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My lilac crowned is 12 and with me since weaning. I've bragged often and recently that she's so steady that I've never seen even a hint of sexual maturity in her behavior. Well, I won't be saying that again Last Thursday she began flying to other birds' stands and attacking them, even flying after them as they try to escape. She's had to spend an inordinate amount of time in her cage so her flockmates aren't abused. When it's her turn to be out, she always wants to be on the stand nearest me, and then on my hand, and then my shoulder. I realize she's wanting to love me fiercely, but because this behavior is so new, I know better than to trust her to not overload and bite in her excitement. She's full of fluffing and pinning and saying "HIIIIIIII!!!!!" in an exuberant voice But my hand is still healing from the first hard bite she's ever given me -- as I tried to break up a fight she provoked with a tiny quaker girl. So, I keep removing her from my shoulder and not cuddling her without protecting my face and the girls. I've always cuddled her with my hand cupping her head and face, while she leans her beak against my chest, but I'm being especially careful this week to never let my hand slip lower on her body.

I've never known anyone else with a female LCA so I'm wondering if anyone here can give me any hints of what to expect. I know 12 is quite late for a first hormonal surge, but I handle her too much daily to have overlooked this for years. She's been flighted only a year or two. Could that freedom be contributing to the intensity of this? She's enjoyed flying so much that I'm extremely reluctant to clip her, but will if she continues to attack the other birds more than another few weeks. I'm very hopeful this disruptive behavior will end as suddenly as it began ... and FAST!

Any info or advice will be most appreciated.

I have a female LCA and she is also 12. The only thing she does is sometimes get annoyed by my Hahn's macaw and lets her know it. I have to be careful because she has bit the Hahn's enough to put a small mark on her beak but that is about it. My LCA has never been extrememly aggressive. She does not intentionally go over to the Hahn's to provoke a fight. You may want to clip your LCA's wings and see what happens. My Hahn's gets a bit more aggresive when she is fully flighted. Have you taken the LCA to the vet lately? Is she okay physically? Keep me posted ont he situation.

Carole

Thanks, Carole I appreciate your advice. How fun that, with so few LCAs among us, we both have 12yo girls! She is overdue for her annual exam, so I'll take care of that right away.

Aren't we lucky?!!

There are too few lilac crown owners These are great birds and I am so happy to own one. Keep me updated on the annual. I hope everything is okay.

So very true, Carole She looked good on physical exam, with no sign of any fat pads. Not sure how many days before the bloodwork results are available. Probably tomorrow since they're done in-house. She's clipped now... SOB This afternoon she landed in the middle of my back and bit me hard just below my neck in her anger that I was carrying the quaker out of the room. I'm feeling major guilt, but it's done. Sigh. They'll grow back, and I'll see if she's back to her sweet self by then. The vet agreed that it's most likely the combo of nippy fall weather and those long wings, with a surge in sexual hormones. I'll let you know what the CBC shows.

Thanks again!

Your LCA amazon sounds like my Hahn's macaw. She bonded to my husband who used to have her on his shoulder and carry her around all of the time. Now she bites him and he cannot pick her up unless it is in a neutral spot in a room somewhere where she normally does not hang out. Whenever he carries around the LCA , the Hahn's flies over to him and gets very jealous. She will bite my husband even if her wings are clipped. The Hahn's is not like that with me. Fortunately the LCA is not really bonded to either one of us but she changes her preferences from time to time.