Leaderboard

I try not to encourage him regurgitating for me as I don't want him to get frustrated. He had a particularly hormonal time just before he decided to take a disliking to me nearly two years back- I couldn't even say hello to him without him getting worked up. So I am trying not to encourage that kind of behaviour with me. We're doing good with our trust and relationship and have been working hard to build bridges again so I'm trying not to do anything to rock the boat and set things back. I wasn't sure on the toy though as he's not really regurgitated for a toy before, so it was a new one on me after 17 years! It is one of his favourites and he does normally get a lot of exercise by hanging upside and beating the snot out of it - so I was reluctant to remove it but obviously didn't want to potentially cause any issues if I left it there either. I'll leave it in place and just keep an eye on things. The only toy I've ever removed were some jingle ball toys which were foot toys. He started trying to treat them like eggs and tried to sit on them whilst drooping his wings and making his clucking noise. I removed them as I didn't want to encourage any egg related behaviours... just on the off chance that he is actually female and starts to lay eggs! 😂

Thanx again for your valuable help, I really appreciate it. cheers, Steve 🦜😃

My grey can be very intense and devoted. He's regurgitated millions of times for me. I don't encourage it (basically just put him back on his stand or in his cage) and I prefer it if he picks toy instead. They need an outlet so I think you made a good choice. A funny: I have had parrots who regurgitated for me and then re-swallowed it, like "Wait! I don't want to waste this on you." So hurtful. Where's the love??? lol

All is well with your parrot, feather-wise. A blood feather is a one that is still developing and still has a blood supply. Once mature, the parrot's body cuts off the blood supply to the developing feather and it's just a normal mature feather. Trust me, you'll know a blood feather; when broken. a blood feather can literally spurt blood for many feet (or even meters) helter skelter across the walls of your room. All feathers begin with a blood supply -- so the evidence of some dried blood is normal even in a fully formed feather. Also, just feather irritation to the skin could cause a drop or two of blood. All is good! No worries -- your parrot didn't break a blood feather nor become a feather picker. Your parrot simply removed a damage feather. This may or may not happen again. My grey has only ever had one damaged feather in the 23 years I've had him. Generally parrots don't injure their feathers! You seriously may never have anything like this occur again. Best of luck with your parrot -- read the forums here -- lots of excellent information re: nutrition, health, enrichment, training, bonding, etc., is here for your parrot!

So grateful for your Help LNCAG. I don’t even know what a blood feather is cause this one did have some blood on the end of it. Please let me know the difference. I feel much better after reading the information you’ve supplied me with. I know I have so much to learn about African Greys and thanx to you and other Grey owners I can always get good advice when needed. I realise there’s a lot to learn about African Greys but really enjoying the journey. Matilda is without a doubt the best pet I’ve ever had. Thanx again, have a great day. 🦜😃👍

>>Thanx for your advice. The only problem I’m having is when my girl flies then lands she starts screaming so I’m thinking the base of the feather is still there. There’s no way she will even let me pull out her wing to see what’s going on. Im thinking I may have no choice but to take her to the Vet. I’m really worried about her. She has put back on the 10 grams she lost. << Glad her weight is improving! And welcome to parrot issues 101. Yeah, I ended up taking my macaw to the vet once for a broken blood feather in her wing that she refused to let me handle. Sometimes you just need a second pair of hands for a delicate damaged feather removal. And if you really feel the base of the feather is still there, but it's not bleeding, then no worries: it's closed off already and can come out later. A mature feather isn't a bleed-out risk like a blood feather is. Since there is no bleeding, I'd let your parrot handle it... the broken base of a feather will eventually work loose and your guy can pull it out or it will moult out by itself. (This assumes feather isn't broken beneath the skin -- and from the look of your feather pictures, this isn't a concern for you at all). My MOST important advice, if you ever needed to pull a blood feather out yourself, is to SUPPORT (hold firm) the wing so you don't dislocate it, and to pull out the feather in the direction the feather is growing. Those feathers can be very tight and firmly in place while developing! Thankfully this information isn't relevant in your case! And I get your fears, I've pulled out several broken blood feathers, without help, all the while the various parrot was biting at my hands. Difficult to know if it was the feather was bleeding out or if I was! Good times! lol The thing with a blood feather is that it acts like a catheter, er, the feather sheath is like an open straw, directly connected to a parrot's vascular system -- hence it bleeding out. It almost like a cut artery of sorts. Your parrot was different -- it was a mature feather. Be GLAD! (23 years experience keeping parrots -- from small cockatiels to large macaws [plus 32 years experience with any birds, like zebra finches])

Thanx for your advice. The only problem I’m having is when my girl flies then lands she starts screaming so I’m thinking the base of the feather is still there. There’s no way she will even let me pull out her wing to see what’s going on. Im thinking I may have no choice but to take her to the Vet. I’m really worried about her. She has put back on the 10 grams she lost.

Ahhh....what a good lookin Alfie.