Vomiting Male Eclectus

[EileenSchnell]

I hope someone can help me. I have a 6 year old male Eclectus. I have had him about 4 months. He loves being on me all the time. What I am facing is that he is constantly vomiting on me. Not just once a day but a lot. I feed him all the good fresh veggies and fruit...beans and rice...plus some pellets and eclectus seed. I have read where its normal for them to vomit on the person they love but all day? Any help would be helpful. Thanks

 

[Allee]

Welcome to the forums!

There is a difference in regurgitating and vomiting. When a parrot regurgitates he or she is offering food to the object of their affection. Parrots will do this more often when they are hormonal or excited. When parrots regurgitate they make an up and down pumping motion, some parrots never bring up anything, others do.

When a parrot vomits they will usually shake their heads from side to side and spray undigested food. If your parrot is vomiting a hasty vet visit is required.

It sounds like your bird is regurgitating, if that's the case you may want to limit physical contact for a few days. Interact in positive ways without touching your bird, offer foraging toys to distract him. Give him something to do other than focusing his attention on feeding you.

Best of luck. Please let us know how this turns out.

 

[ChrisWink]

Excellent advise Aller!

 

[EileenSchnell]

Thank you so much Allee...No shaking his head back and forth. I figured it was hormonal as he did try riding my hand also. Do you have any idea if this is short term or will he always do it? Or is it just certain times of the year? He is the nicest bird...and I love holding him etc. so am hoping this isn't something he will do always. I wouldn't mind maybe once a day but its constant. He will even do it on my foot if he is on the floor. So am hoping its a seasonal thing. I do appreciate the help. Eileen

 

[JerseyWendy]

Hi Eileen, and welcome to the forums.

I didn't mean to, I promise, but you have me giggling something fierce at your description of your Ekki! How long has he been THIS amorous with you? Is this something that just recently started?

Ekkis breed year-round, unfortunately, so there IS a chance he'll continue 'courting' you. Could you possibly try to get him interested in something else? Foraging toys perhaps?

 

[MikeyTN]

Thank you so much Allee...No shaking his head back and forth. I figured it was hormonal as he did try riding my hand also. Do you have any idea if this is short term or will he always do it? Or is it just certain times of the year? He is the nicest bird...and I love holding him etc. so am hoping this isn't something he will do always. I wouldn't mind maybe once a day but its constant. He will even do it on my foot if he is on the floor. So am hoping its a seasonal thing. I do appreciate the help. Eileen

If you can discourage him you should. Otherwise he would drive you nuts when he keeps doing it over and over. When JoJo does it to me, I put him on the stand or back into his cage. Once calm, I take him back out again.

 

[Anansi]

Just cosigning on what Allee, Wendy and Michael have already said.

It's definitely not something to be punished or anything, as it is merely a natural show of affection. But you definitely don't want to encourage it, either.

Whenever my ekkies start offering up their gifts of sweet intent, I just put them on their playstands for a spell so they have time to cool down. If you're consistent with this, they start to get the idea. I doubt the behavior is ever eliminated, but the frequency can be significantly reduced.

Distraction is also a great tactic. Giving them something to chew on, for instance, or giving them a bath.

 

[kimng]

Kenzi does this with me, she'll get all excited and start the regurge thing so I distract her with a foot toy, usually works.