Is it mating season for GCC?

[FreddyCheeks]

I only ask because Fred has started to step on my finger and shake his butt real quick. Its kinda funny. Just wondering why he picked up this habit.

 

[MonicaMc]

Just sounds like he's rearranging his tail feathers and may be showing he's excited!

 

[Kinny]

My Green Cheeks think it's mating season all year round. Even in the freezing cold of Winter. Sounds like your boy is trying to prettify himself ready for showing off to the ladies.

 

[legal_eagle]

I think it's late winter early spring.

 

[Acindo]

I know what you mean.. I sometimes ask people "ever seen a bird wag its tail?" when they say no I show them my youtube clip and my bird is clearly trying to bang my hand or something. I think it's just because they see you as their partner and are a bit excited haha.

 

[MonicaMc]

Tail fanning (spreading tail feathers and "shaking" them) is not the same as masturbating on your hand.

 

[FreddyCheeks]

Tail fanning (spreading tail feathers and "shaking" them) is not the same as masturbating on your hand.

So what's he doing?

 

[Echo]

Yes my pair is always breeding at this time. They are on eggs now.

 

[SoCalWendy]

Rio wags her tail. Usually first thing in the morning, she is happy to be see me and out of her cage.

 

[crimson]

typical breeding season for conures is from December to May, although I know most conures will breed all year round if you let them(which is NOT a good idea)

 

[Echo]

Mine breed in February and September.

 

[MonicaMc]

Conure masturbating.... video is a little disturbing....

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=523nAzdAAag]Yellow Sided Conure masturbating - YouTube[/ame]


Conure tail shaking

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSby9NNKBus]Sammy shaking a tail feather after her shower - YouTube[/ame]

 

[legal_eagle]

How is the first video disturbing? He's a healthy, mature bird expressing his wild instincts in a completely harmless way.

 

[MonicaMc]

Except for the fact that the human seems to be trying to "help" the bird masturbate... I find that disturbing.

 

[legal_eagle]

I didn't notice that before ... it is odd.

 

[MonicaMc]

Ya. You can see it in the still picture of the video. I just... ionno. It's not right.


I can understand the part of helping an animal to well... ejaculate... to gather sperm to be used in a breeding program so that natural mating doesn't have to occur (i.e. females not accepting males, or fertilizing an egg, then splitting it into 6 pieces and impregnating 6 different cows) but this video is..... odd and disturbing.

 

[FreddyCheeks]

Well Fred does not do that type of "thing" on my hand but its not just a tail shaking either. Maybe its just a way he's showing affection. I donno. He is still fairly young.