Regurgitating (and not)

[Grenage]

Greetings!

Aizen is just over a year old now, and he's started making the regurgitation motion (the cyclic head bob) rather a lot of the time. He never actually regurgitates, but makes the motion none the less.

Something to worry about (bonding wise), or something that can just happen around this time?

 

[Grinder]

I always stop the interaction with my birds when this happens. It only takes a few seconds. However if he does complete the act, remember to thank him and don't get upset. Just toss the food into the trash.

 

[Mayden]

Greetings!

Aizen is just over a year old now, and he's started making the regurgitation motion (the cyclic head bob) rather a lot of the time. He never actually regurgitates, but makes the motion none the less.

Something to worry about (bonding wise), or something that can just happen around this time?

Spring has sprung and your baby is beginning to see you as a mate. Hormones will be starting to flare up for him now. Regurgitating, whether he manages it or not, is a sign of affection towards you. Don't encourage it, but don't scold it. If Merlin starts to do that, we just put him down on the table, or look away and ignore him until he stops.

He head bobs but doesn't actually regurgitate for Andrew, but does for me. Either way, it's a good thing in regards to bonding I suppose, but don't encourage it!

 

[BoomBoom]

Greetings!

Aizen is just over a year old now, and he's started making the regurgitation motion (the cyclic head bob) rather a lot of the time. He never actually regurgitates, but makes the motion none the less.

Something to worry about (bonding wise), or something that can just happen around this time?

Spring has sprung and your baby is beginning to see you as a mate. Hormones will be starting to flare up for him now. Regurgitating, whether he manages it or not, is a sign of affection towards you. Don't encourage it, but don't scold it. If Merlin starts to do that, we just put him down on the table, or look away and ignore him until he stops.

He head bobs but doesn't actually regurgitate for Andrew, but does for me. Either way, it's a good thing in regards to bonding I suppose, but don't encourage it!

I asked this question before and was also adviced to ignore the behavior. I have been but kind of wonder if it hurts the bird's ego if we don't show appreciation?

 

[Mayden]

Greetings!

Aizen is just over a year old now, and he's started making the regurgitation motion (the cyclic head bob) rather a lot of the time. He never actually regurgitates, but makes the motion none the less.

Something to worry about (bonding wise), or something that can just happen around this time?

Spring has sprung and your baby is beginning to see you as a mate. Hormones will be starting to flare up for him now. Regurgitating, whether he manages it or not, is a sign of affection towards you. Don't encourage it, but don't scold it. If Merlin starts to do that, we just put him down on the table, or look away and ignore him until he stops.

He head bobs but doesn't actually regurgitate for Andrew, but does for me. Either way, it's a good thing in regards to bonding I suppose, but don't encourage it!

I asked this question before and was also adviced to ignore the behavior. I have been but kind of wonder if it hurts the bird's ego if we don't show appreciation?

Birds flit from potential mate to potential over and over in the wild, rejection is just part of a birdies life. A little bruised ego is usually solved by the offering of a treat or toy when they've stopped their behaviour!

 

[Grenage]

Thanks a lot for your feedback.

My wife and I separated back in December, and since he's only had me to look after him, he's become a lot less gregarious (attacks other people on sight), and I was a bit worried he'd become too friendly. I'll continue to ignore the behaviour, and hopefully he'll calm down.

 

[MonicaMc]

You can also try to redirect his behavior with toys or training him to perform behaviors and when he starts up to ask him to do that behavior (i.e. turn around, shake, 'big wings', etc)

 

[Grenage]

Good thinking; I've tried distracting him, but the attention generally encourages it and he gets very excited. As long as it doesn't get any worse, I think it will be ok. He's a fair bit nippier, but not in a 'you must die' fashion.

To be fair, I knew that he could start getting a bit weird at around 1 year of age, but until you've experienced it, you can't really be sure what it's going to be like. It's a good job I have all of you experienced fellows to question!

 

[Kalidasa]

My conure does it a lot. Her favorite is my hands or wrists, and she also does it to toys, her swing, and her play fort. She usually brings up a little, but eats it right back down. It's a gesture of affection, and I don't discourage it. It's harmless and natural.