What Does This Mean?

Taw5106 · Nov 15, 2015

Today she started bobbing her head and I took the opportunity to record this. She's never done this before. First, that's Husband's feet and he knew she was down there and I was recording. Second the dogs were outside. Venus was all about the couch and Husband's shoes. Third this is the first day in over a week she showed interest under the couch. I thought we were over the nesty period but now I'm wondering.

What is the head bobbing for?

[ame="https://youtu.be/rZHqvl_TCIc"]November 15, 2015 - YouTube[/ame]

camo · Nov 15, 2015

I am sooooo sorry.....I was giggling the whole way through the video, I really hope it is not something negative or I will be feeling bad, but it just looked so funny. All I can offer is I have never seen Pebbles do this.

Cheers,

Cameron

chris-md · Nov 15, 2015

Could it be regurg?

Scott · Nov 15, 2015

Looks similar to the feeding-from-a-spoon head motion. Was Venus spoon or syringe fed?

Taw5106 · Nov 15, 2015

Scott said:
Looks similar to the feeding-from-a-spoon head motion. Was Venus spoon or syringe fed?

I don't know, I got her at 2 years old with no information, however, she loves spoons so I'll lean towards spoon fed. She takes medicine by spoon, has to have a spoon to play with, if she won't eat and I want her to eat all I have to do is show her a spoon. She seemed intrigued by Husband's shoe that was above her. I wonder if she was looking for the shoe above to feed her? She knew it was Husband. And that other shoe, no it can't have any, lol. Husband wasn't hurt when she spun on his other foot. I died laughing.

rosembers · Nov 15, 2015

It looks like a regurgitation head bobbing...but you may want to show that to your avian vet since there are many reasons for head bobbing. It could just be that she's enjoying your company. But if it's a regurgitation bobbing, that is a hormonal behavior that you probably don't want to encourage (can cause her to regurgitate for you because she loves you like a mate which can lead to behavior issues and also becoming egg bound). I knew someone who had a bird that regurgitated for her and she thought it was an endearing gesture, but then her bird (Macaw) became eggbound with her first eggs in 25 years. And this lady is a parrot EXPERT and her poor bird ended up being unable to pass the eggs and had to get horrendous surgery...

Anansi · Nov 16, 2015

I agree with Scott, it most resembles a feeding reflex when a bird is being fed via syringe, spoon, or even another bird.

I have no idea what might be triggering it in that video, though. Perhaps a crop adjustment of some sort?

Dopey · Nov 16, 2015

Usually when mine does that it is followed by a mouth full of regurge.

Anansi · Nov 16, 2015

Does yours do the regurgitation reflex that fast, though? I mean, it definitely resembles the motion when my ekkies are regurging for me, but at a much faster speed.

Maybe different birds move differently when regurgitating, some going faster than others, but it more resembles a feeding reflex than anything else.

I'm really interested in learning the answer to this.

JerseyWendy · Nov 16, 2015

Looks like regurg motion to me as well, especially because she also appears to see if she can go under the couch (looking for nesting ground).

Taw5106 · Nov 16, 2015

Here is a clip of Venus a month ago. I took this as regurgitating. She does this with spoons, and her food, and it goes on for 5 - 10 mins. She hasn't tried to regurgitate on me or in my hair in over a month. In last night's video, she wasn't making any sound, just bouncing. She also hasn't done it again since.

[ame="http://youtu.be/5rT3oUpOpbc"]October 14, 2015 - YouTube[/ame]

JerseyWendy · Nov 16, 2015

Hmm. IMO she's either remembering being fed via spoon, OR she's looking at the spoon as an open beak that needs feeding.

Dopey · Nov 16, 2015

Anansi said:
Does yours do the regurgitation reflex that fast, though? I mean, it definitely resembles the motion when my ekkies are regurging for me, but at a much faster speed.

Maybe different birds move differently when regurgitating, some going faster than others, but it more resembles a feeding reflex than anything else.

I'm really interested in learning the answer to this.

I watched the video again...definitely what mine does and then regurges. Then repeat it.

Taw5106 · Nov 16, 2015

I got Venus in January of 2015 from a Petshop that is closed now. I was told she was about 2 years old, and she was a rehome. The lady that had her prior couldn't care for her anymore so she ended up at this shop. I am not sure of her age, neither is the vet so here's a thought/question. If she is remembering being spoon fed ( first video), could that action help drill down an age range? Could her actions with the spoon help in determining that too? She's healthy, loves her toys, food and interacting so health wise she's good. I would love to know her age but probably will never know however I think she is very young, now I'm wondering if she's under 2yo.

JerseyWendy · Nov 16, 2015

My YN Hunter is 16, and she would take food from the syringe any given day if I offered it to her. She bobs her head when she sees it. And she makes begging noises - like a chick.

Yes, I hand fed her, but it's been a LOOONG time, LOL.

Sam, OTOH, pays no attention to the syringe, and he's only 3. I got him when he was just a little wee one, and hand reared him, too.

Ripley goes ballistic over the syringe, and I didn't wean him, the store did. He's going on 4 now.

So unfortunately I don't think you can try and determine Venus' age by her behavior towards the spoon.

Since you haven't seen Venus regurgitate before and/or haven't seen her wanting to nest, perhaps she truly IS right around the 2 year mark now, especially because she IS doing the above.

littleredhen77 · Nov 16, 2015

my Ziggy bird does a head bob similar, however he only bobs 3 or 4 times before he has some regurgitated food in his mouth to offer up.

my cockatiel Jake however, does this same type of repetitive 'bob' as a dance, he stands near a toy wooden duck that he think is his mate, and 'dances' for her by bobbing up and down almost exactly like that while moving his feet up and down too.

both my birds are males though so i feel like this is not helpful :/ her 'dance' is adorable i really hope its harmless and shes just trying to love the shoe!

What Does This Mean?

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