New macaw owner question?

[HarleyMom]

My B&G macaw was kind of dancing around the other day, her head bobbing and then she vomited up a clear, mucousy liquid kind of like spit. Is this normal? She is acting, eating and drinking as normal.

 

[Stacye and Tiki]

It sounds like regurgitation. Your B&G may view you as a mate. Things like petting her anywhere but the head can encourage that behavior. Stroking her back and the like. If you don't mind the ickyness, I don't believe it's harmful although it may cause her to become overly dependent from what I've read
But if you're her person she's probably co-dependent with you anyway!!!

 

[natalie]

Yup, My blue and Gold does this several times a day, she is trying to feed you.
I tell her thank you and give her my hand and she can pretend feed it and then I try to change the subject politely.

 

[HarleyMom]

Well...I believe I'm flattered! She is only 7 or 8 months old so I didn't think she was old enough for that yet. But, I wondered if that is what it was. I just expected regurgitation to be more "food like". She is definitely bonded to me as I really am the only one who holds her. My daughters (9 and 13) can pet her while I'm holding her or they can hold her but not pet her. She lets me do anything with her and I often stroke her back and under her wings as she seems to like it.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Yup does sound like regurgitation (for a mate). Though that would often be more food-like. Keep an eye on it, if it continues to be clear and mucous-like it may be worth checking with a vet. The reason it's coming up is that she is happy, but why there is just clear stuff in her crop is curious - if that continues it could be a sign of infection.

But at this point I'd agree with others, nothing to worry about yet, but over the next couple of days keep an eye on the color/texture when she does it again.

 

[natalie]

Good advice Auggie ... Holly's is more clear and fluid like after drinking water too, so you can also try watching that more closely too, to see if it may be the cause.
Usually, Holly's is a gross white slimy look, kind of like cream of wheat.

 

[HarleyMom]

That's what I thought too, more food like. She hasn't done it again since. She had just come out of her cage and probably hadn't had much food yet. She has pellet in her cage and only gets seed mix on her perch with her veggies and fruit and such. She isn't wild about the pellet but I'm trying to be "tough" by having only that in the cage. She was still on 1 hand feeding when I got her. Pellet blended with banana or peanut butter to resemble apple sauce and fed with a spoon. She loved this and I was happy to give it to her but that was the only way she wanted her pellet and the guy at the bird store told me I should stop hand feeding her as she would always want it and it would be difficult to ever go on vacation (as if that ever happens!) and she would start to scream when she saw a spoon and so on. So I stopped giving it to her. She is holding her weight but I think maybe it is because she gets so much veggies and fruit and a LITTLE bit of pellet and the seed/fruit/veggie mix. Sorry if I'm rambling. It is just frustrating as I would like to see her eat more of the pellet. Since I know someone will ask, she is on Zupreem (multi colored) but I can't remember the name.