Hormonal behavior in pet birds is a natural seasonal occurrence, but in captivity, artificial lighting and environmental cues can trigger prolonged or intense hormonal periods. Common signs include increased aggression, territorial screaming, regurgitation toward people or objects, excessive shredding of paper for nesting material, egg laying in females, and mounting behavior.

The most effective management tool is controlling your bird's light schedule. Birds interpret long daylight hours as a breeding signal. Ensure your bird gets 12 to 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness each night by covering the cage in a quiet room. Avoid keeping birds in rooms where lights or screens stay on late into the evening.

Remove nesting triggers from the environment. This means taking away huts, tents, happy huts, boxes, and any dark enclosed spaces your bird can crawl into. Do not provide paper, fabric, or other materials that encourage nest building. Avoid petting your bird on the back, under the wings, or near the tail, as these areas are erogenous zones that stimulate hormonal responses. Stick to head and neck scratches only.

Reduce access to warm, soft, mushy foods during hormonal periods, as these can mimic the regurgitated food exchanged between mating pairs and further stimulate breeding behavior.

Increase exercise and foraging opportunities to redirect energy. More flight time, complex foraging toys, and training sessions give your bird constructive outlets for the extra energy that hormones produce.

If hormonal behavior becomes severe, with chronic egg laying, self-mutilation, or dangerous aggression, consult an avian veterinarian. Hormone-modulating treatments such as leuprolide injections or dietary adjustments may be appropriate in extreme cases. Never punish hormonal behavior, as the bird cannot control its biological drives.