Coming of Age?

[captlen]

My Hahn’s, Alf, and female will turn three this May. She has been a perfect sweetheart until now and she still is with me. She is a bit nippier with others than in the past. More importantly she has started squawking a lot. She used to have a bit in the early AM and again at sunset as would be expected but not at all a bothersome amount. Now she is at it a good portion of the day. Nothing else significant has changed and I am assuming that at 2 ½ years she is becoming a bit hormonal.

I have noticed some nesting behavior recently with here tearing up paper and building a nest of sorts in the corner of her playpen base. This is what makes me think it is a growing up thing.

Is this a good assumption? And if so, is this a stage that will pass? I am fine with ignoring it if it is a passing stage. My roommates are a bit less tolerant and if I could reassure them it will pass it would help.

Should I make any diet changes? I feed Roudybush in her dish all day, a small amount of mixed seeds when she is on her play pen, and an assortment of fruits and veggies each day in her cage when I leave for work. Her eating habits have not changed. According to my vet she is healthy and the diet is good.

Any input on how to deal with this is appreciated.

By the way what a great companion she is and has been from day one.

[bb100]

CaptLen,

Let me preface this by saying I do not have Macaw experience. What I can tell you is a mature parrot will continue to be hormonal during different times of the year depending on species. Some Parrots sail through it with minimal behaviors others go full throttle with squawks, displays, being a tad nippy & attempts to chew or shred anything in their path.

My oldest Zon (13yr) is acting up now & my Father's Zon (almost 30yr) is in full swing. For my Zon, I just try to provide him with wood to chew & boxes or shreddables to sink his beak in. I also try to put him to bed early to lesson it a bit. However, it doesn't go away ever it just returns year on year.

Good luck.

[captlen]

thanks for the input