INFO:

Come with me to place a hormone implant in this pet bird! 🦜 Often, birds may be stimulated to be hormonal by excessive petting, especially on the back, lack of dark time or proper sleep, perceived mates or nests, and improper diet. When birds are hormonally active, they may lay eggs which can cause issues such as prolapses, dystocia or egg binding, egg-yolk peritonitis, and weak bones. They can also experience behavioral issues such as aggression or feather plucking, masturbation, and sexual frustration. The implant we’re using is called Deslorelin and it is a long-acting GnRH agonist. To place the implant, the bird is sedated. Here I used a combination of butorphanol and midazolam. We also applied a topical lidocaine cream to the skin. After cleaning the area, a large needle is used to place the implant in the subcutaneous space between their spine and shoulders. Total treatment length can vary depending on species, but hopefully this implant will keep her comfortable through breeding season!