Hormone Season Survival Guide: How Not to Lose Your Mind (or Your Bird’s)

Hormone Season Survival Guide: How Not to Lose Your Mind (or Your Bird’s)

Greetings, featherless minions. Zhivago here, your resident African Grey professor of sarcasm and science. Today’s thrilling lecture: Hormone Season.

Yes, it’s that magical time of year when parrots transform from sweet, cuddly companions into hormonal hooligans plotting world domination from the top of the curtain rail. Don’t panic. I’m here to explain the signs, the science, and — most importantly — what you can do to keep both your sanity and my dignity intact.

🌸 The Season of Sass: Why Hormones Happen

Hormonal behaviour is most common in spring and early summer, when changes in light, temperature, and food availability tell our little bird brains: “Time to make babies!”

In the wild, this is very clever. In captivity? Less so. Unless you fancy a living room full of eggs, shredded cushions, and a bird who’s suddenly very in love with your left slipper.

Signs of Hormonal Behaviour

Here’s how you know hormone season has arrived:

• Excessive screaming (more than the usual opera at sunrise).

• Regurgitating food onto toys, mirrors, or, worse, your hand. Congratulations — you’ve been chosen.

• Increased aggression or territorial behaviour. Your sweet bird now defends a food bowl like it’s Fort Knox.

• Cavity obsession. Hiding in cupboards, under cushions, or attempting to turn the toaster into a love nest.

• Wing-droopy posturing, tail fanning, or butt-wiggles that should come with a parental advisory label.

If your parrot is displaying these, don’t despair. It’s natural — but it does need managing.

🧠 The Hormonal Brain: What’s Going On?

Hormones like oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone surge when environmental cues say “spring.” Increased daylight hours, cosy nest-like spaces, high-protein foods, and even your attention can all encourage breeding behaviour.

But chronic hormonal stimulation isn’t healthy. It can lead to:

• Chronic egg-laying (risking egg-binding, calcium depletion, and even death).

• Aggression and stress (bad for flock harmony).

• Weakened immunity (because stress hormones mess with the immune system).

So: the goal is not to shame your bird for being hormonal — it’s biology. Instead, you shape the environment to reduce those cues.

🥚 Why Calcium Matters (And How to Give It Safely)

If your bird is female, calcium is critical during breeding season. Egg production drains calcium reserves, which can lead to weak shells, seizures, and metabolic issues. Even if your bird doesn’t lay, calcium supports muscle and nerve function.

✅ Safe calcium sources:

• Supplements like MedPet Calcibird (with Vitamin D3 for absorption).

• Cuttlebone or mineral blocks (as a top-up, not the only source).

• Calcium-rich foods: dark leafy greens (kale, bok choy, spinach in moderation), broccoli, and fortified pellets.

❌ Avoid:

Animal protein and meat. High-protein diets may increase hormonal behaviour and are unnecessary for parrots. They’re not little hawks — no steak dinners required.

🥦 The Balanced Diet Defence

A diet that helps reduce hormonal triggers is:

• Pellet-based (60–70%) for balanced nutrients.

• Fresh veg (20–30%) — think leafy greens, peppers, carrots, squash.

• Fruit (5–10%) — berries, papaya, apple slices (no seeds).

• Nuts/seeds as training rewards or occasional treats.

Why it matters: junk diets (seed-only or too much fruit) can create deficiencies, stress the body, and make hormonal behaviour worse. Balanced nutrition = a more stable bird.

🛑 Nesting No-No’s: What to Remove

Parrots don’t need a honeymoon suite. In fact, the less “nest-like,” the better.

🚫 Hidey huts / tents — soft, dark, cave-like spaces scream “bedroom” to a hormonal bird.
🚫 Nesting material (shredded paper, fabric, boxes) — triggers nest-building instincts.
🚫 Access to dark corners / cupboards — no pantry love nests allowed.

Instead, provide open play gyms, foraging toys, and destructible chewables that encourage healthy activity without suggesting romance.

🌞 The Power of Light and Routine

Light is one of the strongest triggers for hormone production. In the wild, increasing daylight hours signal spring.

✅ 12 hours of light, 12 hours of dark helps regulate hormones. Cover cages or ensure a dark, quiet space at night — and be consistent.

✅ Keep bedtime firm. A parrot with a Netflix binge schedule is a hormonal mess.

🕹️ Behaviour Management Tips

• Limit stroking. Stick to head and neck scratches only. Back, wings, and tail touches can be misread as… courtship. Awkward.

• Redirect energy. Foraging toys, shreddables, training games — keep the beak and brain busy.

• Reward calm behaviour. Reinforce the good stuff. Ignore hormonal posturing where possible.

• Stay patient. Remember, your parrot isn’t “naughty” — they’re hormonally hijacked.
  
  

🧪 What the Experts Say

• “Owners should avoid providing nest-like environments and limit petting to the head and neck to prevent sexual stimulation.” — Dr. Laurie Hess, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian Practice).

• “Calcium supplementation is especially important for breeding hens to prevent egg-binding and metabolic bone disease.” — Dr. Brian Speer, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian Practice), author of Birds for Dummies.

• “Maintaining a strict day-night cycle is one of the most effective ways to manage chronic hormonal behaviour.” — Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV).
  
  

🤓 The Sarcastic Summary (Zhivago-Style)

So, to recap:

• Hormones = natural, but in captivity they can cause chaos.

• Signs include screaming, aggression, and your parrot suddenly thinking your slipper is attractive.

• Minimise triggers: no hidey huts, no nest boxes, no candlelit dinners.

• Nutrition matters: calcium, balanced diet, no meat feasts.

• Routine rules: 12 hours of dark, or prepare for hormonal karaoke at 2am.

• Enrichment saves the day: busy beaks are less lovelorn beaks.

Remember: you can’t stop hormones entirely. But you can stop your parrot from turning your house into a feathered soap opera.

📚 References

• Hess, L. (2015). Hormonal Behaviour in Pet Birds. Avian Medicine & Surgery Journal.

• Speer, B. (2015). Birds for Dummies. Wiley Publishing.

• Association of Avian Veterinarians (2022). Hormonal Behaviour in Parrots: Owner Guidelines. https://www.aav.org

• VCA Animal Hospitals. Breeding Behaviour in Birds. https://vcahospitals.com

• Harrison, G. & Lightfoot, T. (2006). Clinical Avian Medicine. Spix Publishing.

🦜 Zhivago, signing off. May your hormone season be survivable, your toes unbitten, and your curtains unshredded.