Ask Lafeber

Hormonal behavior

What parrot hormonal behaviors should be considered before giving your bird RX to control their behavior. How bad does their behavior have to get before this treatment is a benefit for your bird?

Hi Gala,

Hormone therapy is usually only done for life threatening issues like egg laying issues, and some feather destructive behavior. Some hens will become chronic egg layers and when changes to their environment aren’t effective, then the Vet will recommend hormone treatment. And some hens may have a history of egg laying complication like egg binding. If hormones have been determined to be the most likely cause of severe feather destructive behavior, hormone therapy may be considered. While birds do not seem to suffer from the side effects that some humans do, it is expensive and any medical treatment can have risks.

With behavioral issues, this is when avoiding hormone triggers is best applied. Learning not to pet your birds on the body, limiting their daily light, making changes with their cage & toys, not allowing nests, boxes, bird tents, shredding, etc.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda