GCC is eating her own fecal matter...

[ANS91]

My GCC started eating her own fecal matter this week. I thought nothing of it until this morning. As of this morning, she's actively seeking out her own fecal matter and eating it by the mouthfuls. I've had her for three years, and she's never done this. Is she just really bored, or is her diet lacking something? Any tips and advice would be really appreciated!

 

[riddick07]

Well what is her diet?

 

[ANS91]

She eats Harrison's every day. She gets three or four sunflower seeds for breakfast and dinner or whenever she's a good girl. I try to keep kale, broccoli, carrots, and/ or cauliflower in her dish, too, but that is not as common a thing as I'd like it to be. She sometimes gets Cheerios as a treat. No fruit, since I don't want her ingesting too much sugar.

 

[Kalidasa]

Mouthfuls? How much poop is in the cage?

 

[ANS91]

Not much. I clean it at least once a week. She's pooping and going down to munch on the fresh poop.

 

[Kalidasa]

Not much. I clean it at least once a week. She's pooping and going down to munch on the fresh poop.

Oh I see, so it's not old poop laying around. Poop eating can sometimes be indicative of a vitamin deficiency somewhere. Has she been to the vet lately? If not, you might want to take her in to rule out any health issues.

 

[ANS91]

That's what I'm afraid of. I'm worried that it could be calcium or vitamin K. She's been totally herself. She's just eating poop. I took out her old calcium chew because she didn't like it. I'm going to go get a new one ASAP, but I'm also wondering if she's missing other important foods.

 

[Jumpingtadpoles]

If fresh food are hard to keep for you, try freezing them. Broccoli, peas, carrots, anything really. I don't think leafy green keep well in the freezer, but more solid veg does

 

[riddick07]

If you have a food processor you can use it to chop up all kinds of things into a mix that can be frozen in servings.

 

[BoomBoom]

I have to go with diet related issues as well. Not sure what vitamins / minerals she is trying to get though. If you haven't taken your bird in for a wellness exam, might not be a bad idea to take her in to see the doctor. He can probably give you a better picture. Ask him about diet supplementation. My bird is on raw fruit/veggie and some nuts and pellets. My vet okayed me to use the following supplements in moderation: bee pollen, spirulina powder, calcium powder, red palm oil, probiotic powder, vitamin drops, cinnamon powder, something else which I am forgetting right now. Since your bird is on a mainly Harrisons pellet diet, it might not be necessary, but you have to wonder if that diet is truly complete since she is eating her stool.