Just kidding.
Doisy seems to be going through some hormones and since is the first time for me having a hormonal bird I thought I'd run through his behaviors and get some feedback. Some of my questions are ringneck specific but not all so I thought I'd post here.
First off, Doisy turned 2 in March and my research shows that IRNs can reach sexual maturity between 2 & 3. In the past 2-3 weeks, Doisy has starting to exhibit new behaviors that I feel are related to hormones. He's gotten grouchy, more vocal, and more nippy. He's also been romancing a wheel that he never had any interest in before.
The new behaviors come in spurts throughout the day and are not a constant thing. In other words, he'll be nippy and grouchy for an hour or two and then decide that he wants to come sit by me or play with his toys.
The first thing I've noticed is that he is talking to me a lot more. He's always talked a lot, just not when I was really close and he would never repeat after me. When I come close, he will start displaying (leaning back, pinning eyes, bobbing, knocking on stuff) and talking. Am I being seen as a potential mate or as a threat?
The next thing I've noticed is the nippiness, especially when he is in or was recently in display mode. Doisy never went through bluffing and has never been a biter or nipper. He's also always been skittish around hands and would usually just try to avoid them. If I ask him to step up to put him in his cage before he wants to go, he will pinch me a couple times...nothing serious but not pleasant either. I've taken to using a perch to pick him up when I have to put him in when I know he will not want to go in. This he will lunge at and attack as he is on it.
Next, is a screaming issue that only appeared within the past few weeks. This has to do specifically with the lovebirds. Doisy is not aggressive towards my other birds. He's not friends with them but doesn't hate them either. The lovebirds seem to be the object of the most dislike. Instead of attacking other birds, Doisy screams at them, sigh. If they are too close to him (usually they're no closer than a foot), he puffs up, pins his eyes, and lets out an ear-piercing shriek. This is repeated until the lovebirds leave (they never do...they just sit and stare at him...maybe they're deaf
) or I remove Doisy for a time-out in his cage. None of the other birds are subjected to this treatment. Occasionally, mirrors and I get this treatment. I guess he sees them as a threat or as being in his territory? This behavior doesn't relate to a specific location.
The last is the skirt dance that is directed towards the wheel (it's part of a cage and I have it setting on a book case). Doisy fluffs up, drops his wings and bobs and sways around this wheel. Eyes are pinning and he will make a "what" sort of sound towards it. He also crouches down and balls his two feet together and sits on them as shown in the pictures.
So my questions:
Anybody know how long ringneck hormonal periods last?
Is there anything I should do to make this easier on both of us?
Is there a way to lessen the screaming? (This is driving my husband crazy
)
Should I remove the wheel or leave it?
Are some of these ringneck specific behaviors?
I would not consider his behaviors extreme, just new to me. I've not had much luck on finding stuff on IRN hormones besides bluffing.
Doisy seems to be going through some hormones and since is the first time for me having a hormonal bird I thought I'd run through his behaviors and get some feedback. Some of my questions are ringneck specific but not all so I thought I'd post here.
First off, Doisy turned 2 in March and my research shows that IRNs can reach sexual maturity between 2 & 3. In the past 2-3 weeks, Doisy has starting to exhibit new behaviors that I feel are related to hormones. He's gotten grouchy, more vocal, and more nippy. He's also been romancing a wheel that he never had any interest in before.
The new behaviors come in spurts throughout the day and are not a constant thing. In other words, he'll be nippy and grouchy for an hour or two and then decide that he wants to come sit by me or play with his toys.The first thing I've noticed is that he is talking to me a lot more. He's always talked a lot, just not when I was really close and he would never repeat after me. When I come close, he will start displaying (leaning back, pinning eyes, bobbing, knocking on stuff) and talking. Am I being seen as a potential mate or as a threat?
The next thing I've noticed is the nippiness, especially when he is in or was recently in display mode. Doisy never went through bluffing and has never been a biter or nipper. He's also always been skittish around hands and would usually just try to avoid them. If I ask him to step up to put him in his cage before he wants to go, he will pinch me a couple times...nothing serious but not pleasant either. I've taken to using a perch to pick him up when I have to put him in when I know he will not want to go in. This he will lunge at and attack as he is on it.
Next, is a screaming issue that only appeared within the past few weeks. This has to do specifically with the lovebirds. Doisy is not aggressive towards my other birds. He's not friends with them but doesn't hate them either. The lovebirds seem to be the object of the most dislike. Instead of attacking other birds, Doisy screams at them, sigh. If they are too close to him (usually they're no closer than a foot), he puffs up, pins his eyes, and lets out an ear-piercing shriek. This is repeated until the lovebirds leave (they never do...they just sit and stare at him...maybe they're deaf
) or I remove Doisy for a time-out in his cage. None of the other birds are subjected to this treatment. Occasionally, mirrors and I get this treatment. I guess he sees them as a threat or as being in his territory? This behavior doesn't relate to a specific location.The last is the skirt dance that is directed towards the wheel (it's part of a cage and I have it setting on a book case). Doisy fluffs up, drops his wings and bobs and sways around this wheel. Eyes are pinning and he will make a "what" sort of sound towards it. He also crouches down and balls his two feet together and sits on them as shown in the pictures.
So my questions:
Anybody know how long ringneck hormonal periods last?
Is there anything I should do to make this easier on both of us?
Is there a way to lessen the screaming? (This is driving my husband crazy
)Should I remove the wheel or leave it?
Are some of these ringneck specific behaviors?
I would not consider his behaviors extreme, just new to me. I've not had much luck on finding stuff on IRN hormones besides bluffing.
That makes me feel better about the way I've been dealing with him. Petting is not an issue as he was never a bird that liked to be petted anyways.
Now I just have to wait the hormones out.
