What is my galah doing?????

[Noddy Boid]

She is settling in really well, and we spend lots of time together. She is a real smoocher. As I've only had her a few weeks (she's about 5 months old and adopted), her personality is really starting to come out as she's comfortable I guess.

The behaviour I'm talking about is after some smooches while she's on my shoulder, she starts bobbing her head up and down while her crest is up and then lays her head down on my chest, extends her wings and throws herself forward onto my chest so that she's lying on her back squawking like she's having a good old time! :aiwebs_01 It is a riot to watch. Is it a game? Or some sort of mating ritual? It's sort of like a sideways barrel roll from my shoulder to my chest - she doesn't hurt herself or me - it's more like "What ARE you doing???" She can do this several times in a row.

Maybe it's just her way of playing. She literally puts her head down and flips herself over so she's fully lying on her back with her feet stuck in the air, wings spread against my chest (like a mammoth brooch). So I just tell her she has big beautiful wings and that I don't like them shoved up my nose!

[danforth3]

Sounds like she's playing. Give her some petting on the belly when she does it. My caique (granted wings are smaller, but yours has fluffy wings -- the caiques are sharp) does it all the time looking for some petting. She lay like that for hours if we pet.

[greyburd]

Yeah, I would agree that it's playing. So praise that behavior and try to see if you can turn it into more fun activities. At 5 months old, I doubt she's displaying any mating signs yet.

Have fun, and we'd love to see pics of her.

~don

[Noddy Boid]

Thanks for the responses. Yes, her feathers are SOOO soft, I would love to be a chick nestled warmly under those feathers! And when she spreads them out, they really are magnificent and I tell her so. Her preening gets VERY vigorous when she's doing her tail and I often get head (beak) butted.

We're getting into a routine when I get home from work. She spends about 2 hours with me and finally settles down after playtime and lots of smooches with feathers fluffed out, standing on one foot and grinding her beak. So that signals bedtime for her.

I could talk and talk and talk about her all day long. She is a precious thing in my life. But then again, I guess I'm preaching to the choir here! :icon_mrgr You all love birds too, so I don't have to explain.

[Vankarhi]

I also have a galah and just noticed you too live in Queensland. My female galah (14 years old now) loves to roll around on the grass and squark for minutes at a time. More so when she is having a shower. She will do it on the verandah rail if it is raining and she is getting wet. It is absolute "pleasure" she is having, she is "enjoying" herself. It is lovely to watch. some people might think they are in pain, but they are not, they are really having a good time.

[Noddy Boid]

Hi Tracey, I am in Brisbane.

Yep, it's definitely a joy thing - the squarking and flapping. My ears are often ringing.

She's trying to talk now and sounds so funny - like a squeaky door. I can't make out what she's saying, but it will come in time. She has special little 'clucks' that are calling out sounds to me - if I leave the room or if I'm just getting up, I hear her making those sounds to call me.

I thread toilet-roll holders (cardboard centres) on to her perches and she spends hours shredding these. The cardboard from the centre of foil rolls or gladwrap is VERY hard and it's lasted about a week now. She can't get through it!