I've never seen a bird do this before

[Girl4Jesus83]

Ok so Jake is a 15yo cockatiel that I have had less than a month now. He has been kept in horrible conditions and fed a seed diet all his life, which I am trying to better. The strange thing that he does is grab a foot with his beak and then bob his head till he regurgitates a pile of seeds all over his foot. He will eat some of it again but most of it ends up as a pile on the bottom of the cage. I have never seen a bird do this and it is so strange!. His weight seems fine and since I am adding pellet the vetafarm way (making seed cakes with mashed up pellets) his energy and droppings have greatly improved. However, I am wondering that it might be some sort of crop infection that is making it hard to break down the seed (it is only the seed that comes up). I would take him to the vet, but we are paying off some medical bills right now and I hate to tack on another bill (and stress out my husband) if I wasn't sure it was necessary.

If anyone has insight and/or advise I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Tangie]

The way you describe this makes me think that he's regurgitating for his foot, like he would for a female bird. He's infatuated with it. I have actually seen this multiple times before in different situations. When he poops, are there undigested seeds? If you see undigested seeds when he regurgitates, I believe he regurgitates the seeds up before they have time to digest. If he looks and acts normal to you, and he bobs his head when he regurgitates, then I think he is fine. Just make sure to feed him plenty of pellets, veggies,and seeds. If he starts to act weird or seems like his health has dropped, then you can take him to the vet. If he starts throwing up while shaking his head side to side, then that is not healthy behavior.

 

[TessieB]

I've seen my male cockatiels do that. It is sexually based behavior. They will also try to feed their toys, and the real tame ones will feed their humans!

 

[Gizmomania]

My eclectus likes to regurgitate all over his bell. Turns into a disgusting heap that I have to soak off every few days.

 

[Girl4Jesus83]

Thanks so much everyone! It is undigested seed, but I only seed, not the pellet mash (so at least he is keeping the vitamins down). It's a big relief!

 

[Nakiska]

That is soo funny! There is a little vid on youtube of an indian ring neck, if I remember right, his name is Marnie...who regurgitates all over his stuffie's faces...it's the funniest thing!

My cockatiel Charlie, holds up his foot and talks and sings to it. I haven't got it on video yet, he's a bit camera shy still...but one of these days...I am determined because it's sooo cute to watch!

Congratulations on your new tiel. They are such special birds.

Toni