Cooler Temperatures

[GladeWing]

Hey all,

It has been pretty cool here for the past few days, and I'm not sure if I am overly reading into it, but my Macaw seems a bit moodier today and yesterday. I read somewhere that she might be getting hormonal because of the weather? Is this the case? I wasn't aware that birds get hormonal due to cold weather, I figured it might have been warm weather that caused them to get that way.

I tried searching on the internet for more info but came up empty handed.

 

[MikeyTN]

Willie usually go through his hormones during this time of the year too. He got me in the face yesterday when I was moving around and thank goodness it was minor. A little sore and swollen. I think Lola is getting into it too somewhat....it is spring time for their origin where they're from in south America.

 

[GladeWing]

MikeyTN, Oh wow, are instincts that strong that even after generations of captivity breeding they still breed in lower-hemisphere seasons? (our fall is their spring right?) That's nuts! My goodness, I'm glad he didn't get you too bad... be careful! No ER trips!

I'm glad it's not just me. Since she just got here 3 weeks ago, she went from "new timid" to "super sweet" to "moody" today. Roughly how long does Willie act grousy/hormonal? A few weeks or a few months? Thank you so much for helping me with some of my little questions, it really means a lot to get such nice feedback here!

 

[MikeyTN]

When Willie went through his first major hormone it was horrible as it lasted for a long time. It lasted from end of October through February. If I remember right it usually last around 8 weeks?

 

[GladeWing]

My girl has been a solo bird for the last 5 years of her 11 year life, do you think that would have any impact on the length of her hormonal times? She's the only bird we have and lives in a really quiet house-hold.

Yowza, October through February... that's rough! What in particular did you notice about it? He was just overall moodier? Did it seem triggered by anything? Sorry for the questions, the hormonal side of things is sorta new for me, as there didn't seem to be much information on it (perhaps there was if I researched breeding, but I don't want to breed parrots so I never thought to check)

 

[MikeyTN]

After he reached his 10th hatch date, he was fine for quite a few months. Before he'll do it for a few months and come out of it just fine but never this evil. I take him out as I usually do by sticking my hand in his cage for him to step up. I had my eye glue to the tv when I stick my hand in his cage, after been doing it for years I was kinda used to it like a routine. So when he attacked me out of the blue I was in shock, also in pain. He bit me good and my hand started drenching in blood. He was super hostile towards me and the only one he's nice to was one of the dogs Rocco, but he was evil to the other two dogs. He then hump his toys real good as we've never seen him do that before. He was just too hostile for me to deal with him as I kept trying. When he was finally out of it I can tell he was calmer and that's when I was able to hold him again without being bit. It didn't last as long when he turned 11 and he's 12 now and still not as bad. He did nip me in my face last night, the very first time he's even gotten my face. I'm usually more careful then that, I was dealing with the dogs while he was on my arm and my face came too close and he went for it.