4 to 7 years |
Some parrots experience stronger hormonal surges than others.
Signs of A Hormonal Parrot
Some parrots never experience behavioral changes when hormonal, usually due to temperament or their owners socializing with them in the recommended way from an early age.
Unfortunately, some parrots become excitable, impulsive, or aggressive when hormonal.
Here are the most common signs a parrot is hormonal:
Regurgitation
Parrots regurgitate food to signal an interest in mating with a preferred partner. It shows the female how well the male can forage and provide food, making them more attractive partners.
In captivity, parrots regurgitate on owners they see as partners. Unfortunately, this behavior sometimes means the parrot’s grown attracted to you.
Biting
Biting is sometimes connected to hormonal behavior. This is known as “bluffing,” which affects gentle, even-tempered juvenile parrots with no biting history.
The signs of bluffing include:
- Nipping.
- Lunging.
- Biting.
- Hissing.
A parrot will seemingly become hostile overnight, which surprises many owners.
Feather Destructive Behavior
When parrots become hormonal, they may over-preen and pluck their feathers.
While this is normal nesting behavior, it can become a destructive habit. The Exotic Animal Veterinary Center explains that feather-destructive behavior isn’t observed in the wild.
If feather plucking continues beyond preparing for the breeding season, it may progress to self-mutilation. This is where parrots chew their skin, muscles, and bones to self-soothe.
Inappropriate Behavior
Some body parts are reserved for mates and mustn’t be petted by their owners. Many rub their cloaca or vent against their owners, which is a form of masturbation or an attempt to initiate copulation.
Parrots are also sensitive under their wings, down their back, and toward their tail. If you touch any of these areas, a parrot may become sexually aroused and become attracted to you.
Claiming Territory
Hormonal parrots seem more territorial than usual, becoming possessive over their cage, toys, games, and food while protecting their nests.
Alongside territorial behavior, parrots become more vocal and aggressive with people and other birds as they defend what they see as rightfully theirs.
They may also become jealous and possessive over people, shutting out the rest of the family and attacking them when they get too close to their favorite human.
Nest Building
Hormonal parrots build nests in their cages, using old feathers and warm materials for insulation.
Increased Vocalizations
Some parrots scream and squawk more often, increasing their vocalizations. This becomes a nuisance for many owners, but this is normal when experiencing hormonal surges.
Mating Displays
Mating displays are a chance for parrots to attract mates. During this, they’ll display behaviors like:
- Eye pinning.
- Wing flapping.
- Tail fanning.
- Bowing displays.
During hormonal surges, parrots crouch down low and pant.
Calcium Intake
Females will seek calcium-rich foods like cuttlebones. This enables them to produce strong and healthy eggshells, reducing the chances of egg binding and hatching mortality.
If parrots don’t get enough calcium, the eggs will be weak, misshapen, and malformed.
How To Deal with A Hormonal Parrot
Few vets will neuter a healthy parrot. You can modify the environment to reduce hormonal triggers:
Limit Petting
When a parrot experiences hormonal surges, limit petting. Avoid touching it entirely until its hormones subside after a few weeks.
If you want to give a parrot attention, pet it on the neck, head, and around the feet and beak.
Dietary Changes
Limit foods high in calories and fat because they stimulate hormone production.
Limited Light
Excessive light signals that spring has arrived, alerting them that it’s time to reproduce. Decrease the amount of light a parrot gets to 8-10 hours daily.
Cover the parrot’s cage at night with a sheet and avoid artificial lighting sources.
Rearrange Cage
Hormonal parrots exhibit nesting behaviors to prepare their living environment for breeding. If this happens, the parrot’s hormones will become stimulated.
Remove blankets and boxes and reset the territory by rearranging its perches and toys.
No Shedding Materials
Ensure there’s nothing in the cage a hormonal parrot can tear and shred.
If there is, a broody parrot will attempt to nest. Avoid putting paper, cardboard, and other easy-to-tear materials in the cage until the breeding season has concluded.
Lower Temperatures
Like excessive light levels, too much warmth makes parrots believe it’s spring.
Distractions
Exercise keeps a parrot healthy during the breeding season. Help the parrot release pent-up sexual energy by distracting it with toys and games.
This is also the right time to teach a parrot tricks. Doing so enables parrots to focus their physical and mental energy on something else.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is available when parrots lay unfertilized eggs too often and can’t stop.
According to Niles Animal Hospital, vets administer testosterone injections to negate the effects of the female hormone and cease egg-laying.
It can also calm sexually aggressive females. It shouldn’t be given to males because it would raise their testosterone levels. Other forms of hormone therapy include:
- Medroxyprogesterone (Depo Provera) stops egg-laying activity.
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hcG, Pregnyl) can hold off egg-laying for several months.
- Leuprolide acetate (Lupron) prevents egg-laying in budgies and cockatiels.
- Salpingectomy (“hysterectomy”) is a last-resort solution where a portion of the oviduct is removed.
A hormonal parrot will experience mood and behavioral changes. To prevent this problem, reduce light exposure and temperatures, remove bedding, secluded places to lay eggs, and fatty foods.
