Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 5/18/2006

Question
Hi Chrys. We've spoken before and I've really appreciated your help with my
lovebird Banjo. I am very concerned about a new behavior he/she has
adopted. She (I call Banjo a 'she' but I have no idea if it's a male or female) has
started throwing uo her food all over her happy hut. She does this weird
gyrating dance and then up comes her food. It's getting to be very very
excessive. Is this something called 'gacking'? Her happy hut (green fun fur
pouch) is covered in this well, birdy barf. It's very upsetting to me because I'm
not sure if she is getting the nutrition she needs or if she is making herself ill.
Her beak looks dry and I'm scared she is becoming obsessed. When I have her
out of her cage she is her usual social chatty self. She is about 9 months old
and her cage is full of toys that she seems happy to play with. Please help if
you can, I'm getting really worried.  Thanks so much Chrys, I appreciate your
time and knowledge.

erin

Answer
Hi, Erin.  Thanks for posting again.  I'm glad I can help you with your lovebird.

You have nothing to worry about!  What Banjo is doing when s/he reguritates food is showing her affection towards her happy hut (or towards you if you are in the area when she does this).  I'm going to have to start using the term "birdy barf!"  I try to be polite and just say reguritating, but I like the term "birdy barfing" much better!

This is normal behavior in a parrot who wants to express their affection for someone or something (evidently, s/he LOVES the happy hut).  This behavior is also what a pair of parrots do when they are pair-bonded...the male reguritates food to his female mate (a sign of pair-bonding, i.e., a pair of birds who most likely will mate and produce babies at some point).  This is also how parrots feed their offspring.  So, no need to worry unless s/he barfs all over a nice, new piece of clothing you have on when the lovebird is sitting on your shoulder!  S/he is not going to be affected healthwise by this behavior.  You will probably need to wash/clean the happy hut occasionally (or replace it with new one as necessary).

Chrys