mating behavior already??!!

[EnglishMuffin]

So Sootie likes to sit on my shoulder and snuggle. She does this thing where she rubs her head all over my shoulder and neck and cheek and kind of grunts and croaks. It's a weird little sound that if it wasn't for knowing that she was being lovey, I would think it was an angry noise. I never really thought this was anything more than affection since she's only 6 months old. But just now she was doing it and she kind of hunched down and splayed her tail, and started rubbing her little butt all over me.

Is this mating behavior!? And if so, how the hell, when she's only a baby still?

 

[Dinosrawr]

It definitely sounds like she's pleasuring herself on you... are you positive she's only 6 months? I do know it's possible to hit hormones early, but that's super early!

 

[Sterling1113]

Mating behavior can start early if the bird feels they're being 'provoked' or in a situation to be hormonal. It's best to limit the hands on contact(only head scratching, no under the wings/back.) and as soon as she gets rowdy she goes somewhere else to be distracted. (Distracted =/= punished. She gets a toy to play with or something to chew on, not covered or reprimanded.)

Hopefully she doesn't get bitey. Kiwi is such a meanie right now. (but she's 1 1/2yrs so that's reasonable).

Best of luck!!

 

[EnglishMuffin]

Oh nooo Poor baba. I didn't even know this was possible before they'd hit adulthood. I always stroke her back and tickle under her wings. No wonder. She must be all confused Could I have done any serious harm? She's not showing any aggression or jealousy issues right now...

 

[Sterling1113]

I wouldn't worry about an 'serious' damage- she might be confused about why all the touching has stopped but other than that the real damage comes from enticing her/encourage the behavior. She can't have a human mate and that would stress her to keep trying.
Kiwi will be 'nesty' with my pajamas or anything I'm wearing, and if I allow her she tries to 'mate' under my hand. She's also very bitty this year, it's her first hormonal swing so she's probably confused. Things should start to get back to 'normal' after June-ish, though.

 

[MonicaMc]

I came across someone who allowed their green cheek pair to reproduce, and successfully at that. The birds were only 5 and 6 months old.



Although it may be ok to pet birds in places other than on their heads as long as they don't show any sexual behavior, I general avoid petting them anywhere except the head region. I prefer not to give mixed signals to my birds, since I can't mate nor reproduce with them.



Best to keep petting to the head region now and maybe change things up.