Sex and the Psittacine

[Keltoth]

Ok, with a title like that, you might wonder what it is doing here in the Behavior and Taming section and not in the breeding section, huh? Well, I guess you will just have to read the article and find out why! N'yah, n'yah! :p

From the website of "The Companion Parrot Quarterly". (http://www.companionparrot.com/Sexual%20Behavior.htm)

- Eric

[Janie]

Really good article, Eric, and something all pet bird owners could benefit from by reading it! Thanks for the link! :)

[zlatushka]

Very interesting reading. Gives alot to think about. Thanks for the link, Eric!

[LauraO]

Thanks for the article. I love their stuff. It's usually very true and honest stuff about parrot keeping. I know Mijo is very sexual with me and it's always tough discouraging him, and me for that matter. If he's feeling really amourous, I can touch him pretty much anywhere. I rarely do this but I'm human and want to touch my bird like everybody else:roll: . I've also limited beaker kisses cause he often takes the pose of a bird who's being regurgitated for so I feel bad that he's getting the wrong idea. It's also funny cause the sexual behavior doesn't really bother me when it's my lovies, but Mijo is a little too smart for me to be comfortable with his advances so I try to discourage them.

My husband has also been able to develop a great relationship with Mijo. They play together when I'm in the same room as well as when I'm not around. In fact, I think Mijo not only likes my husband more but sees him as a sort of flock leader.

[Estee]

Question:
Does this apply to all lovebirds, all the time? We love stroking Tutti on the back but of course we don't want to stimulate him in any way that could be harmful. :(
I haven't see information like this before.

[linda040899]

Hi Estee,
The information in the article is true for all companion parrots, from the largest to the smallest. As babies, the stroking will not have the same effect as it will have on a sexually mature bird. While a bird may seem to enjoy the stroking, that stroking is also having another effect, as well.

[Estee]

Wow, that's really important to know.
What areas of the birdie's body do not stimulate in that way? In other words, what areas of petting will impart affection but not also be sexually stimulating?

[linda040899]

Most birds like to have their beaks rubbed and some will turn their heads almost upside down if you will scratch/rub their feathers! Do this carefully. Should there be new feathers coming in (encased in keritan sheaths), those hurt and your efforts will be rewarded with a screech and a nip!

[mjm8321]

My little ones love to have me flip them onto their backs and scratch (and kiss) their chests and abdomens.

[Estee]

Thanks, this information is very helpful.

I have been finding in so many ways that having a lovebird is just like having kids-- handling biting firmly and seriously with no exciting reaction comes to mind as an example.

But this is counterintuitive. I wouldn't have thought that a back was sexually stimulating but an abdomen was not.


Oh- and a question: when I try to pet Tutti's belly, he climbs up on my finger. Any tips?

[mjm8321]

Oh- and a question: when I try to pet Tutti's belly, he climbs up on my finger. Any tips?

Many lovebirds, when trained to step up, the method used was to push your finger under their abdomen to make them step on, so this might be why Tutti is doing so. Try holding Tutti in your hand, lying on his/her back and rubbing the belly that way. Some birds aren't used to being on their back and it takes time and trust for them to feel comfortable doing so.

[Estee]

...and some will turn their heads almost upside down if you will scratch/rub their feathers! Do this carefully. Should there be new feathers coming in (encased in keritan sheaths), those hurt and your efforts will be rewarded with a screech and a nip!


Umm... (*blush of ignorance*)... if we scratch/rub their feathers? Aren't they all feathers? Which feathers? >o

MJ--- yes, that's how he was trained. My sons are working on tipping him back slightly and petting his upper tummy. It seems to be going well. =no squawking or wriggling.

And (another) question: do birds like being rubbed back and forth, like behind a puppy's ears, or should touches be strictly smoothing-down?

(*head in hand*) oh, I am so clueless about birds! :(

[armageddon1024]

good informative article.

[staceyb]

Thanks For the info. It explains alot. Like why fweet fweet will always go after fingers who try and take him off of me And why every time he comes near me or when I go by his cage and talk to him he starts the dance. Last night for the fist time he tried to mate on me. I have had hime for 1.5 yrs and he has never done that before. I hope he does not become more agressive towards other people when I am around.
Thanks Again Stacey

[Acoo]

This article was perfect timing for me! We were trying to figure out what's up with Acoo. He started to sit on his swing inside his cage and regergitate all day!
I took the swing out and he would go to a different perch and do the same thing, then he would just go to a toy, so I removed them, there is literally piles of regergitated food at the bottom of his cage every day. He didn't even want to leave his cage!! He's five years old and a very affectionate boy...we have always petted him, but really only on his head....all over his head cuz he just keeps turning it for you to get all his favorite spots. He only has to hear me say hi to him and he starts his regergitating...so now what to do.
The thing is he likes my son and my husband as well..he willingly goes to visit each of us and settle down for a visit. This behavior has been in ernest for about 3 weeks or so...any suggestions would be welcome.

[linda040899]

This behavior has been in ernest for about 3 weeks or so...any suggestions would be welcome.
Accept that which you probably can't change or modify. All animals have sexual sides and this is typical of male lovebirds. I had a female Cockatoo that loved to feed anything and everything! I was just thankful she wasn't a Macaw!!!

Seriously, the behavior will come and go but never disappear. Just love him and accept him as he is!

[mykiwibird]

“Her favorite thing is to sneak under the pillows or the blanket, then she comes out to show me all of her pretty feathers and actually tries to feed (regurgitate to) me. Then she backs up under the pillow again clucking at me. It is so cute!”

This is serious business for your parrot and not in the slightest bit “cute”! She is in sexual overload, a condition that could trigger her into a constant reproductive state ultimately leading to Hormone and Adrenaline Toxicosis. There are ongoing studies by some wonderful veterinarians that have led them to believe that this state of constant reproductivity is very harmful to these parrots. Some of the other health problems seen in these types of birds can be extremely high levels of Cholesterol and Triglycerides, Heart Disease, and Feather Picking that can be brought on (or a current feather destructive problem worsened) by an inflamed reproductive system.

How could I discourage this? My male lovebird does this to me all the time, without me doing anything to trigger it. Is it different between males and females?

[Ab Khan]

Lovebirds are prestigious for their rest position in which they sit one next to the other and turn their countenances in towards one another. Likewise, peach-faced females are very much noted to tear crude materials into long strips, "twisty-tie" them onto their backs.

[Mceryn]

Oki feel kinda silly...I cant find the article but want to read it...I just get to the main site and I am clicking around and cannot find it? I really want to read it... 😳

[linda040899]

Here's an updated link: http://parrotislandinc.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=58