Holding food with both feet... unusual ???

picklesandjesse · Jan 8, 2019

Our 11mth old ecky Sonny is using both feet to hold food when he eats. I believe that most parrots just use their left feet for this. We are looking after a Major Mitchell cockatoo that only uses her left claws which is as it should be.
Maybe Sonny has mental issues !!! He sure is a crazy flier when we let him outside to join the local birds. He loves his home and always comes back when I call and use the clicker. 2 days ago he joined some local corellas as they flew overhead but came straight back. He loves his daily flights but is allowed only 2 mostly.

AmyMyBlueFront · Jan 8, 2019

Ambifooterous!

Jim

noodles123 · Jan 8, 2019

I am trying to picture this...Is the bird sitting? lol
Wait....do you mean that he alternates feet? I was originally picturing both hands holding food at the same time, but the reply above made me realize that I may have misinterpreted your question.

ChristaNL · Jan 8, 2019

Yup

definitely mental...
(just kidding!!!)
2 feet approach is more something a bird-of-prey would do, but Sunny uses it if the item if very heavy -> she pinns it agains the perch instead of holding it up.

(2 of my 3 are mostly rightfooted btw/ but there is a poll about that here on the forum, you can find a lot of birds there)

Some birds will use 2 feet (lying on their back) when playing, but that is not what you meant, right?

RavensGryf · Jan 8, 2019

noodles123 said:
I am trying to picture this...Is the bird sitting? lol
Wait....do you mean that he alternates feet? I was originally picturing both hands holding food at the same time, but the reply above made me realize that I may have misinterpreted your question.

I was picturing the same thing! :18: I thought wow, I gotta see this!

I’ve seen parrots not necessarily have one foot they always use.

picklesandjesse · Jan 8, 2019

Sorry..... guess I should have said that he uses either his left or right foot to hold food, whereas I believe other birds such as cockatoos use their left feet. He does lay on his back however and kicks with his feet if you tickle him.

Laurasea · Jan 8, 2019

Young Parrots use both feet. They are trying them out to see which is their favorite. When they mature they will typically have picked their dominant foot and it stays that way for life. He sounds to young to have decided yet

... When he gets older then you will know if he is ambidextrous, or right or left footed. My guess to young to know right now. But good for you for being so observant!

GaleriaGila · Jan 8, 2019

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, now I get it.

Still, I was prepared to answer that, as a little chick (under six months), the Rb did lie on his back and use both feet to hold food and play with toys.

Nickie · Feb 12, 2019

The visual for this is cracking me up! My Eclectus won't use her feet at all to eat. Is this something they instinctively do or learn to do? I've never had a bird that didn't use their feet to eat so I'm clueless.

picklesandjesse · Feb 14, 2019

I have no idea what is usual but he still uses either foot to hold some foods. He's taken up flying with the local Galahs now. We let him out every second day and he joins them if they fly over. Have no idea how far he goes but he returns and seems happy to be a real bird.

Holding food with both feet... unusual ???

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