Odd behavior from my conure...maybe feeding?

[Skydancer]

I have an 11 month old Nanday Conure, who I've had since he was five months. I was told he was hand-fed.

Every since I got him, he has done a strange thing with his beak, he likes to push the side of his beak up against my finger, open his mouth, and bob his head up and down so fast it's almost vibrating. If my fingers end up near his head in any situation, he will do this. It looks a little like what a chick does to get it's mother to give it food, so maybe it's related to that?

Does anyone else have a parrot that does this?

 

[Bobby34231]

It does sound like a feeding reflex, if you touch the fleshy part of the mouth between the upper and lower beak in many parrots, even older ones you'll get the same response, its a natural thing, so no worries

 

[greycloud]

That is exactly what he is doing. Many babies that have weaned still will do this as a comfort behavior. If you touch the side of the beak it stimulates nerve endings that trigger the hunger mode. You can offer some yummies by hand to comfort him.

 

[greycloud]

Bob, we posted at the same time! LOL!

 

[Bobby34231]

Well ya know what they say GC, great minds think alike, though I bow to your superior intelect