parrot digging????

[bex]

My handsome feathered friend has been didding for sometime now, today he did it for ages.He likes being in a corner or dark bit and he digs like a dog with his claws. Its rather strange! anybody know why?x

[Hannah_Rae]

What is he digging in? Anything in particular? I am wondering if he is just scrounging like wild birds do...hmmm interesting.

[christoph29]

Its just something they do in the wild from what I'm told.

[judygram]

Josey does this too, it is more like a chicken scratching but it is amusing to watch and I think they all do it at one time or another.

[lovemyGreys]

Bex your greys are still young arent they ? digging/scratching in the corner is a well known baby trait of the grey

[raehamilton]

Angie, does it too. I've noticed that she specially does it when she wants out of the cage. She is only 10 months old.

[lovemyGreys]

yep i believe they all go through a phase of doing it, my two boys have stopped now their both 1 yr old, as far as i know they do grow out of it

[HilaryQ]

Hi all - well this *may* answer my question... My 14 week old grey will stand over his water bowl, which is in the front corner of the cage, and swing his left leg out in the air, as though digging something imaginary. He'll do this for 15 minutes at a time. At first I thought it was because his leg band was bothering him, but then sometimes he'll switch legs and start the leg swinging all over again.

[judygram]

Well Josey is 20 months old and she still does the scratching, maybe not as often but she still does it and it usually is over the water bowl or when she is on the playtop, she gets on one corner and digs away.:laugh:

[DUKEdevils36]

DUKE would do that for hours when he was baby. I figured it was his way of telling us he wants out of his cage. He used to do it in the corner of his cage closest to me. At the time i hated it but now i kind of miss it.

[watchout]

Maui does this too. Usually in the morning when he wants out of his cage. I have also read that this is normal. My kids say that he is digging for China again.

[Tari]

Mine does it but I think its not really digging she is ummmm pleasuring herself. For lack of a better word. lol

[twogreys]

Peaches is almost 4 and she still digs, mostly when she is between us on the couch. She will tuck herself close to either my wife or me, put her head down and scratch away.

[danmcq]

Yep, digging is a normal behaviour they all display. They do it at different times and with various levels of fervor.

[Patsyrat]

Smokey digs when he's on the floor. He'll get into the corner between the wall and the bathroom cabinet, and scratch scratch scratch with his toes. I too say "he's digging to China!" Maybe it's a nesting instinct; or maybe he thinks he's at a clay pit or something. Don't they eat clay for nutrients...? In the wild this behavior must mean something, or yield some result; I think our birdies are doing what they were "programmed" to do :-)

[Kibibi]

Kibibi does it too. She's 9yo so I don't think she's going to grow out of it She usually does it when she's hiding under the covers. I've heard two theories about it.

1) Like Patsyrat mentioned, they do feed on the ground so one theory is that it is a foraging behavior.

2) A second theory that I've also heard is that it's a nesting behavior. The scratching helps them keep their nests (hollow tree trunks) clear of debris.

[steph]

B) they soemtimes do that when they wanna be let out of the cage 2

[SunnyRainbowHeart]

My handsome feathered friend has been didding for sometime now, today he did it for ages.He likes being in a corner or dark bit and he digs like a dog with his claws. Its rather strange! anybody know why?x

 

I have a huge macaw and he loves to scratch like a hen and dig until he's tuckered out and panting. It's fun for him. He likes to dig fabrics, especially if they have a textured weave. He also likes to chew fabrics, especially 100% cotton terrycloth towels (I don't have a single towel or washcloth without a hole, LOL. I have bought him "his" towels, which are identical in size, shape, color and even brand but he looks at me as if to say, "Mom! Really?", doesn't even touch them and proceeds to chew Mom's things.)

[kins2321@yahoo.com]

Sophie digs. She is 14. When we are hanging out in family room... she will start digging with one foot on the carpet. Its normal to us and have always questioned it, but don't have the answer. We know its normal for her, so we would be worried if she wasn't doing her digging thing. Foraging? Maybe. Its important to her, so its a behavior that is important to us. Nancy

[Mistyparrot]

Misty is twelve and he loves to dig away at the cushions on the settee! He hasn't done any damage yet. I think he likes the feeling on his talons because there is nothing there for him to chew or eat.

 

Steve n Misty

[Acappella]

Dorian digs away into the cubby holes on my desk, when he's allowed on it. I try to limit his desk time because occasionally he gets, hmm, let's say overexcited, and starts making panting noises along with the digging. I've never seen him do it in his cage.

[kins2321@yahoo.com]

I think greys dig for " foraging"... nothing sexual. Sophie has digged for a very long time. Nancy

[chezron]

Brutus digs (he's six) on my bed. He will land and start digging. He sometimes does it on the sofa. I would love to see wild Greys do this and then it might make some sense if it had some context.

[kins2321@yahoo.com]

It would be nice to see greys dig in their natural settings, but not a big deal for me. Its not sexual for Sophie. She digs on the carpet, and I would be worried if she didn't! Nancy

[Muse]

Brutus digs (he's six) on my bed. He will land and start digging. He sometimes does it on the sofa. I would love to see wild Greys do this and then it might make some sense if it had some context.

 

At Project Perry, in the Grey Aviary, they have birds that have dug little cavities in the dirt that they nest in. They are pairs, but according to Matt Smith, do not lay eggs. But the one little female had a pretty nice little tunnel going and was a bit defensive over it with the other birds. I cannot imaging them ground nesting in the open wild - as that would be really high risk for predators to trap them. I think these birds just feel safe where they are.