Regurgitation

[hiriki]

Hello again all!


Today I'm writing about my ringneck dove (technically not a parrot), Gorou. I noticed some odd behavior and I'm trying to gauge whether a vet visit is urgent or his next regular checkup will do.


Gorou and Perla are mated, but both to my knowledge are egg layers (don't be confused by my persistence in male pronouns for Gorou--he fooled me for a long time and I only recently realized he's been laying eggs all these years, so I decided to just continue with the pronouns I've been using, lol). A relevant detail is that they are currently laying. They have two nests--a hanging basket with nest material, as well as a clay nest bowl on the floor of the cage. I've found eggs in both recently, replaced them with fakes, only to find a new egg in the other nest the next day, etc. I'll probably end up removing one of the nests just to get them to pick a fricken location and SIT on their eggs but that's neither here nor there... the reason I bring it up is the basket is new, which might explain new nesting behaviors?


Recently, I've noticed Gorou hunkering down and making regurgitation motions. Each time I came over to investigate but the moment I started talking to him he sat up and acted normal again. Today was the first time I witnessed him actually throwing anything up.


I'm trying to figure out if it has to do with hormonal/nesting behavior or if it could be a health issue. I have 7 birds and I've been a parront for 5 years now but despite knowing that regurgitation is a mating behavior I've literally never witnessed it among my flock. I don't know what the consistency of healthy regurgitation is, associated behavior, etc. He also appears to always regurgitate from the same location on a rope perch in front of his cage door, with his tail THROUGH the bars and his cloaca pressed right up against the bars... I can't tell if he's standing there to stabilize himself with his tail propped thru the bars or if he's masturbating, which is unfortunately one bird behavior I am familiar with and which I can imagine might(?) be associated with the whole "throw up for your mate" behavior.



Anyway, any insight you guys could provide is much, much appreciated. Thank you <3 <3

 

[noodles123]

In terms of encouraging laying, the fact that there are still nest boxes could encourage more nesting. Is there a reason you have these in their cages? Dark spaces of any kind can produce hormonal responses (including boxes and cuddle tents/huts), so unless you want them to lay eggs, I would take them out. Once a bird starts laying, they often lay more. If they are together, they may be inducing these behaviors as a result of exposure..male or female (don't know, but if a bird can lay eggs as a result of inadvertent sexual stimulation from a human, I imagine a same-sex bird relationship could accomplish similar hormonal responses).

Since laying eggs can lead to all sorts of health issues, I would still get your birds checked. Also, make sure they have adequate calcium and nutrition to reduce the risk of egg-binding.


EDIT: I just saw that this question wasn't about a parrot, so I don't know if what I said still applies or not--my bad!

 

[hiriki]

I don't have nest boxes - just a nest bowl and a basket - but the dove pair are the only birds in my flock who get these nesting accommodations because it's really all they do as a species. I tried just letting them chill out no nesting materials but esp since they're a mated pair (they behave just like opposite sex mates) they lay eggs regardless. with the bowl and basket they never break the eggs due to just dropping them off a perch which allows me to swap them out for fakes more easily so they can sit.

as far as the egg laying goes, I've settled into a routine, I am aware of the risks and I really pretty much hover in terms of catching egg binding early. but their eggs consistently have hard shells, and they usually take and sit on the fakes.

The only nesting behavior I'm concerned about atm is the regurgitation and whether its nesting at all or he's possibly sick

 

[ChristaNL]

I've kept doves (long time ago) but never saw behaviour like this.

We also had 2 females, and yes the incidental egg (even after one of them died! and the other was alone at the time).

I do not want to sounds nasty, but getting pigeon-advise on a parrotforum is trying to get your bicycle fixed at the cardealers.
We may know some of the basics, but when it get to the finer points of typical behaviour etc... maybe ask the specialists?

 

[noodles123]

I've kept doves (long time ago) but never saw behaviour like this.

We also had 2 females, and yes the incidental egg (even after one of them died! and the other was alone at the time).

I do not want to sounds nasty, but getting pigeon-advise on a parrotforum is trying to get your bicycle fixed at the cardealers.
We may know some of the basics, but when it get to the finer points of typical behaviour etc... maybe ask the specialists?

Lol--I somehow missed this. I know very little about doves or pigeons. My reply was a general one for parrots. Sorry!

 

[hiriki]

That's very OK lol--this forum is more active than the pigeon forum I used to frequent, I thought I might get lucky with someone who's familiar with dives haha

the ultimate result is I decided it's probably best to get him checked out anyway, I think he's due for his yearly anyway. so thanks for the responses, wish Gorou luck!

 

[noodles123]

That is true-- there are people on here who know more about them than I do for sure. Good luck!!!

 

[Laurasea]

I don't know doves. I do have Parrots that regurge for me and each other and to objects occasionally. My guess this is practice behavior for if she had chicks. But I can't say it's not from illness. I second the thought is to remove all nest sites, even if the occasionally lay eggs that fall and break I would hope over time the nesting behavior might lesson. You can still place fake egg on bottom of cage after finding a broken one. I would increase activities and foraging. You can place a large dish of sand and hide seeds in it for them to hunt out. I have read if this as a foraging idea for budgies. As doves are ground feeders I think it would be safe for them, but I'm not sure. You can also fill a box with marbles larger than they could swollow and have them hunt seeds between them. Or the standard wadded up papper in a dish with seeds hidden in it, so they have to shove them around, as wild doves go through leaves throwing everything around. The idea is more activities help with egg laying. But they are certainly enrichment activities anyway. Best of luck!