Help...

[NermalsMom]

My normally well tempered GCC has been in a mood in the last few days and I could use some advice.
On a typical day Nermal loves to come out, runs to the cage door and is well receptive to stepping up and ready to play. Its been on a downward spiral as of the past few days though. Being more nippy while out, then not running for the door to come out and now not wanting me to get her out at all to the point of biting if I come anywhere near her. She seems to have just finished most of her molting and is growing in her new flight wings....could this be the issue?? If not I am completely at a loss. What should I do?
Thanks, Kat

 

[woubette]

My fids are completely hormonal right now, which makes them more nippy, aggressive and cranky. She should be back to her old self soon if it is just hormones...just be patient and ride it out. Take your cues from her on if she wants to be held or stay in the cage.....

 

[roxynoodle]

Nermal is a very cute name for a conure!

It could be she's hormonal or due to her new feathers. If she is feeling cranky she may not want to play. I'd give her a few days and see if things go back to normal first. You can still spend time in the room with her and talk to her, watch TV with her or listen to music. My BCC seemed to become overcome with her hormones a couple of times a year. My Nanday is hormonal several times a year, but it doesn't seem to affect her mood or mind so much. She seems to be successful with um, taking care of those needs using a toy. Sorry, not trying to be gross, but anyone who lives with a bird knows they go through these things.

 

[MikeyTN]

Best thing you can do is let them be for a bit!!! When he's ready he'll be begging again. Its a stressful period during molt and hormonal period....

 

[Mamanda]

Best thing you can do is let them be for a bit!!! When he's ready he'll be begging again. Its a stressful period during molt and hormonal period....

I don't mean to sound dumb, but really? I didn't know molting was stressful?
And at what age do hormones become an issue?

 

[MikeyTN]

It's like getting PMS, the best way for me to put it....lol....Depending on the type of bird, hormones starts kicking in right around 1+ years old. With some birds, molting doesn't bother them, some do. They get cranky and doesn't want to be touched.

 

[antoinette]

You have come to the right place, so much help is offered here on the forum.
I am thankfully so lucky, Mishka goes through molting with any problems.
At first I did not know he was molting........ he does not like to be touched at the best of times expect for head scratches.
Just take it one day at a time, give the bird some space.

 

[lene1949]

I don't mean to sound dumb, but really? I didn't know molting was stressful?
And at what age do hormones become an issue?

The molting is more stressful in pet birds, because they don't have anyone (skilled enough) to preen them... They get stressed in the wild as well, but another bird's beak is always better than our clumsy hands...

 

[roxynoodle]

Some birds do start exhibiting hormonal behaviors at a younger age than we expect them to. My sister had a Meyer's parrot that was obviously trying to mate bond with her at only a few months old. My Nanday was probably around 1.5 when I first started seeing it. My BCC didn't act at all sexually mature until she was around 7 years old though!

I'm sure it's as confusing a time for young animals as it is for young humans. And of course we get information about what is going to happen for us through school and parents. They don't.

I have and have had many horses. Some of my mares went through heat without much of a problem. Others couldn't concentrate on anything and working them those days was an exercise in futility. They couldn't focus for more than a few seconds. I was just better off leaving them alone for 1 or 2 days and then going back to their training.

And some birds do seem to get cranky during molting and others seem to be fine.

 

[ann]

maybe this will help, good luck
Hormonal Behavior in Company Parrots

 

[Mamanda]

Wow!! I had no idea molting was a stress for birds. Is molting hormonally related?

 

[MikeyTN]

They go through molt to replace all their feathers, during change of seasons pretty much. They don't usually do the hormones during molt as they need to look their best to impress their mate. Their plumage and song ability, etc. is how they win their mates.

 

[NermalsMom]

Thanks Everyone! I really appreciate the insight. Nermals been doing a little better, not great but I can see progress.