Expert: Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott - 11/6/2009

Question
I have a four and a half month old severe macaw.  She is wonderful. Yesterday she started shaking her head vigorously and then regurgitated on the floor.  I called the breeder and she said that she loves you very much but she thought she was so young to do that.  She said to tell her no not to encourage this which I didn't of course. She tries to do it and I just try to distract her.  What do you think.  
Thanks

Answer
Is this head bobbing and then the delivery of regurgitated, partially digested food or are you seeing head shaking and the flinging of vomitus everywhere ?

If it's head bobbing and regurgitation, the breeder is right, it's a way for the bird to show 'affection' and bonding.  Even younger birds will do this now and then for their nest mates or try to do it for a parent.  It's not about mating or sexual maturity as much as it's about bonding.

An insecure bird will do this in order to be accepted by another bird.  Sometimes a fearful bird will do this in an effort to prove their value or submission.

I have a Severe that does it every time she sees one of the volunteers come in and this is a volunteer that prefers not to have anything to do with her.  So she's either trying to win him over or she senses his not liking her and is reading it as something to be afraid of, in any case - she's stretching our creative attempts to stop it.

You don't want to yell or over-react to this, but the moment you see her head bobbing, stop everything, perhaps say "that's not necessary" and turn your back or walk away.

The minute she stops, come back and resume your interaction.  

 I prefer to use any other word than "no" since birds tend to repeat our words back to us and I'm not fond of hearing "No" .  Sentences (like, "that's not necessary") are harder for them to repeat

You can check out more ideas for bird raising here  www.4AnimalCare.org