First hormone ride with Rocky

[Siobhan]

We got Rocky almost exactly a year ago and he was either past spring fever then or the change in homes shut off the spigot. This year we're getting the full show. I have several bruises and he won't allow his daddy anywhere near when he's sitting on me. Hissing and lunging. Though he will let his daddy pet him if he's sitting on his cage. I've tried taking away his Too Corner (usually he has a sheet draped over the back of his cage so he can have a place to retreat when we are too much for him). I've cut down on snuggling, though that's not easy with a 'too, especially one who has been abused in the past and requires a huge amount of reassurance. And the SCREAMING. He really isn't a screamer as a rule. He has a couple of spells a day, but they don't last long. However, now he screams a LOT. I keep thinking it's got to pass soon, but it's been going on a couple of weeks now and still hasn't passed. Even at his most overwrought, he doesn't bite hard enough to maim me, just bruising, but it still hurts a lot. I have a Quaker who has hormones a couple of times a year and he's just coming out of his spring bout, so I have hopes that Rocky will recover soon, before I have to wear short sleeves in public and explain where all these bruises came from. LOL

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Ahh yes...the SCREAMING.. I was a first time 'Too parront,and did little research before adopting The Cockatoo Man..his screaming became unbareable for us..it became from the moment he awoke till nite-nite time..and then sometimes in his sleep! :11: Amy was getting tired of it also,ocassionally yelling SHUT UP to him

We ended up rehoming him to the owner of the local Mukie Mart,who has a large family and someone is always home. I stop by on occasion just to see how Jonesy is doing and as of last week,the absolutely LOVE him !

It seems that Jones has a special bond with hubby,who thinks Jonesy is the best pet ever! Jones calls to him when he gets in the house,always wants cuddles which hubby is happy to oblige,hubby has also taught Bonesy how to fetch! He'll roll a little golf ball sized whiffle ball to him and Jonesy will pick it up and bring it back lol.

Says he is talking real good..they love his little 'too dance <hopping,bobbing his head> and his this way and that way with his head. They also said he does VERY LITTLE SCREAMING..I'm shocked,lol..but he still swears lmao

Screaming..I thought by what others told me was hormonal too..jonesy is almost 30 yrs old..soooo..I dunno!
GOOD LUCK!!


Jim

 

[Siobhan]

They don't just have hormones when they're a certain age. I don't know Rocky's age or Clyde's, either, but Clyde has hormones twice a year and has for all the 8 years we've had him. It usually lasts 10 days to two weeks. Rocky's had two weeks so far and since he's bigger, maybe it lasts longer. His gotcha day is in two weeks and he was past spring fever last year by then, as I said, so maybe the end is in sight. He's not going anywhere no matter what. We'll just hang on and ride it out.

 

[Iholm5]

Good luck with Rocky, we seem to have just gotten past the roughest patch of Tiki's hormones, and I have a few scars to show for it. We have gotten pretty good at reading him but he's so quick and unpredictable you can't always prevent 'the bite'. I've found the best thing we can do it try to keep him as busy as possible, so we have been testing some new toys - he has actually taken to using his pent-up aggression on a new wood block toy we got him. Just last night I was watching him chew on it, and he starts to stare at me before he snaps the 2" thick wood in half. Kinda scared me!

 

[Siobhan]

I think Rocky's starting to go back to normal. Not entirely. He's still very noisy. He doesn't break the skin when he chomps me, but he does leave bruises. And he keeps trying to hold my thumb with one giant pterodactyl foot and squeeze so hard it hurts. I figured out what he was doing and keep my hand out of reach, which puzzles him, but doesn't seem to make him mad. Clyde gets mad if he wants to do stuff like that I don't cooperate. Life with parrots, huh? LOL

 

[Scott]

The unglamorous part of living with Toos! This year was the worst with my normally incredibly sweet G2 Gabby. We just worked through it with lots of love and discipline plus a bit more cage-time than usual.

 

[Allee]

Val, I feel your pain, I truly do! It sounds like you are handling it well. If it's any consolation, Rocky will be so sweet when he returns to normal, you'll have trouble remembering how awful it was. Poppy sends her love and understanding!

Boy, we are self destructive, quakers and a U2! Sammy and Harry say Hi to your green dragons.

 

[Siobhan]

He is going back to normal for longer periods now. Yesterday he laid on my chest with his head tucked under my chin for an hour without moving (or squeezing my finger with his foot, LOL). We still have more screaming than usual and he charged at me this morning for daring to open the blinds. They're HIS blinds, you see, and I have no business meddling with them. But I said "No chomping Mama" and he didn't, though he desperately wanted to! He sat on my shoulder for a while yesterday, too, and talked and talked and talked. I don't understand a fraction of what he says, but at least he wasn't screaming. Clyde is all back to normal now, and bless Jade's little Quaker heart, she has NEVER subjected me to a hormone fit in all the years she's been with us. She has them, but she does it in her cage and takes out her angst on her toys instead of on me. I'll tell them your dragons said hello to my dragons, Allee!