Ezekiell

New member
Jan 31, 2016
111
3
Sydney, Australia
Parrots
Māui (white bellied caique)
Can anyone shed some light on why my baby is attempting to regurgitate on me?
Maui is only 10months old and has been home for slightly over a week now. I've read that you donā€™t want to encourage birds to regurgitate on you so every time he has bobbed his head and started trying to regurgitate Iā€™ve backed right off.

So far heā€™s only done it 4-5 times when Iā€™ve asked him to step up onto my hand; somethings he steps up fine when I say ā€œstep upā€, or ā€œwanna come?ā€, but sometimes he just starts doing the regurge head dance, so I donā€™t know if its because heā€™s excited or Iā€™ve been very careful to only give him scritches around the top of the head and neck; havenā€™t touched him anywhere that can be interpreted as sexual in nature and have only touched his wings or belly when harness training because I need him to let me touch those places for that purpose.

Iā€™m really confused and have no idea why heā€™s doing it. I donā€™t want him to start getting all hormonal before his time and lose his babyhood...
 
Last edited:
Nov 1, 2019
123
14
Oregon
Parrots
Gracie, our Blue Fronted Amazon.
I believe it's a sign of affection, they feed their young and males often do that for the females in like mating seasons. So it's either saying I love you and want to take care of you, OR its saying hey baby, let's get jiggy LOL. At least from everything mg I've read.
 

Laurasea

Well-known member
Aug 2, 2018
12,593
10,702
USA
Parrots
Full house
I take it as we have a bond. Especially in a new bird. One that might not have gotten the attention it needed before, and now is so happy with you and want to cement the bond. This behavior will fade pretty quickly as they feel more comfortable with you. My rescue was frantic to regurge to me when I first brought her home. She was overwhelmed with getting actual attention after who knows how long. I just let her. I even talked to my vet because she was doing it so much. My vet told me to make her feel reassured and accepted. You shouldn't reject , because will hurt their feelings, they ar giving up food for you that's a big gift. I don't make a big deal, just say I love you too, wait , and tgennmove them to a play stand or redirect.
You might like this article it covers a lot of behaviors.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-behavior/
 
Last edited:
Nov 1, 2019
123
14
Oregon
Parrots
Gracie, our Blue Fronted Amazon.
I take it as we have a bond. Especially in a new bird. One that might not have gotten the attention it needed before, and now is so happy with you and want to cement the bond. This behavior will fade pretty quickly as they feel more comfortable with you. My rescue was frantic to regurge to me when I first brought her home. She was overwhelmed with getting actual attention after who knows how long. I just let her. I even talked to my vet because she was doing it so much. My vet told me to make her feel reassured and accepted. You shouldn't reject , because will hurt their feelings, they ar giving up food for you that's a big gift. I don't make a big deal, just say I love you too, wait , and tgennmove them to a play stand or redirect.
You might like this article it covers a lot of behaviors.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-behavior/
I wish my Gracie girl would barf on meeeeee.
 
OP
Ezekiell

Ezekiell

New member
Jan 31, 2016
111
3
Sydney, Australia
Parrots
Māui (white bellied caique)
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Oh that reassured me so much! I figured it might just be birdie for ā€œI love youā€ because only I get it and Iā€™m the one he gets the most interaction with cause Iā€™m home early.
I havenā€™t been rejecting but trying to redirect and Iā€™ve started saying ā€œthanks but no thanks, but I love you tooā€ and that seems to curb it quite quickly; he settles and goes back to surfing, wrestling or hanging out as normal.
 

Noahs_Birds

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month šŸ†
Oct 24, 2019
456
489
Toowoomba/Highfields, QLD, Australia
Parrots
Yellow Sided GCC's, Rosa Bourkes Parrots, Full Red Fronted Turqoisine Parrots, Quaker Parrots 'Scomo PM' 'Jenny PM's wife', PLUS: Rare Finches, Doves and Quail
Trust me, Scomo does this all the time with me
Birds just think you are their mate, as they would in the wild
Thanks
Noah Till
 

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