Is my budgie hormonal?

[Carp5699]

I don't know what his problem is. He's obsessed with humping hands and feet. It's very uncomfortable for me and I have to hide my feet from him constantly. If I'm working on my laptop, he will chase my hands as I type, or go under my desk where my feet are. Pushing him away or shaking my hands and feet doesn't help. As a matter of fact, he's chasing after my hands as I'm typing this right now. Whether I'm sitting, walking, or lying in bed, as long as my feet are uncovered, he will chase them. He literally chased after my feet as I left my room once. The moment he lays his eyes on them, he'll try to get to them. It's too hot to wear socks, so I can't always hide my feet.

Not to mention, he started biting me, hard. He'll act all nice and sweet on my shoulder, then bite it, or will sit on my hand and bite, as well as my feet when he gets to them. It hurts, and it's hard not to react to it.

He's also constantly trying to feed my cockatiel. Cockatiel doesn't like it and jabs at him, but he persists.

What can I do? How can I change their environment to improve his behavior? He wasn't always like this. The little guy has a literal foot fetish, and it's driving me insane.

 

[Who'sDrew?]

I will do some research into this for you because I should probably learn about this too since I have a male budgie (he's young right now) and I would be bothered by this too. I think increasing his sleep schedule for a bit might help and if he enjoys being petted limit that to his head area. Maybe keep him away from the cockatiel for a bit as well. I will be back after I've done some research.

 

[Who'sDrew?]

I will do some research into this for you because I should probably learn about this too since I have a male budgie (he's young right now) and I would be bothered by this too. I think increasing his sleep schedule for a bit might help and if he enjoys being petted limit that to his head area. Maybe keep him away from the cockatiel for a bit as well. I will be back after I've done some research.

If you're budgie has any reflective toys try to remove those and replace them with toys he can shred instead so he won't bite you as much. Keeping him busy is also a good idea, training or teaching him tricks can distract him for a good while. Thank you for posting this by the way! I'm learning a lot from this and what I can expect if my budgie ever gets like this.

 

[Kassiani]

It does sound like your budgie is hormonal. I have one who is constantly hormonal. He is my newest budgie, Rudy. He spends his days having his way with his perches and regurgitating on his toys. Fortunately, I am not the object of his obsession.

The standard things to try as Drew has mentioned are lots of toys and changing his cage around so that there is always something different and interesting. Keep him covered at night for 12 or more hours. Make sure his diet is not seed only but a combination of pellets, fresh chop, and about 25 to 35% seed.

Sometimes when all of my boys are getting a bit too "hot", I'll offer baths. I second the idea of target training as it helps keep their minds occupied.

 

[Carp5699]

Alright, so I'm going to be adjusting their sleep schedule (and mine with it lol). Cloudy doesn't like being petted at all, so that's not the problem. It is kind of difficult to keep him away from Alfi (the cockatiel) as they're always in the same room and he will follow him around anywhere.
As for toys, they have a lot of toys but nothing reflective. The problem is, I don't think either of my birds know how to play with them. I know Alfi likes to shred things, and he does it occasionally with paper, but Cloudy never actually plays with anything other than the twine balls that he liked to throw out of his cage.
They eat pellets but are very reluctant to eat veggies. I've learned that Alfi really likes junk food like chips and... fried chicken. In the rare times that I'll have something like chips in my rooms, he will see me eat it and try his hardest to get some for himself, but at soon as I bring anything healthy like vegetables, he has no interest. It's a bit difficult and I don't know how to get them to give chop a chance.
For training, that's also difficult with these guys. I've target trained Cloudy before and he learned that pretty quick, but anything else that requires your hands to be close to the bird, he won't like it. He may be obsessed with my hands, but he's still somewhat scared if I'm trying to get him to step up, for example, or have my hand over him. I don't understand his relationship with hands, he's a little weirdo

 

[GreenThing]

@Kassiani gave some good advice!

I have a hormonal male who is very bonded to me, and sometimes it is necessary for me to not let him on or near my hands at all. I will talk to him with my hands in my pockets, etc.

I do not LET him climb onto my hands-- annoying as it is when working, I immediately stop and remove my hands when he tries. He has learned the phrase "no hands" and will climb back on my shoulder, but this has taken lots and lots of work and reinforcement. You really have to work with him like a baby. Sometimes I have to ice him out for a moment (just completely ignore him, even when he screams) until he gets bored and occupies himself with something else. It's constant. You've got to just keep trying new things when you have the energy-- new presentation of veg, new toys, etc.

There is just something about hands, feet, and fingernails that makes some budgies go woOOOWooWOOOhooooo.

It is also not uncommon for some male budgies to have a true hormonal imbalance due to generations of bad breeding practices, so keep an eye on that and mention any extreme behavior (constant masturbation/aggression/regurgitation) to your vet.

 

[mori100]

lol!! i think your budgie has a foot fetish, maybe even a hand fetish...

perhaps.. you can simply tape feet pics inside of his cage, and he will be satisfied!!!

im just kidding, but speaking seriously i have heard from other people that it might help to give them a "timeout" if they are being hormonal. timeout is putting them back in their cage and ignoring them (for a short while) immediately when they start doing something bad.
i cant say for sure if this is the best way to teach them, because ive never had to try it myself. i've only heard from others that it's supposed to help.
the only other thing i can think of is distracting him, like with a favorite toy or something else.

also if it's too warm for socks, have you tried ones made from the really thin material? i wear those socks and they stay pretty cool in hot temperatures.