Balance your bird’s hormones naturally
By Leslie Moran
In the wild, a parrot’s hormonal balance fluctuates with the seasons and available food sources. In our homes and aviaries, while the changing seasons can still have an influence, the food and environment we provide will either support hormonal balance or throw it into chaos.
The avian endocrine system consists of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, the gonads (or ovaries), pancreatic islet cells, adrenal glands, thyroid glands, parathyroid glands, ultimobrachial glands and the endocrine cells of the gut.
This network of glands releases hormones into the blood stream influencing countless bodily functions. These include growth and development, reproductive organ functioning, calcium metabolism, mineral regulation, feather formation, liver and kidney functioning and the secretions of other organs.
A bird’s metabolism is directly influenced by endocrine system hormones. Metabolism describes the sum of all chemical processes taking place in the body as they relate to the breakdown and digestion of food, resulting in growth, cellular regeneration, use of energy, elimination of wastes and all other bodily functions.