how long does breeding season last? Also.... not having a genetically tested bird I don't know whether Lucy is actually a female.... could her sudden aggression toward my husband be because Lucy should actually be Ricky and he sees him as competition?
My Macaw is female. She usually shows signs as early as late October, running into late February, with the strongest period being late December into late January.. It's not always the same every year, but close. They are living in our homes, not in the wild, where they'd have daily natural light, food, etc., so their breeding season isn't the same as it may be in the wild. She is bonded to me & will attack my husband any chance she gets. Parrot choose a human as their mate, because they generally can't choose another parrot in most homes. They will defend their "mate" no matter the sex.
Many think they have a male bird then years later said bird lays an egg & they are shocked to find that "Fred" is now "Fredia"! It's a good suggestion to have your bird DNA tested, just so you know what to expect. A bird can get egg bound & if you think it's male you have no idea what is going on, plus risking the chance of losing the bird. Add in how would you like to be called Fred & treated like a male your whole life, when you really should be called Fredia? Just MHO.
