My kakariki is ripping the sage I put in my tea and rubbing it on himself?

[RCP]

It is weird considering I've never seen him doing it before, he usually steals it for a bit or two but recently he's been putting tiny bits of it in between his feather. It's like disguising his smell in it, I don't know man, but this is a first time for me. I'm hiding the sage from him, he's plucked most of it. Do species of its genus use sage to attract mates? I've researched it but I can't seem to find anything on it. Can you post some resources in the thread about it?

 

[LaManuka]

Interesting behaviour! I can’t see anything that suggests sage is bad for him Some birds carry nesting material by sticking it in their feathers, others rub themselves with various plants or even ants (!) for their antibacterial/antimicrobial properties. Or it could be he just likes the taste or smell. A very wise person once said “birds are weird”, maybe that’s what’s going on here?!

 

[RCP]

It does seem weird, never seen him doing it before. He'd usually take it and run away with it. I'd like to know more about this certain behaviour, are there resources you can point me out to?

 

[noodles123]

Hiding things in feather is a nesting/hormonal behavior. My cockatoo will try to hide pellets and things in there when hormonal.
I am not saying it isn't smell-related, but sticking stuff in feathers has a common association with nesting.

 

[EllenD]

Yep, as Noodles said, usually when they hide anything in their feathers it's a hormonal/nesting behavior...Spring is coming!

 

[noodles123]

Stick to petting your bird on the head and neck only. Remove access to any shredding/nesting materials (including bamboo mat toys in an already hormonal bird)...No dark spaces (under furniture, covers, pillows, boxes, towel tubes, huts, ...just no shadowy places at all.)