Do your macaws sleep with heads on backwards?

Kentuckienne · Dec 25, 2016

The Amazon used to turn his head around to sleep, putting his beak tip into the top of the wing. Sometimes he would burrow his head down into his back feathers. But Gus just sits facing forward, usually on one foot, and never turns his head to the side or back. Is that normal for a Blue and gold macaw?

JBassset · Dec 25, 2016

Romeo sleeps backwards like your zon it sounds. I'd take a picture but he's stupid hard to sneak up on.

SailBoat · Dec 26, 2016

All Hookbills are able to sleep with their heads turned to the back and with their Bill buried into the feathers /wings on their back. This position allows them to reduce the heat loss of the Bill. It also centers their weight over their leg(s).

Our Amazons would not sleep in this possible until they had become very comfortable with their new surroundings, commonly nine to eighteen months after their arrival. I believe, but have not seen any studies to proven that they sleep deeper in this position. That based on my observations over the years.

Does Romeo have the flexibility to preen his back feathers? If yes, give it some more time.

Kentuckienne · Dec 26, 2016

Gus can reach some of his back feathers but not all of them. When he arrived he had lots of pin feathers on his head and lower back, but he wasn't all pin feathers so he can reach some. Maybe it's just not comfortable for him to twist his neck because of the kyphosis in his spine? And maybe he's still changing - when he arrived he would hardly climb. He could only get on top his cage with difficulty and he moved very slowly. He was caged a long time with another macaw so he probably didn't have much exercise room. Now he climbs the ladder, romps all over the cage, hangs by his beak and swings down to the floor - which introduced a whole new set of problems. If he begins head tucking I'll be overjoyed because it will mean he's getting healthier!

Kiwibird · Dec 26, 2016

Could be one of those things where individuals feel more comfortable in different positions. Kind of like how some humans sleep on heir back or side or stomach...?

wrench13 · Dec 26, 2016

Salty sleeps bacwards when he is sick, apparently. We never saw him do that until his recent booboo/head injury.At first i was like 'Why is he preening all the time?' Closer inspection showed he was sleeping.

GaleriaGila · Dec 26, 2016

I have never seen the Rickeybird sleep with his head on backwards.

SilleIN · Dec 26, 2016

My babies sleep with their beak tucked in during the night. They usually take 1-2 naps during the day and they never tuck their beaks during their daytime naps.

If they sleep in my bed, they don't tuck their beak either. They tend to sleep on their belly on my chest, so I guess they relax their necks this way (I know, weird, but they do as they please in this house and it works for all parties)

SailBoat · Dec 26, 2016

SailBoat said:
All Hookbills are able to sleep with their heads turned to the back and with their Bill buried into the feathers /wings on their back. This position allows them to reduce the heat loss of the Bill. It also centers their weight over their leg(s).

Our Amazons would not sleep in this possible until they had become very comfortable with their new surroundings, commonly nine to eighteen months after their arrival. I believe, but have not seen any studies to proven that they sleep deeper in this position. That based on my observations over the years.

Does Romeo have the flexibility to preen his back feathers? If yes, give it some more time.

Where did I come up with Romeo? Oh yaa, the other Post!

Anyway, sorry Gus! Keep screwing with moms head and she may just cut off your supply of fun stuff! Naaaaw, no way, she's too much of a sweetheart.

SailBoat · Dec 26, 2016

GaleriaGila said:
I have never seen the Rickeybird sleep with his head on backwards.

Rickeybird, likely never sleeps that deeply since he has to keep an eye out for all those demons!

GaleriaGila · Dec 26, 2016

I can fully accept that, Mr. Boat. I'm the main demon, really.

In fact, he never sleeps outside his cage, and certainly never when near me.

I can't be trusted. I'm unfaithful: I touch other people, pets. I'm a thief and hoarder of green chiles. I commune with other demons... phones, cams, remotes, demon bounceyballs.

Comstant vigilance is required. Poor little rooster.

GaleriaGila · Jan 2, 2017

Well, proof positive that SOME Rickeybirds sleep with their heads on backwards...

SilleIN · Jan 2, 2017

GaleriaGila said:
Well, proof positive that SOME Rickeybirds sleep with their heads on backwards...

No no Gail, that one isn't sleeping, it's pretending to sleep to catch the demons off guard

GaleriaGila · Jan 2, 2017

*smacking forehead*

But of course, Sille!
But of course!

You are wise.

FreedomAndForgiven · Jan 10, 2017

All our birds do at different times. Lucy does it the rarest though because she likes sleeping laying down, and has since she was a baby, and now has a thing with laying on her back and sleeping lol

markallan · Jan 10, 2017

I can't really tell at night because the cage is covered. I've seen Nala snooze during the day and she turns her head backwards and tucks her head in her wing feathers....

Do your macaws sleep with heads on backwards?

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