Parrot Hormones : Does Substrate Cause Hormonal Behaviour?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 พ.ย. 2024
- Hey bird lovers!
Today's video responds to a question I get asked a lot about using substrate.
Any comments as usual are welcome!
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This is perfect because I’m having trouble with this!!! 💛💛💛💛💛
It's not totally uncommon at all! At least having substrate it gives you the option to remove it then reintroduce it. Without it the little one will keep nesting!
I think I might know where the myth comes from, or at least one cause for it. Recently started using substrate in spring, right in the middle of my GCCs hormonal period and to begin with, we put it on far too thickly. To the point where she started trying to nest in it! We quickly fixed the issue though and now put on far less and it’s no longer a problem. I agree that substrate isn’t the cause, our birdy simply took the opportunity we had unwittingly provided her with!
All in all, our experience with substrate has been fantastic. Both of our birdies love playing in it and foraging around and because they get to chew the substrate till their heart’s content, (in addition to the many destructible toys they’ve got), unwanted chewing has basically been reduced to zero. Game changer.
I think that's definitely a factor. It's funny you mention it too, as Pickles showed some tendencies in Spring too. we did the same as you, reduced it and she quickly went back to normal so we can have it normal depth again.
It is so useful and enriching for sure!
Love your videos!
Thank you!
I've found that using substrate has reduced aggressive behaviours in my flock. All three birds are less likely to flight over a high value item and will coexist far more closely than when they had smaller designated food areas to squabble over.
It can be useful for that! Just having more usable space so they don't fight over it!
This is all good to know
Glad it helped!
Thank you for your videos!
Glad you like them! Thank you for the kind comment!
I have sandpaper on the floor plus no "hormonal" platforms in dark corners right now. All are in a sort of "open" corner of the cage.
Hey Jum,
Is the sandpaper under bars or just on top? Do they walk on it at all? It can sometimes cause issues!
"Hormonal" platforms are hit/miss with parrots. We found with the cockatiels all we had to do was elevate it slightly and any hormonal behaviour stopped in that area! Probably like what you described!
@@TheParrotTeacher The sandpaper is laid out on the bottom and they sometimes walk on it, but most of the time they are up on the perches and ropes. I check the soles of their feet regularly to make sure that they are nice and smooth without any wounds or signs of bumblefoot. I mainly use the sandpaper for it to slightly file their nails when they walk
@@JUMALATION1
That's fair enough. I'm honestly not the biggest fan of it personally, but I try not to be pushy unless it's something downright dangerous!
Sorry to ask , my Sun Conure has a cozy hut . Because he likes to go under a cloth or clothes if he’s sleeing and so I made the cozy hut for him. It’s from a piece of cloth that I fold it into a triangle like a tent . He always sleeps in there . Only there when he’s sleeping and not in other times . Should I remove it ? Thank you .
Hey Liem,
We don't really recommend them at all as they can make hormonal behaviour worse and in other contexts can be made of unsafe materials. (I've covered this in other videos)
If it were me, I'd remove it. But it's totally your call. If you do decide to do so phase it out and remove it in the morning so he can get used to it not being there. also provide a couple of extra high up sleeping perches and potentially a toy to one side of one he can lean against.
@@TheParrotTeacher oh okay . Thanks for the advice . I’ll try to remove it if it’s not good for him . Hope he’s not looking for it . Toys for leaning , noted . I’ll try it . Thank you so much .
@@liemsioeming1821 No worries!
I use substrate rarely due to the cost of it but when I do my female seems to get hormonal over it. She shoves her butt up in the corner and does what I call "carving out a spot" she lunges out at her cage mate while in that stance too. I would like to use it more often if cost allows but I get paranoid with her as I don't want to encourage laying.
Another question, does carefresh not add anything for controlling odors? I find their packaging misleading and problematic because they state they have a "technology" for odor control and it makes me think that something is added that COULD be harmful. It is definitely cheaper where I live and more widely available as well.
Hey Vixetine,
It's interesting that the substrate seems to trigger that. Does she ever do it without it in the cage? Are any other factors at play?
Regarding carefresh we've asked them and they said no. As far as we are aware it's safe as we are paranoid about such things to. We have been using it safely for quite some time now. We tend to use Easichick for our cages and carefresh for foraging activities. I'd stick to the plainer types too.
@@TheParrotTeacher She does do it occasionally with the grate in her cage, especially when the cage light is turned off for bedtime. She just happens to do it more often with substrate. I have two foraging boxes on top of the cage for them that is filled with aspen and shredded kraft paper and she never does it in there.
I am happy to hear that about carefresh, I am going to buy a big bag of the white version (easier to see and clean the poops) and see how it goes. I work full-time so having some foraging for them while I am away is important to me..
@@zuzushy
If you want to monitor it, try using it sparingly in the cage and keep the depth low. It's also important to trial it both during and out of hormone season to see if that's a factor too!
What is substrate???
I have not seen this in US
Substrate is just a word to describe a material used at the base of the cage to forage/keep clean.
I have a video called "All about Substrate" worth watching!
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