its a boy!(I'm 99% sure, anyway)

[ashlie]

We have a almost 5 month old unDNA'd green cheek. Last night when he was out he started to bob his head, and get very excited about my sons little stuffed lamb. Well, he got a little too exited and proceeded to try to make babies with it....lol. So, is it safe to say that he made love with a toy the way a male would, that its a male? Another question, isn't he a little young to be attempting mating? Or would it be like a young puppy humping, not because they are activelyy trying to mate, its just instinct to them? Just wondering....thanks

 

[triordan]

I've seen females puppy hump too....

 

[ashlie]

Yes, I have too! I have an 8 yr old female pitbull who humps my female rotti once in a while. And I know its probably not the best comparison(young conures and young dogs), but I was just curious to know if this means its a male. I read somewhere that 2 female parrots could attempt to breed with each other and attempt to raise infertile eggs, when they are hormonal, but I don't know if that is true or not.

 

[Grenage]

Alas, as above, humping isn't really an indicator of sex.

 

[Peanutsmum]

I know Peanut is male as I had him DNA'd, not cheap but worth it. Ive read that both sexes of conures like to play hump as it were. Peanut does this on my arm every now and then, when he does I just pick him up and put him down elsewhere. He started doing this at a few month old and he's just 6 months now. I think its instinctual

 

[MarciaLove]

its a bit young yes but it is spring lots of hormones and yea i've seen females mate like boys as well so no way to tell for sure.

 

[ashlie]

Dang it! I was hoping that would be a good indicator of gender...oh well! I still call him a he, just because its easier..but I have to admit, the whole toy violation was kinda funny!

 

[LakeDesire]

Is there any kind of sexual behavior in conures that is exclusive to one sex? My nanday bobs "her" head to "happy days" and hisses while humping/flapping her happy hut. A few times she's also lifted her tail feathers and presented her bottom to me when I've pet her... like she wants me to mate with her!

 

[MonicaMc]

Is there any kind of sexual behavior in conures that is exclusive to one sex? My nanday bobs "her" head to "happy days" and hisses while humping/flapping her happy hut. A few times she's also lifted her tail feathers and presented her bottom to me when I've pet her... like she wants me to mate with her!

No, not necessarily... both my conures head bob(bed). My cherry head (RIP) "head bob" was where he'd raise his head slowly, pointing his beak up, then swiftly and quickly lower his beak to foot level or shower, then make a "tch tch tch" noise and repeat. He, like many conures, loved having a box to sleep in and hide in! I had always thought he was female (due to a lack of behaviors), but DNA sexing said male (which only made me feel worse about his life). He never did hiss or hump. (or purr)

My mitred conure on the other hand head bobs in the regular fashion, doesn't hump but does hiss, and purrs... When he masturbates (or so it appears - not humping!), he'll grab one or two tail feathers (at least) with his foot and pulls them forward. He then usually sits there quietly and makes quiet squawks that he usually doesn't make any other time and gets a "sleepy eyed" look to him.

This behavior that he does I have heard of female parrots doing as well (predominately macaws), although Charlie is not DNA sexed, he is about 19 years old and has yet to lay an egg! So unless he lays an egg, it has thus far been assumed that he's male!

 

[Customcasket]

My female sun conure is a humper... much to my dismay. I always thought she was a he until I had her DNA sexed.

 

[Kalidasa]

One of my male budgies is a total perv, he will hump everything. He used to try to hump my hand, when that wasn't happening (ew!) he moved on the toys, furniture knobs, and his favorite, broccoli! He's been doing it daily for over seven years. He's extremely tame and very healthy and active, so I just accept the behavior as part of who he is. He definately seems to be enjoying himself!

 

[HalfInsane]

My female lovebird never humped people (thankfully!) but she did have a particular rope perch where she'd, uh, enjoy some "me" time. She'd actually get really pissed off and growl at you if you so much as looked at her LOL! So at least she liked her privacy...

I really don't find it surprising that parrots, male or female, tend to develops this sort of behaviour. I mean you're asking them to go through life without a mate so when they look for other outlets for their pent up birdy hormones you can't really blame them.

Also, Kalidasa... broccoli?! I cracked up when I read that.

 

[Kalidasa]

It's so gross and so funny at the same time!