erik
Chick
Chicken
Posts: 95
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Post by erik on Jan 31, 2009 17:47:29 GMT
Recently, my green-cheeked conure has been frequently regurgitating food for me, usually in the morning when I first take him (her?) out of the cage. I know this is a sexual behavior that birds do for their mates (as well as something they do to feed their young), but I've read two different things about it:
The first book I own is specifically about conures, and it states that this behavior is something an owner shouldn't be grossed out about. I don't think it's gross anyway - just looks like little moist crumbs of food. It says little more, and seems to imply that I should be charmed by it.
The other book I own is about parrots of all kinds, and it states that this behavior should be stopped. It says that if a bird is doing this, I should immediately put it down. it doesn't state why, though. The exception is if I'm trying to correct a bad behavior pattern (which I'm not).
Any thoughts on this? I think it looks really damn cute when my bird bobs his head up and down with his beak wide open, but is this something I should allow? Or should I just set the little guy down and back away? It seems pretty harmless, but I'm not entirely sure...
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erik
Chick
Chicken
Posts: 95
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Post by erik on Feb 19, 2009 0:04:41 GMT
Anyone? Have I stumped everybody? My boss, who owns a dusky-headed conure, suggested that I just set my green-cheek down, and that's what I've been doing. I suppose I shouldn't be encouraging any type of sexual behavior from my bird, huh? Is that the general consesus with you guys? No regurgitation allowed?
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erik
Chick
Chicken
Posts: 95
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Post by erik on Apr 14, 2009 23:55:55 GMT
Excellent! Thanks for all the replies! lol
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Post by Berserka on Apr 15, 2009 0:23:03 GMT
oh Erik I'm so sorry! I never saw your question before now. #embarassed# The regurgitation is perfectly normal and is not necessarily a sexual thing. It is a bonding ritual. Birds do it to their partner, their offspring and their friends. I guess it's probably not much different to humans having a hug. My budgie managed to feed me her seed once - that was yuck as I'm not that partial to seed . . . #shocked#
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erik
Chick
Chicken
Posts: 95
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Post by erik on Apr 16, 2009 23:45:25 GMT
No prob, Karen. I figured people weren't seeing this since it's underneath all the hot topics and sub-boards up above it hehe.
Hmmm...I hadn't considered that birds would do that for their friends. I assumed it was just offspring and/or mates. Maybe I shouldn't set my bird down every time then. He always so happy and energetic when I first bring him out of his cage in the morning, and that's usually when he does it. So maybe he's just thinking, "Oh thank you! You're my best friend! Here's a little treat for ya, buddy!"
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Post by Berserka on Apr 17, 2009 0:49:11 GMT
LOL yeah, reckon it's his excitement and gratitude at being out.
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erik
Chick
Chicken
Posts: 95
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Post by erik on Apr 26, 2009 19:43:01 GMT
Birds are so cute when they rise in the morning - all chirpy as they look all around to see what's going on.
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Post by Berserka on Apr 26, 2009 21:40:16 GMT
Yes, they certainly love the first light. My Boris loves to come down and bite me first thing in the morning. #rolleyes#
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erik
Chick
Chicken
Posts: 95
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Post by erik on May 15, 2009 1:02:51 GMT
Chicken tends to give me a little pinch too, but once I put him on his perch above the kitchen sink and he eliminates (he holds it in all night), he's in a really happy mood hehe.
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Post by Berserka on May 16, 2009 6:47:25 GMT
Holds it all night?!??!!! Sheesh the silly boy must be nearly bursting! #shocked#
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SARAH
Fledgling
Archie
Posts: 143
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Post by SARAH on May 16, 2009 15:49:56 GMT
alot of mine did especially budgies/conure/and new dfa max max is getting better as are the others
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erik
Chick
Chicken
Posts: 95
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Post by erik on May 16, 2009 15:52:46 GMT
He usually is! I rush him to the kitchen, cause that's the one time I REALLY don't want him to have an accident on the carpet hehe. I'm sure you can imagine. His sleeping cage is different from his daytime cage (which he's happy to eliminate in), but for some reason he has no desire to mess it up in that way. He's been like that ever since we got him. Maybe it has something to do with the cage being covered and being located in a different room? The good thing is I don't have to clean that cage very often! alot of mine did especially budgies/conure/and new dfa max max is getting better as are the others You mean they held it in all night too?
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Post by Liz on May 16, 2009 17:13:11 GMT
Jasper holds it in all night. He has a sleep cage in a different room so that I can make especially sure he doesn't get cold and gets a full night sleep... sleepy Jasper = grumpy Jasper.
He regurgitates also. I'm trying to get him to understand that a nice little chat or a kiss is much more to my liking as a statement of love!
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erik
Chick
Chicken
Posts: 95
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Post by erik on May 19, 2009 0:39:41 GMT
We keep Chicken's cage in a different room so we don't wake him, else we'd be listening to screeching and chirping while we're trying to watch tv later at night.
So any particular method you're using to teach Jasper to kiss instead of regurgitate? Chicken loves to nibble on my lower lip, but that still doesn't stop him from regurgitating every once in awhile.
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Post by Berserka on May 19, 2009 10:28:33 GMT
He might grow out of it, Boris did. By golly regurgitated seed is not nice! #shocked#
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