GCC "playing" at bottom of cage or is something wrong?

Forrest

New member
Oct 10, 2017
1
0
Hello all! I've noticed my GCC, Audrey, has started spending time at the bottom of her cage. She's about 8 months old and also seems to be starting her first molt. I was wondering if this was some sort of nesting behavior? She isn't lethargic when she does it, she's pretty energetic, scratching and pecking at the corners of her cage, and crawling under her food bowl (while occasionally chewing it) I make sure to frequently clean her liner, but even when it's totally clean she still does this, so I don't think she's foraging for dropped food. She's also not in her cage often, most of the day she is out with me. She doesn't do this constantly the little time she is in the cage, but it's enough to make me worry. Any idea what's going on? Could she be sick or is this normal?
 

Flboy

Well-known member
Dec 28, 2014
12,599
4,105
Greater Orlando area, Florida
Parrots
JoJo, 'Special' GCC, Bongo, Cinnamon GCC(wife's)
My JoJo is always on the bottom of his cage, drags his beak across the grate, pushing balls around. The wifie’s Bongo has never stepped foot on the bottom of his cage—go figure!
 

Shoegoo

Active member
Nov 3, 2014
188
85
My 15 month old female GCC never touches the bottom. Always seeks the highest spot when in or out of her cage.
 

IndySE

Active member
May 5, 2016
419
36
Southern California
Parrots
Kermit, ♀ GCC (Green Demon)
If she's active, I wouldn't be too worried. If they're sick, birds go to the bottom of their cage because they don't have the energy anymore to perch. But clearly she has plenty to spare if she's running around. She might just be bored and seeking a new game. I have a grate over my bird's paper and I've placed some cat balls at the bottom of the cage since she enjoys beating those up :) I hope that's helpful !
 

LordTriggs

New member
May 11, 2017
3,427
24
Surrey, UK
Parrots
Rio (Yellow sided conure) sadly no longer with us
mine spent a lot of time at the bottom of his cage playing around chewing on bits of wood ETC so I wouldn't be too worried, only worry if you see any different signs of illness, discharge, watery poop, lethargy ETC
 

clark_conure

Well-known member
Jul 14, 2017
3,935
Media
21
2,243
Minnesota
Parrots
A crossover Quaker Scuti (F), A Sun conure named AC, A Cinnamon Green Cheek conure Kent, and 6 budgies, Scuti Jr. (f), yellow (m), clark Jr. (m), Dot (f), Zebra(f), Machine (m).
I've read some conures will sleep on their back on the bottom of their cage. It's nothing to worry about.
 

GaleriaGila

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
May 14, 2016
15,059
8,781
Cleveland area
Parrots
The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
The Rb slept on his back, on the bottom, when he was a baby.
He stilll spends a fair amount of time down there, especially when enjoying one of his giant chile peppers, which he likes to "corner" down there and then ravage.
 

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