GCC winking

[sweetpeamusic]

Nico (baby GCC) occasionally "winks", meaning he closes one eye and keeps the other open. This happens when he's relaxed, especially when he's sitting on someone's lap and has just finished a nice petting session.
I was concerned because he may have scratched his eye, and scheduled a vet appointment for tomorrow in a town half an hour from where I live because the vet in my town was booked until next week.
However, I just noticed something weird: I'd been thinking that he only closes his right eye when he does this, but I just used a mirror to check which eye he closes and depending on which side of him I'm on he seems to switch which one he closes. Last night he was closing just his right eye, but a few minutes ago I was on his left and he closed his left eye while keeping his right open.
Why is this happening?
I'm now wondering if I should still go to that vet appointment tomorrow (it'll be a hassle to go 30 miles away when I don't have a car), or if I should cancel it and just go to the vet in down next week.
He seems completely fine otherwise, just being his little rascal self, and if there's nothing wrong with his eye I'd rather just go next week (already have an appointment there too).

 

[clark_conure]

I would never say no to a vet appt. but....clark does all sorts of cuddling and winking and snuggling that, I don't even realize.

I don't want to shy you away from being overprotective but after I've had a massage I can barely get up off the table.....

If I had to guess it's normal behavior for him. But I'd hit the vet soon anyways.....

 

[EllenD]

My Green Cheek is almost 2 years old, I've had him since he was 10 weeks old I believe, and he's always been a winker! (not "wanker", winker)...He actually keeps one eye closed whenever he's snuggling with me, usually at night when he's close to me and we're watching TV, whichever eye is facing me is shut, the other may or may not be open, but the other one is always closed...

It doesn't sound like there's anything wrong, however, if it's only the one eye all the time, I'd keep the vet appointment and have the Avian Vet look in his eye to make sure it's not scratched, as if so he'll need an Antibiotic drop to make sure it doesn't get infected, that's something you really don't want.

Always better safe than sorry, so please, don't cancel the appointment. He's probably fine...But what if he's not?

 

[sweetpeamusic]

Just thought I'd give an update for future reference - The vet told me he looks very happy, alert, and healthy. She checked out both eyes and didn't see any signs of scratching, and told me "he just likes to rest one eye at a time".

 

[cnyguy]

All three parrots I've lived with have done that-- closed one eye while relaxing (but not sleeping). Seems to be a fairly normal parrot behavior.