Eating droppings? What is going on here?

PrimorandMoxi

Well-known member
May 29, 2015
474
658
New Jersey
Parrots
Max (23yo) Blue and Gold Macaw,
&
PRIMOR (8yo) Red Lored Amazon,
&
ABBA (33yo) Red Lored Amazon - RIP
Abba is thirty three and we have had her for nine months. We transitioned her from an all seed diet to fresh foods supplemented with Harrison’s pellets. She is somewhat finicky, but over the time she has been in our flock she has maintained her weight and her feathers look great compared to when we got her.

Recently I noticed that she was eating her droppings: she will climb to the grate of her cage and scrape it off and eat it. Is she missing something in her diet? Is this a trip to the vet?

any help and advice is most appreciated.
 

wrench13

Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Parrot of the Month 🏆
Nov 22, 2015
11,383
Media
14
Albums
2
12,567
Isle of Long, NY
Parrots
Yellow Shoulder Amazon, Salty
That cant be good. I would keep the bars like surgically clean, until this habit goes away.
 

plumsmum2005

New member
Nov 18, 2015
5,330
94
England, UK
Parrots
Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
Hi, I am seeing finicky eater and suspicious that she could be deficient in her diet. Is she eating poo a lot? Do you weigh her on a regular basis, which is a good indicator if things are ok? Better to be safe than sorry so I'd give the AV a ring, ask what they think? I have a fussy eater myself and it's a pain, seem to be constantly checking what's been eaten and what's not. Had to sit and feed mine this morning just to get him to show interest in his fresh food just because I've added ground walnuts to his dish today.
 

henpecked

Active member
Dec 12, 2010
4,858
Media
3
18
NC/FLA
Parrots
Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
We've had several threads over the years about eating their droppings. My zons do it on occasion. I don't think it's a sign of any health issue. It might be they are adding a healthy bacteria back into their system or it's the closest thing they can find to grit. I have noticed they only eat the dried hard stuff.
 

AmyMyBlueFront

Well-known member
Apr 14, 2015
6,315
Media
4
3,034
Connecticut
Parrots
Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
as a kid,we had a blind dog that would eat the cat cr..... oh never mind! :54:
 
OP
PrimorandMoxi

PrimorandMoxi

Well-known member
May 29, 2015
474
658
New Jersey
Parrots
Max (23yo) Blue and Gold Macaw,
&
PRIMOR (8yo) Red Lored Amazon,
&
ABBA (33yo) Red Lored Amazon - RIP
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #8
HEY! With all do respect: stop scat shaming my sweetie bird!

I would expect it on another "Parajita" forum but not this one.

LOL!
 

JerseyWendy

New member
Jul 20, 2012
20,995
24
Oh my gosh, I would NEVER do that, I promise!!!

The 'pajarita' comment required me to wear a diaper, which I wasn't...so pardon me while I clean up really quickly.....

 

KrisandPenelope

New member
Aug 23, 2015
72
0
North Carolina
Parrots
Penelope Primrose: Crimson bellied conure
My CB conure just recently acquired the same habit and when I put a call in to my avian vet he told me it was nothing to worry about as long as ever thing else seemed normal. He also told me that some birds like to self clean and when their poop drops to the bars and gets stuck they peck and chew it till it comes clean off the grate.
 

plumsmum2005

New member
Nov 18, 2015
5,330
94
England, UK
Parrots
Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
My CB conure just recently acquired the same habit and when I put a call in to my avian vet he told me it was nothing to worry about as long as ever thing else seemed normal. He also told me that some birds like to self clean and when their poop drops to the bars and gets stuck they peck and chew it till it comes clean off the grate.

I am hopeful of offering mine the broom so he'll get the message LOL
Seriously, thanks for the update.
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top