13 Sep Diet-linked hormonal behaviour in parrots
Did you know that the diet you provide for your bird may be influencing chemical reactions in their body leading to the manifestation of hormonal behaviours?
The optimum environment
Scientist have proven that an overabundance of food, foods high in fats and calories and too many food choices can all lead to an increase in production of reproductive hormones which consequently turn on your birds reproductive desires and lead to hormonal related behaviours.
In the wild, parrots’ hormones are ordinarily ‘turned off’ and it is only when an optimum environment presents itself that we see parrots mate.
In captivity we have our parrots in surroundings of abundance with unlimited food, a safe environment, bonded owners and physical contact that is often misleading. In addition, without having the environmental pressures seen in the wild such as predators, poor food supply and changing conditions, their reproductive desires are left unchecked and the birds are constantly ‘turned on’.
To put it simply….
How do I know if my bird is hormonal?
Hormonal behaviours present themselves in the form of:
- Intense-bonding
- Masturbation
- Egg-laying
- Paper shredding
- Cavity seeking (establishing a potential nesting spot)
- Loud vocalization
- Territorial behaviour
- Excessive regurgitation (not vomiting)
Why does it matter?
Owners at first may find some of these behaviours entertaining. However, in time they can become increasingly difficult to manage. In the wild such behaviours only occur seasonally in times of optimal conditions to allow the continuation of the wild population. But in captivity these behaviours can go from being a natural seasonal expression to a daily occurrence.
When left unchecked these hormonal behaviours can become the cause of extremely degenerative health conditions that can become life threatening. These include complications in relation to ovulation such as:
- egg binding
- cloacal prolapse
- chronic anaemia
and…
- skeletal bone changes
- degenerative changes of abdominal musculature and cloacal tone
- hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease)
- hormonal stress induced feather plucking, feather barbering, feather loss and dermatitis.
N.B. These behaviours may also be linked to other environmental factors so a full assessment should be carried out by your avian veterinarian.
How does this link in with our birds diets?
As previously stated, hormonal behaviours in the wild are associated with optimal conditions and therefore providing your bird with an excessive amount of food throughout the day is communicating to your parrot that it is in an optimum environment for reproduction. If your bird is exhibiting undesirable hormonal behaviours, consider becoming more strategic in the way you feed them. For instance, food foraging activities help to occupy the bird and discourage unwanted behaviours.
What should I feed my bird?
As a rule of thumb when it comes to the quantity of food offered, your parrot should be eating between 10-15% of its body weight daily. This should include a variety of fresh vegetables, grains, legumes, supplemented with a high-quality pellet / seed mix.
Consider reserving fruits which are high in sugar, seeds and nuts for foraging or training sessions, which will encourage the bird to expend the high levels of energy these foods provide, preventing the excessive storage of fats, simple carbohydrates and lipids in your birds body, which will in turn help to reduce your birds reproductive desires.
And finally…
Some birds will grasp the concept of foraging quickly, but others will need more encouragement and learning to discover the fun and rewards that can be had with foraging activities. Any changes to a parrots routine and / or diet should be taken slowly, ideally with advice and support from your Avian Vet. Regular weighing of your parrot can help to identify any health concerns and ensure that a change of diet does not result in unwanted weight loss.
For more information on the correct diet to feed your bird please refer to Birdline Member Pack- Section 2: Nutrition and Diet.
And don’t forget to check out our posts on enrichment and hormone behaviour.