Twitching?

[Candi]

Hello everyone!
My name is Candi and I just adopted a Timneh African Grey! His name is Echo, We believe he is about 19 years old and he is a plucker. I am a first time bird owner, so I have my work cut out for me, lol! I know first time bird owners really shouldn't own a grey, but he needed a home. I have done as much research as possible so I can be a good flock leader, but I need a little help.

I was told that his previous owner, the one that had him before the one I adopted him from, played music for him and that he really liked one particular Bach piece and he would whistle along with it, but she couldn't remember the name of the song. So hoping that hearing something familiar would ease the anxiety of his move, I played some Bach for him. As soon as the music began he started doing this strange twitch, he would twitch his head and then twitch each wing, very quickly. He did this repeatedly while the music was playing. When the music stopped, he stopped. I looked it up online and found two posts related, one saying it means he likes the music and one saying it means he doesn't.

I know its a silly question...im just terrified I'm doing everything wrong! If anyone could help me clarify this I would GREATLY appreciate it!

 

[lquan]

Hello Candi, welcome to the forum.

I am not sure the twitching is good or bad. I am leaning toward bad.

When I got my Lily, she was normal. A week later she twitched her one or both of her wings and she made a chirping sound along with each twitch. She constantly did it while eating or roosting on my shoulder. I drove me crazy watching her doing this for 3 or 4 days. I didn't think this is normal. Then I'd finally figured it out. It was the loud clock that hung over her sleeping cage in the loft. The rhythm of her twitching/chirping is 1 second interval. That's how I'd figured it out. That was the loudest clock in the house. When I had relatives and guests staying overnight, I set them up in the loft if our extra bedrooms cannot accomodate everyone. Guests who slept in the loft complained about the loud clock keeping them up at night. They ended up temporarily removing the battery or put the clock outside in the patio. 2 days after I removed the clock, my Lily was back to normal; no more twitching/chirping.

 

[MomtoPercy]

Welcome! My bird also loves music (but the more modern/noisy types my teen listens too, LOL). He doesn't twitch but runs around (dancing I assume) and screams along. I'd think the twitching could be a nervous reaction?

 

[Candi]

Thank you so much for your insight and your warm welcome! I think I might just refrain from the music until I get to know him and his body language better. I have researched and studied parrot care and behavior for months hoping that when I got one I would be prepared. But now that we brought Echo home I realize that it doesn't matter how much research I have done, I don't have a clue, lol!

 

[Candi]

I think you may be right Momtopercy...he just came home last night, so he is still nervous. But on the bright side he seems to be adjusting far better than I expected him too. He is eating well and he has even came out of his cage on his own a few times. I just want to be the best mommy I can for him...he has had a rough life

 

[lquan]

Oh yes, my Lily loves to sing and dance along with music, too. Lily has 2 particular rock songs that she would sing and dance to. She is very cute and funny when she does it. She bobs her head way down and way up. Runs her beak on the table top in a straight line back and forth. Swing her head left and right with her back feathers raise. Her tail feathers fan out the whole time. And she screams along with the music.

 

[Candi]

How cute!! Lily is a Conure? I love Conures...those eyes!

 

[MomtoPercy]

Thank you so much for your insight and your warm welcome! I think I might just refrain from the music until I get to know him and his body language better. I have researched and studied parrot care and behavior for months hoping that when I got one I would be prepared. But now that we brought Echo home I realize that it doesn't matter how much research I have done, I don't have a clue, lol!

LOL!! That is so true! Nothing can prepare you for actually having that feathered challenge in your care. But we newbie parronts have to just do our best

 

[MomtoPercy]

Oh yes, my Lily loves to sing and dance along with music, too. Lily has 2 particular rock songs that she would sing and dance to. She is very cute and funny when she does it. She bobs her head way down and way up. Runs her beak on the table top in a straight line back and forth. Swing her head left and right with her back feathers raise. Her tail feathers fan out the whole time. And she screams along with the music.

Awwww, cute! I'd love to see a video of that!