Limiting Contact During Hormonal Season

We are practicing social distancing with Alfie (moluccan cockatoo) because he is really hormonal this time of year like most cockatoos. Hormonal for Alfie is nest building and then trying to kill anyone that goes near, increase in aggression since he has a past with deep aggression issues, and increase in screaming.

While he is riding his little ball of hormone wave, I am making sure we are as off contact as I can be. He is mostly out on play stands and not petted or cuddled or even held on my arm for very long so he is not triggered. But this does not mean that he still isn’t getting socialization; he is receiving socialization and we are still bonding in other ways. We love to play “make mom fetch things I throw” and dancing and singing. He has been getting showers and flights outside to get that energy out in a positive way.

This is not ideal, and boy do I hate not being able to snuggle with my man, but it’s for his well-being, and definitely will not last forever! Just a few more short weeks and we will be back in action!

To add, there are many activities to do with your birds while they are hormonal while staying more hands off. Being hands off can still fulfill your parrots social needs. If you would like to learn more off-contact ways of entertaining and interacting with your parrot, feel free to contact us for ideas.