zoey is in heat!!! HELP

[ZoeynHarley17]

hello again everyone, I'm so happy I got to join this thread. because in times like these I'm not alone. Zoe is 14 years old now and I've had her for about 5 years she has never laid an egg. But I did ger her DNA tested snd shes a girl!!! I have never experienced this with her befoee and although ive done all the research im looking for a little more understanding. Shes definitely in heat. For the first time since ive gotten her atleast this time its alot more noticable. Online research states this can last anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks. Which would be fine except shes just MEAN... shes usually a sweet girl and is very attatched to me. Thats the catch, I beleive she may be a little tooo attached. This is awful but she just wont leave me alone. She spends every waking momeny looking for me and when she finds me she runs to me like its been years shell say "step up?" And then will cuddle for as long as I let her. Usually this is ok. Except now she vibrates and makes some strange mating noises and I dont know what to do. I take her back to her cage and walk away. Shell literally cry for hours until I come back. And its driving me crazy. Its also driving mu 4 year old macaw harley insane too. He is male and trys to get close to her. But she only wants mee. Up to aboit 2 weeks ago. My girlfriend was able to pick zoey up and play with her as I do and now if she even sees her shell lunge at her. Please tell me this is temporary or what I can do. Shes like my baby but somehow I feel like im doing more harm then good. Helppppppp

 

[MacawLoverOf3]

Birds do not go into 'heat' they get hormonal.

Not much you can do, with some birds, giving them a shower might help, taking her for a car ride might help a little, but mainly you just have to wait until she rides it out.

Have your girlfriend stay away too until the hormones die down as you don't want to take any chances and she gets bit.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I'd try to keep the petting to a bare minimum while Zoey's hormones are rampaging through her body. Instead of petting and stroking her, teach her a few easy tricks, which may distract her for a bit.

This phase WILL end, so don't worry too much.

 

[Merlee]

Yep, she's hormonal. My bird is a demon for 8 weeks. Mark your calendar approximately when she started and wait it out. Things will get back to normal.

I noticed my bird is evil early in the morning and by evening, sorta mellowed out and could be handled well to be brought out onto his play stand. I bribe him with an almond to step up. It is amazing how a small nut can change his attitude. lol.

What you are experiencing will happen annually so just prepared for it about the same time next year.

 

[torrap]

Unfortunately this is exactly a reason or one of the reasons many big birds end up in the sanctuaries.....
I hope you have a lot of love and patience to go through this time with her.
I have a similar problem, and it drives me crazy, because she is so sweet one moment and a monster the next. I have read the best thing to do is to leave them alone when they are hormonal. I can't play with her as much as I want to....She is sitting in her cage and listening to French music right now (apparently liking it....).
It's so sad.......I want my bird to be happy......I wish she grew up in the wild......But we have to deal with what we have.....:54:
Hope it goes smooth for you and Zoey......

 

[ZoeynHarley17]

Unfortunately this is exactly a reason or one of the reasons many big birds end up in the sanctuaries.....
I hope you have a lot of love and patience to go through this time with her.
I have a similar problem, and it drives me crazy, because she is so sweet one moment and a monster the next. I have read the best thing to do is to leave them alone when they are hormonal. I can't play with her as much as I want to....She is sitting in her cage and listening to French music right now (apparently liking it....).
It's so sad.......I want my bird to be happy......I wish she grew up in the wild......But we have to deal with what we have.....:54:
Hope it goes smooth for you and Zoey......

no sanctuary for zoey, we will be fine. I don't really care how much she annoys me as long as she is happy... I just wanted to see how usual this was for everyone. Ive had her 5 years, and we are very much bonded. I am trying to keep it to a minimum and also baithing her here and there which I was told was a good thing to do. she is mad, she wants to be with me and for the first time in 5 years I had to put her in her cage, this is the only thing that is killing me. she hates it, shes not use to it, and I know it. but if I don't cage her she walks around n bites everyone's toes or ankles out of nowhere.

 

[torrap]

no sanctuary for zoey, we will be fine. ............

I didn't mean to imply that Zoey is going to the sanctuary. I am sorry if it looked this way to you.
I volunteer in the sanctuary for exotic birds, and there are so many unfortunate beautiful and smart birds there, birds that need human interaction because they were raised with humans.
I am so glad to hear your bond is stronger than little (or big) hormonal difficulties with Zoey.
She sounds like a great friend.....I hope she thinks of you as a great friend again, not a mate in a very short time ................