Conure going through puberty?

[PinkiePie19]

Hello all!

I got a 1.5 year old Conure over a week ago and Cookie was going on my hands and shoulders fine, didn’t bite me at all, loved getting cuddles.
There have been a few days where Cookie was very vocal and loud but today Cookie just wants to bite and come after your hands as soon as you get kinda close.
Nothing has really changed and Cookie has been very happy, playing with toys, is out of the cage almost all day, eating and drinking well. Could puberty be causing this change or maybe mating season?
Any help appreciated.

 

[noodles123]

It's probably puberty..do get him to a vet just to check, but likely hormones..assuming he is healthy and nothing else changed.

You shouldn't cuddle them-- its sexual, so stick to petting on the head and neck only.
Remove any snuggle huts, tents, boxes or access to other shadowy spaces in or around the cage.
12 hours of sleep nightly on a schedule is very important for immune and hormone regulation.
Try to make your interaction time less about touching and more about interaction and enrichment etc.

If you pet your bird in a sexual way and they are sexually mature, or if you provide triggers for hormones like dark spaces, you can impact their behavior etc.

EDIT: OH- SHOOT! Just saw you just got her a week ago-- they often go through a honeymoon period..You are still very early on in bonding! Yes, she is at the age where hormones matter, BUT you haven't had enough time to build real trust. If she hasn't been to an avian certified vet since coming to you, still take her, but this is likely related to the fact that you just got her and possibly a mix of hormones as well.

 

[PinkiePie19]

It's probably puberty..do get him to a vet just to check, but likely hormones.

You shouldn't cuddle them-- its sexual, so stick to petting on the head and neck only.
Remove any snuggle huts, tents, boxes or access to other shadowy spaces in or around the cage.
12 hours of sleep nightly on a schedule is very important for immune and hormone regulation.
Try to make your interaction time less about touching and more about interaction and enrichment etc.

If you pet your bird in a sexual way and they are sexually mature, or if you provide triggers for hormones like dark spaces, you can impact their behavior etc.

Cookie does get 12 hours of uninterrupted scheduled sleep, there are no dark places or huts to hide and sleep. As far as cuddles go it’s more Cookie leaning into my hand and bobbing of the head up and down. I’ve only ever pet the top of the head as I know there are spots that can trigger hormonal behaviour. I will make a vet appointment and get things checked out as you have recommended. Thank you very much for the help!

 

[noodles123]

It's probably puberty..do get him to a vet just to check, but likely hormones.

You shouldn't cuddle them-- its sexual, so stick to petting on the head and neck only.
Remove any snuggle huts, tents, boxes or access to other shadowy spaces in or around the cage.
12 hours of sleep nightly on a schedule is very important for immune and hormone regulation.
Try to make your interaction time less about touching and more about interaction and enrichment etc.

If you pet your bird in a sexual way and they are sexually mature, or if you provide triggers for hormones like dark spaces, you can impact their behavior etc.

Cookie does get 12 hours of uninterrupted scheduled sleep, there are no dark places or huts to hide and sleep. As far as cuddles go it’s more Cookie leaning into my hand and bobbing of the head up and down. I’ve only ever pet the top of the head as I know there are spots that can trigger hormonal behaviour. I will make a vet appointment and get things checked out as you have recommended. Thank you very much for the help!

When she bobs, does it look like regurgitation behavior?

 

[noodles123]

OH- SHOOT! Just saw you just got her a week ago-- they often go through a honeymoon period..You are still very early on in bonding! Yes, she is at the age where hormones matter, BUT you haven't had enough time to build real trust. If she hasn't been to an avian certified vet since coming to you, still take her, but this is likely related to the fact that you just got her and possibly a mix of hormones as well.

 

[PinkiePie19]

It's probably puberty..do get him to a vet just to check, but likely hormones.

You shouldn't cuddle them-- its sexual, so stick to petting on the head and neck only.
Remove any snuggle huts, tents, boxes or access to other shadowy spaces in or around the cage.
12 hours of sleep nightly on a schedule is very important for immune and hormone regulation.
Try to make your interaction time less about touching and more about interaction and enrichment etc.

If you pet your bird in a sexual way and they are sexually mature, or if you provide triggers for hormones like dark spaces, you can impact their behavior etc.

Cookie does get 12 hours of uninterrupted scheduled sleep, there are no dark places or huts to hide and sleep. As far as cuddles go it’s more Cookie leaning into my hand and bobbing of the head up and down. I’ve only ever pet the top of the head as I know there are spots that can trigger hormonal behaviour. I will make a vet appointment and get things checked out as you have recommended. Thank you very much for the help!

When she bobs, does it look like regurgitation behavior?

Yes, I have looked into regurgitating behaviour and when this happens I stop the contact. Sometimes Cookie does the regurgitating motion when I enter the room. The hand cuddling has also started very recently since I’ve adopted the bird. The lady who had cookie before said that she would pet cookie a lot like all over it’s body so I feel like that could have triggered hormonal behaviour.

 

[noodles123]

It definitely could have-- plus, I just saw how new she is to your home, so that is likely also a factor.

 

[wrench13]

Another trigger is soft warm mushy foods, like sweet potatoes. Salty loves them but during his mating season/recent dive into puberty we cut them out 100%.

But yeah, too soon to have formed a real bond with Cookie, so its better I think to take her now to the vet rather than maybe spoiling any true bonding that could happen with a few weeks of close contact.