NEWS

IT'S SPRINGTIME FOR TWEETY

    Springtime definitely affects our feathered friends in many strange ways. Normally loving, gentle creatures can turn aggressive in a heartbeat, sometimes inflicting bodily harm to their doting human companions. Being the object of affection for a parrot in the spring is not always a wonderful thing. Problems that can arise include increased territoriality, aggression, regurgitation to a favored toy or human body part (ugh!), paper shredding, hiding in corners and increased vocalization (screaming for attention more than usual). Most of these behaviors are not medically a problem, but when encouraged can lead to egg laying or feather picking in certain species and that can be detrimental to health. And they can certainly upset the household. 

    While the increase in birdie hormones at certain times of year cannot be completely avoided there are some things you can do to minimize the effects. 

    First of all, if you notice that your bird is becoming more aggressive to family members, don’t wait until a major bite occurs. Restrict the bird to its cage when other people are around and never leave it out unsupervised (this is a bad idea anyway). This is a good time to remove any birdie huts or possible nesting places. Any favorite toy or human body part that has become an object d’affection (used by the bird for regurgitation and masturbation) should be gently removed from the bird’s reach. Do not encourage sexual behaviors by cuddling and stroking the bird anywhere past the top of the head.  

    Unfortunately these measures may not be enough to control the unwanted behaviors, and consultation or medical intervention may be necessary. It’s a good idea to note on a calendar for future reference when the springtime behavior starts, so you can be alert to it next year. (written by Dr. Michelle Curtis)