Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 7/19/2006

Question
Hi, I was given two love birds over a year ago. I was told they were both males. I keep them in the same cage. All has been well for them until about three days ago. One of them it seems is eating its food then regugitating it below the feeder bowl. Both birds appear to be healthy. I'm not sure which one is having the problem.  My husband is a Falconer and a raptor rehabilitator and knows alot about birds. He thought maybe it was producing food in it's crop to feed its young, but their isn't any. The pile is in the same place. Any help would be greatly appreciated. My book has no exclamation on this. Mutes seem to be ok. Thanks, Lynn in Alaska

Answer
Hi, Lynn.  Thanks for posting.

Parrots regurgitate food for 2 reasons:  they are ill or they are showing their affection for their mate (whether this is another bird or their human companion...usually the other bird would be of the opposite sex).  If the lovebird is ill, you should see other symptoms/changes in his behavior and/or seed in the birdy puke.  If the lovebird regurgitates when you or whomever he is bonded to most is around him or when he can hear that person's voice, it's most likely affection regurgitation.  Otherwise, you might need to have the lovebird seen by an avian veterinarian to get to the bottom of the issue.

Lovebirds have to be DNA sexed, so it's possible you have a male and a female if you don't have the sexing documentation.  If you want information on how to have them DNA sexed, let me know.  

Chrys