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From cute baby to hormonal psycho

Gimby

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Katie Denski
I'm NOT looking forward to my HH going through hormones. I got a taste of it today. We went from looking out the window to latching onto my nose. I had to restrain her with one hand while she focused on attacking the other hand. I didnt yell, scream or get mad but it was a reminder of what I will be going through with her for years to come. The thing about her attacks is she doesnt stop. She keeps going and going even while being restrained and gets angrier and angrier to the point while shes hissing shes also spitting. Oh well. It's just something all parrots go through, just so not looking forward to it for years to come...:meh:
That is why I like adopting older birds like 30 plus lol like Charlie my GW & Patti my BF Amazon. Theyre sweet because their to old to be hormal psychos lol.
 
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sunnysmom

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I guess it's that time of year too. I hope she calms down soon.
 

SpecialistElbru

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That is why I like adopting older birds like 30 plus lol like Charlie my GW & Patti my BF Amazon. Theyre sweet because their to old to be hormal psychos lol.

I'm so glad you get it. I still hear that old kinard that it is better to get a just-weened bird because, "I want to get a fresh start".
 

Laurul Feather Cat

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No, not for years to come. How you handle her hormones now, at the beginning, will set the tone for her hormonal tantrums for the rest of her life. This first one is the worse, the hardest and the pivotal time in your relationship. You have to meet it with a plan and understand she has no control right now over her feelings. She is just as upset about the changes as you are and she has no idea why she feels this way. Can you remember when you were a teen and didn't understand why suddenly you felt your parents were against everything you thought, said and did?

First, I would suggest you start carrying a towel or small blanket over your shoulder when she is on you, as a way of short circuiting the attack; I used it to throw over Pedro's head when he started biting and I tried to make sure he was inside the blanket and I was outside it when I covered him. It gave me enough time to put him down. I did poorly with Pedro, mostly due to ignorance. So I am not going to give any more advice here, but I am sure others will be around soon.

So many birds lose their homes during or right after this first hormonal storm because people don't understand it isn't their baby attacking them, it is the confused adolescent bird who needs guidance and help. My BFF called me, panicked, when MJ started hormonal behavior; "Why does she hate me?" MJ doesn't hate you, I told her, she is just having her first hormone storm and is confused. MJ and Kim got through it and are wonderfully bonded.
 
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Gimby

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I'm so glad you get it. I still hear that old kinard that it is better to get a just-weened bird because, "I want to get a fresh start".
I hear it all the time to and it's sad people dont open their minds to an older bird for that sole reason or reasons related to that. I got my HH very young but only because she's my dream bird, but also knowing very well, that Ill be going through hell during hormone season for years to come. It's like tiptoeing on eggshells around her lol. Though I must say Im glad shes female amd not male. Can you imagine a male Hawkhead parrot in spring OMG. You'd need a suit of armor!
 

Gimby

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No, not for years to come. How you handle her hormones now, at the beginning, will set the tone for her hormonal tantrums for the rest of her life. This first one is the worse, the hardest and the pivotal time in your relationship. You have to meet it with a plan and understand she has no control right now over her feelings. She is just as upset about the changes as you are and she has no idea why she feels this way. Can you remember when you were a teen and didn't understand why suddenly you felt your parents were against everything you thought, said and did?

First, I would suggest you start carrying a towel or small blanket over your shoulder when she is on you, as a way of short circuiting the attack; I used it to throw over Pedro's head when he started biting and I tried to make sure he was inside the blanket and I was outside it when I covered him. It gave me enough time to put him down. I did poorly with Pedro, mostly due to ignorance. So I am not going to give any more advice here, but I am sure others will be around soon.

So many birds lose their homes during or right after this first hormonal storm because people don't understand it isn't their baby attacking them, it is the confused adolescent bird who needs guidance and help. My BFF called me, panicked, when MJ started hormonal behavior; "Why does she hate me?" MJ doesn't hate you, I told her, she is just having her first hormone storm and is confused. MJ and Kim got through it and are wonderfully bonded.
Lol I like that name hormone storm. Dont worry my HH isnt going any where. Shes staying right here. It's just something that has to be worked through :) This is my first hormone storm. I understand she cant help it. She's still my girl no matter what.
If your friend Kim has any tips or advice Id truly appreciate it!
 

Laurul Feather Cat

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When MJ (who is only a cockatiel by the way) would suddenly attack and bite, Kim would remove her from her presence and ignore her for a few minutes; remove the goodness of being with Mom if she is bad. If MJ flew back and continued to want to attack, then Kim put her in her cage to cool down. MJ would start out as loving and wonderful and turn into Godzilla-Tiel! Once the attacks were partially eliminated, MJ went through the "stranger syndrome" where she didn't seem to recognize Kim or anyone in the family. So we used the strange room trick Sally Blanchard used to suggest and took her into the front bedroom and left her go. She immediately flew to the top of the curtain rod and looked around and saw nothing familiar in the potentially bird-eating-monster-filled room except her Mom: whom she immediately flew to and asked for scritches. Three days of the strange room therapy and she was almost back to normal. Four weeks after the storm started, it stopped and Kim's loving tiel was back. Subsequent hormonal storms have never been even half a bad as that initial one and after four years, the only way we know she is hormonal is she masturbates non stop.

I never expected you would give up on your HH. I just noted this is when a lot of bird lose their loving home because people don't understand how to handle the storm.
 
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