Beak Grinding: an hypothesis

[trancework]

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Edited May 18, 2013 by trancework

[Ray P]

A grey grinding it`s beak is a sign of a relaxed, content and happy grey.

[Greywings]

I had never thought of the heat factor that is an interesting observation.

[Mistyparrot]

I wonder if Misty risks setting himself on fire ! He does fair bit of beak grinding.

 

Seriously though folks, the amount of heat generated by beak grinding is going to be minute.

 

Steve N MIsty

[Dave007]

I've read that sometimes birds young birds like warm food in the evening as a comfort enhancer. And anyone who's held a sleepy parrot is familiar with the "FIREFOOT" phenomenon, where a sleepy bird's feet pads heat up.

 

This makes me wonder whether greys grind their beaks to heat up their head and relax for sleeping. It's just an hypothesis, but I wonder if they grind to generate heat, and they find that heat comforting and relaxing.

 

/QUOTE]

 

Parrots expel and retain heat through the skin. The position of the feathers is what retains and captures or releases heat. Beaks don't generate any heat. Beaks don't have external pores on the beak. This gathering and expelling heat goes on all day no matter what the temperature is including sleeping.

What a bird stands on with the feet is what generates all degrees of heat. A concrete perch is colder than a wooden perch. Many birds like both and others don't.

As far as warm food at night, that's the owner's choice. They may like warm food but it isn't harmful when they don't gt it. The younger the bird, the more the need for warm food.

Edited March 14, 2013 by Dave007

[danmcq]

Generating heat could be a possibility if they did it hard and fast enough I suppose. My grey grinds his beak while sitting on the shoulder and haven't noticed it warming up at all.

 

In regards the feet getting hot when they are sitting while being sleepy, my greys feet can be warm or cold. It does not really seem to be related to sleep with my grey anyway. It seems more ambient air temperature related here.

 

They are all different.

[SRSeedBurners]

I've always associated the grinding of the beak with the purring of a cat. They both do it at the same times - relaxed. All of our birds grind their beaks. I did notice for the first time on our Jardine's that she has ridges on the underside of her curl. Saw them on Greycie too. My other theory is they do it to sharpen the bottom beak or keep it trimmed, kind of like chewing your nails.

[judygram]

My sun conure grinds her beak sometimes when sitting on my shoulder but Josey never does, in fact even after she has gone to bed I still don't hear her grinding her beak, maybe she is a quiet grinder.

[Timbersmom]

Timber is a grinder. Sometimes when he is getting ready for bed or before taking a nap, sometimes when he is on my arm if it is late. Grind, grind, grind. Sure glad I read here early on that it was normal! Otherwise I would have thought it was stress.

[kins2321@yahoo.com]

Not familiar with the beak grinding.OUCH! I think that noise would drive me crazy,kinda like fingernails on a blackboard. nancy

[Mistyparrot]

Not familiar with the beak grinding.OUCH! I think that noise would drive me crazy,kinda like fingernails on a blackboard. nancy

 

Oh no Nancy. It's not like that at all. It's more like a very quiet mini pepper grinder.

 

Steve n Misty

[chelseaB]

Yes, I like the cat purring similarity. It is not annoying at all Nancy and really enjoyable to hear because you know your bird is happy & content.

[kins2321@yahoo.com]

Geez.... how have I missed that? Sophie is a happy girl, and has been so for over a decade.Couldit be she doesn't do it? Or.... I only can hear out of my left ear... miss lots of sounds. I would be sad to have missed the sound. Nancy

[Timbersmom]

I'd bet she does it Nancy, but maybe you just aren't hearing it. It isn't terribly loud like some of their noises, but it can definitely be heard. Whether she does it or not makes no difference as long as you know she is happy and content

[judygram]

I bet she does it too for I don't hear Josey grinding her beak but I know she does it.

[Mistyparrot]

I have just had a thought. Misty loves pizza so I wonder if he is dreaming of grinding the pepper over his slice ?

 

Steve n Misty

[Timbersmom]

Good thought Steve. Timber loves pizza too, especially if it is sausage. Misty is probably grinding Parmesan!

[kins2321@yahoo.com]

Sophie would be grinding for the crust! Nancy