[rec.birds] indoor ill or mating, some more information

egeffner@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Eric Geffner) (05/11/91)

Well, perhaps some more information will be helpful, My conure seems to be
eating very well and frequently, and his stools seem to be aobut the same
as when I got him.  He has not been seen by a vet yet, and the information
was from a phone call.  Basically, he just bounces his head up and down,
grabs a hold of his lower leg with his mouth ((no injury on leg, but
feathers are sparse) and shakes till he throws up, usually small bits of
white stuff, rarely some fluid.  Typically he then eats it.  I was not
concerned the first few times, as a vet and the prior owner felt that it
was mating, however it is very frequent 5 times a day, he did not do it
when my girlfriend stayed with him for a night.  Any thoughts on this ???
peace to all, eric

plemmons@nsf1.mth.msu.edu (Steve Plemmons) (05/15/91)

In article <1991May11.153943.14460@casbah.acns.nwu.edu> egeffner@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Eric Geffner) writes:
>
>Well, perhaps some more information will be helpful, My conure seems to be
>eating very well and frequently, and his stools seem to be aobut the same
>as when I got him.  He has not been seen by a vet yet, and the information
>was from a phone call.  Basically, he just bounces his head up and down,
>grabs a hold of his lower leg with his mouth ((no injury on leg, but
>feathers are sparse) and shakes till he throws up, usually small bits of
>white stuff, rarely some fluid.  Typically he then eats it.  I was not
>concerned the first few times, as a vet and the prior owner felt that it
>was mating, however it is very frequent 5 times a day, he did not do it
>when my girlfriend stayed with him for a night.  Any thoughts on this ???
>peace to all, eric

I seem to remember an article here before about this being a show of
afection.  Birds regurgitate(sp?) for their chicks and for their mates.
It can also be acompanied by some ruffling of the feathers.  I'm no
expert, I'm just repeating what someone else said.  It was either here
or in BirdTalk magazine.  My Blue Crowned Conure has done this for years
with no ill effects.

Steve