Spring is just around the corner and from posts I have been reading here, some your birds have already been experiencing behavioral changes. This is a good article from Liz Wilson, Parrot Behavior Consultant.

SPRING BEHAVIOR

Great article JR, thanks!

Thanks JR! I will read this tonight. Ruby is only 1and a half. Should she already be acting hormonal? I think she is.

I wish I could find an article that will tell me when Occy will stop screeching! I can only pray its hormonal and will stop soon. Thats his only bad habit but its working me big time. He will do it for hours on end.

Sounds like Leigh needs some support.

Loved the article.
Even Laker has been active with his ladder & feeding Rio.

That is VERY young Jessalyn... but there is the "terrible twos" stage to consider. 1-1.5 years is about the age they will leave their parents in the wild, so it is a time of change for them naturally. They test everything, get a bit rambunctious and exploratory. I would bet it is more her age and natural progression, then hormonal changes.

There is information floating around that suggests our birds are becoming mature at earlier and earlier ages due to the optimum conditions we provide them with in captivity; and the fact that many chicks these days are a few generations out of the wild. I have not found a good concise article on this yet... so I have none to post. But even taking that into consideration, 1.5 years is still young for breeding behavior.

Thanks Dana!

Leigh, how old is Occy? I don't have an Ekkie, but from what I am reading on the internet the onset of Eclectus hormones, if indeed that is the issue, is probably the most difficult time for both owner and bird but fortunately, it is only temporary and usually does not last longer than six months. Just as human teenagers go through a trying time (known as puberty) that can last for several years as they adjust to the transition from childhood to adulthood, birds go through a similar but shorter period of adjustment. By giving our birds loving guidance during their transition to adulthood, we help them to live successfully in our homes. We might feel that we do a lot of adjusting and compromising to live with our birds, but just imagine how much flexibility is required of our birds! To live in our homes, they must switch gears on their energy levels from that of a creature who would fly many miles a day and be active for most of their waking hours, to a caged bird who probably NEVER flies and only gets mild physical exercise for an hour a day -- if they're lucky. This compromise causes untold frustration as evidenced by feather destruction, screaming, biting, and other problems. In all these situations, we greatly underestimate the value of increased exercise for our birds. As hard as it is for us to endure (especially when screaming is part of the way our birds release pent up hormonal energy), it is equally difficult for the birds. A little understanding and extra TLC will help to preserve the trusting bond that we have carefully developed with our Eclectus.

Many times, unacceptable behaviors are temporary and can be stopped by making a few simple changes. It is only natural to feel disappointed and frustrated, but keep in mind that it is only temporary. Try to keep your eye on the goal of successfully weathering the temporary hormonal storm and still being friends when all is calm again. Unconditional love and consistent guidance can see us through this trying time.

and Leigh....hang in there!

I am noticing unusual behavior too , with my almost 1 year old female african grey and my 8 month old male caique. My grey and caique are getting loud and I mean loud. I notice my caique rubbing his bottom on my grey whenever he can. Both of them are biting a little harder but not enough to draw blood, just harder than usual. Do I need to do something about this or just let it go and let it pass.. Arent they a little too young for this behavior?