skirt dance? HELP!!

[trps68]

I hope someone can help me with my Senegal parrot, Harley. I was told from his previous owners that Harley is a 1 yr old Green Cheek Conure and after some research I found out he is in fact a Senegal parrot and in rough shape. The previous owner went camping all summer and came home once a week to feed/water him and then go back to their camp ground. I just got Harley on 1/19/14 for a birthday present for my boyfriend. Well I am the one that works with Harley because I am a stay at home mom, so I have him out of his cage 90% of the day. I bought him lots and lots of toys, I hold him and I talk to him and give him treats. Basically I do everything for Harley because my boyfriend works third shift, so he plays with him during the day before he goes to work and that is where my problem started. Just the other day, he started doing this little dance and at first I thought it was cute until I did some more research on Senegal parrots. Now he has started the regurgitating thing too. I put him down as soon as he starts his mating behavior and ignore him. As soon as he stops his behavior, I start talking to him again, pet him and show him the attention he is craving and then he does his mating behavior again. The problem is he won't stop doing it every time I pick him up. I feel bad that I cannot hold him or pet him without this behavior happening. Why is he doing this to me? Is it because I showed him attention and showed him how he was suppose to be treated verses being locked in a cage for weeks at a time? How do I get him to stop this mating behavior because I love working with him to try to get him to talk and things but I read to put him down and ignore him when he starts. I hate doing that because he was so neglected by his previous owner. Please someone help me, Harley deserves all the love and attention I can give him.

[Wayne361]

Food management and training should help immensely. Read up on these topics on this forum and apply to the bird.
Lots of info here and on Michaels blog.

Wayne

[Pajarita]

Keep him to a strict solar schedule with full exposure to dawn and dusk and reduce his protein intake during the winter. It's the only thing that helps with hormonal behavior, training is great but it doesn't do anything for the endocrine system. But, my dear, the dance is their way of showing us love and not necessarily foreplay (even birds bonded to mates would do it for you if they love you). Regurgitation is another story but all you have to do is not accept it from him so, please, don't hold your love from him! They need the affection like they need air to breathe.

[Wayne361]

Training helps temper excess energy associated with hormonal behaviours. Flight training works wonders for this. Fly the crap out of the bird and he/she will settle down significantly and show less hormonal behaviours (dancing, humping etc).

Wayne

[trps68]

Pajarita thank you, I can't say no to this little guy. I put him on a very strict solar schedule and surprisingly he goes right to bed when I tell him to. He does not make a sound once I cover his cage for the night and not a peep until I take the cover off of him in the morning. I am working on his food management now because the previous owners had him on treats, peanuts and nothing more. I have been working with him with fresh fruits and veggies but pellets are another story. He never had them before so getting him to actually eat them and not throw them out is really a challenge. But I won’t give up on him. He is so smart and he is learning more and more every day that I am here to take care of him and not hurt him.
Wayne, thank you for all the advice. Unfortunately, he is kind of flight-ed and not at the same time. The previous owners cut his wings so bad, He has one wing that has a lot of his primary feathers missing (I mean the entire feather not just clipped) and the other wing has almost all of the primary feathers gone and his secondary feathers as well. But he has been getting better with the time I am spending with him. I figured out a way to discourage his behavior, I hope it is right but every time he reaches out for me and he tries to continue his dance, I put him down, take his foot that he is reaching with and shake it like a hand and I say hello to him. He stops and looks at me right away like I grew another head. It is working so far that I am able to hold him again. It is a work in progress.

Tammy

[Pajarita]

If you can distract him, you are doing exactly right! Eventually, his endocrine system will become attuned to the seasons and he will not display any behavior due to hormonal surges so you are on the right track. Shame about his poor wings! But they will grow back and then he can fly (senegals are EXCELLENT fliers and fly for the fun of it most of the time)