sitting on tail

[texas sphinx]

I've had my Blue Crowned Mealy for a little over 3 weeks now. We're making diet and trust progress. I was told he was 7-8 years old but a breeder thinks he is probably twice that age because of his open leg band. It has no info on it but the breeder thinks it probably just wore off/down.

Anyway to the tail sitting. The past three days he's been pulling his tail feathers between his legs. He pulls some from the left and some from the right. Sometimes he preens them, sometimes he just sits on them. I wondered how often he was doing it so I taped him for 6 hours. He did it 3 times during the day. Each time lasted about 30 minutes. During this time he would also kick his tail feathers with his feet and rub his head on his back as to preen. I did notice the behavior a few other times soon after I got him but didn't think much of it.

So is this some sexual behavior, has he got mites or worms, discomfort in his vent or new feathers coming in?

[texas sphinx]

My groomer that was a breeder for 20+ years says that the tail sitting is a form of "sexual activity" known to happen around this time of year.
He or she, Elway or Ellie, I will know today when the DNA test results come in.

[texas sphinx]

It's a boy! Confirmed that Elway is indeed a boy. All his disease testing came back negative too.

[Michelle & Fids]

Yes it is is a form of "sexual activity". Congrats on the neg blood work and having a boy!!!