Just a quick reminder… It is fall and a time of year when birds will exhibit some hormonal behaviors.  I have been noticing that Linus, my umbrella cockatoo, has had trouble lately sleeping through the night.  This is always a sure sign that he is hormonal.  The good news is that this is a milder version of the peculiarity that we see so often in the springtime, so not to worry.

Hormonal behaviors are brought on by the changing seasons. Spring behaviors come about when warmer temperatures and spring rains signal that food will soon be abundant and the time is right for raising young.  It seems that as the change in temperature and climate in autumn takes hold, it also causes our birds to act hormonally.

You can minimize these behaviors by careful handling, avoiding areas of the body other than the head and neck.  Keep warm mash-like foods to a minimum for the time being.  Prevent your bird from entering dark nesty areas and be respectful in and around the cage, just as you would in the spring.

Author Patty Jourgensen specializes in avian health, behavior and nutrition and has been working with and caring for rescue birds since 1987.