puking macaw

[basshawg95]

I've had my catalina macaw, conan, for around 10 years. he's exhibited this behavior before, but this year it seems worse.
he constantly regurgitates on his wing. so much so, that he has it crusted on his wing now.
should i be concerned?
also, i leave his cage open all the time. lately (again!) he won't seem to stay on it. instead, he walks down the hall and seems to like to hang out in small, confined spaces, like my bathroom......and once he's there, he starts puking on his wing.
he seems to be okay, i haven't changed anything diet-wise....i'm stumped!
any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Conan is in breeding mode, thus he's seeking out places he can brood (bathrooms, nooks, crannies).

Are you certain he is a boy? I'm only asking because I don't want you to have the shock of a lifetime one day and find an egg in the cage. :54:

I'd personally discourage him from seeking out possible nesting areas.

The hormonal stage won't last forever, and he should return to his normal self in a couple of weeks.

 

[basshawg95]

i've never had him 'sexed'......i haven't found an egg yet either. maybe, i'll bite the bullet and have his sex confirmed.....

 

[Birdman666]

It's normal, and the 7 to 12 year old age range are when the hormonal stuff tends to be the most difficult.

Give him/her a bath.

 

[Kiwibird]

Sounds like a normal, healthy parrot experiencing his annual hormonal phase. Overall, he looks healthy and sounds like a very happy and well adjusted parrot (great that he's out all the time too!). It certainly looks like you've done a great job with him! What he's doing isn't a "problem" or your fault in any way- he's an animal and can't help having hormones.

If at all possible, close off any places he likes to hang out (the bathroom, closets ext...) and ignore the regurgitation while encouraging and praising more acceptable displays of emotion (a happy noise, ruffling his feathers, shaking his tail ext...) so he learns a different method of expression. Make sure to also give him extra wood/chewing toys this time of year for him to "vent his frustration" on, as well as temporarily limit his intake of fruit (sugar exacerbates it) and substitute in more veggies instead. It does not sounds as though he is expressing any inappropriate sexual behavior toward you, but even so, best to limit touch until his "phase" is over to only his head and neck (if you pet him) because other areas are "sensual" to him. Also, be sure to keep consistent on his sleep/wake schedule, as it's the extended daylight hours that trigger the hormones. And unless 'he' lays an egg, regardless if he's technically male or female, it really doesn't matter when it comes to the hormonal thing. They both get it, and it's only a potential issue if a female starts laying infertile eggs. Good luck.