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by Diane Burroughs July 20, 2021 4 min read 1 Comment

A lot of bird people wonder about how to stop a hormonal bird. After all, hormonal birds can have both physical health problems and they can become aggressive when they get in a chronically hormonal state. 

What makes a bird hormonal?

Most of us dread the onset of hormonal bird season. But, keep in mind,  your bird is just as distressed as you are.

But, did you know that some of the things that we feed our birds can actually bring on hormonal behavior?  That's right!  There are several conditions that a bird's body requires in order to turn the hormones on. 

You may have noticed that hormonal bird season starts in the spring for most of our birds. 

Spring is associated with longer, warmer days and an abundance of new plant growth.  More access to light coupled with the availability of protein-rich, fatty foods triggers a hormonal response in our birds.

So, if you don’t want to trigger a hormone response in your bird - or if you want to tone the hormones down fast - take a look at your bird's diet. 

What foods trigger hormones in birds?

Here is a list of 5 food types that can turn your bird's hormones on.

Fatty treats and goodies.
Crackers, chips, & sweets can trigger a hormone response in your bird.  Fats  and proteins prepare the body to breed and we're young.

Think about it.  Momma birds spend 20 to 30 days incubating the eggs so they need to fatten up first.  And, papa birds are often the ones responsible for feeding the entire brood. They also need to fatten up during the breeding season.  Feeding fatty foods just tricks your bird's body into thinking that breeding season has arrived.

Starchy foods.
Starchy foods are an important source of energy. The body breaks down starchy food into glucose, providing the body with fuel.  When you feed your bird foods like bread rice pasta and casseroles it makes the hormone surge.

 

Breads & Grains.

Baked goods like bread are full of starch and fat.  So are some grains.  In fact some of these baked foods are empty calories. They fill your bird up but don't provide much in the way of nutritional content.
Now, that can't be said for some of the grains. Grains in moderation are excellent for our birds. However, if your bird is starting to show the signs of being hormonal back off on protein-rich grains for a while.

Sweet, sugary veggies & fruits.
Fruits and veggies are great for our birds. but, you'll want to back off produce that is high in sugar.Sugar is digested and broken down by the small intestineinto glucose. From there, glucose is released into the bloodstream and delivered to the rest of your bird’s body, where the muscles, organs and other tissues convert it into energy.  Too much sugar makes your bird hormonal. Instead opt for leafy greens and other nutrients dense produce

Warm, soft, wet foods.
Many of our parrots have a unique mating ritual. They vomit warm, wet food into their lovers' mouth during mating rituals.  Feeding your bird warm wet foods is like foreplay! 

If you notice that your bird is getting hormonal, back off on the warm, wet foods.  Feeding your bird fresh foods at room temperature is just as good. 
In fact, we know that heating up vegetables and fruits cooks the vitamins right out of them. There is no reason to cook up that bird chop.

Foods that stabilize hormones in birds

Eating enough fresh produce has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to improve your bird's health. So why does it seem so difficult? Avian experts recommend several types of fresh, uncooked vegetables a day, but with a hectic schedule and little knowledge on how to make healthy meals, most people just serve pellets or a seed diet.

Fortunately, feeding your bird well doesn't have to be challenging. Healthy ingredients should take less than 15 minutes to prepare. Eating more fresh, raw produce will help balance hormones and will result in many other health benefits. By getting started with one dish today new, healthy vegetable today.

So there you have it. If you want to stop hormonal bird behavior, watch the diet.

Related Blogs: 

For more information on hormonal bird behavior check out these blogs 

The Ultimate Guide To Hormonal Bird Behavior

8 Foods That Can Help Your Obnoxious Hormonal Bird

How To Pet A Bird And Avoid Chronic Hormonal Behavior

Diane Burroughs, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist trained in ABA therapy techniques. She specializes in avian anxiety disorders and is certified in Nutrition For Mental Health. Diane has written a number of bird behavior books and she offers behavior consultations. She's developed a range of UnRuffledRx Science-backed Parrot Wellness Supplies.

Diane's products have been featured in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery and at Exoticscon, a conference for exotic pet veterinarians. Her bird collars & supplements are stocked in avian vet clinics and bird stores throughout the US. With over 30 years in the field of behavior, Diane has created thousands of successful individualized behavior plans that help pets thrive.

TAGS: #HormonalBird #HormonalBirdBehavior

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1 Response

Marie
Marie

April 22, 2023

I had one lovebird for a few months, and I adopted another female within 3 mos of rehoming Buddy, the male. He NEVER bit me before the female showed up. Since she has come, I think he has experienced some sexual frustration, as he approaches her multiple times and although they are not fighting, she is not accepting his regurgitated food offers and not offering to preen him. He comes to me for head scratches and then after I stop scratching he bites me… HARD. So far not sure what to do about it. He will also fly to me and nuzzle me appreciatively, and then bite me HARD. It definitely seems that he wants attention.

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