Regurgitating behavior

[crcuda65]

I am a recent member and have 2 macs who own me. Just adopted the second, she is a greenwing and was wondering about her finger grabbing (not aggressive or hard biting-she's doll) and doing the jerking to entice regurgitating or "feeding motions". She is four yrs young and super healthy. Is it affection? or a behavior thats telling me she wants to breed? I was told it can be a behavior of affection, but the previous owners never said she did this to them. I have had her out all day every day since I got her and I play with her all the time, but this seems to be all that she wants to do while I am handling her. She lets me pet and touch her all over too, but not her favorite thing about the interaction. Any feedback?

[hollyhawkz]

I have heard that sometimes touching all over can lead to hormone stimulation. Did the previous owners toucher her all over as well? Maybe it is because this touching is new to her.

[crcuda65]

she was not interacted (very often) with (estimate) within the last year, they got her as a chick and was tamed very well, but was eventually put out in the Garage, due to the screaming (for attention, I assume, because she rarley screams here). Maybe all the attention after not being handled as often has triggered her hormones?

[Congobongo]

It is somewhat of a cunundrum. Regurgitating for you is a sign of affection. However it is mating behavior that we need to discourage as it can lead to other issues. When they do regurgitate for you the advice is to ignore it and walk away.

[xafsmom]

Regurgitating isn't necessarily a sign of mating behavior, as 2 week old babies will feed each other. However, you shouldn't acknowledge it in a positive way or she'll continue to do it.

[KimM]

Newton is 4 yrs old and still grabs my thumb once in awhile and does the "baby feed" thing. I'm still Momma in his eyes, but I don't encourage it. I tell him he doesn't need to do that anymore because he's a big boy now and just gently remove his beak from my thumb. He's pretty good about it.

[silvercb67]

We want pics. :~) What kind is your other macaw?

[MissV]

Etienne (bgm) is almost 7 months and does this too. But it's usually when he's hungry. Mainly because he insists on staying out and won't eat until I put him up and leave him alone so that he HAS to eat. -.- Kids.

I would definitely not encourage, especially seeing as how if they get your finger towards the back where that ridge is it can seriously hurt!

[Johnni Gade]

Originally Posted by silvercb67

we want pics. :~)

was thinking the same! :d

[Haniyya]

ROMIE is 3 1/2 and does this "a lot". He has been doing this regurgitating thing since I got him 1 1/2 years ago. I try my best to ignore it... I'll walk away, or turn my head.. but he'll even do it when he sees me pulling into the driveway (he really really loves me.. lol). Ignoring him doesn't seem to be working. It seems like he does it even more now. Is there anything else that could be done to stop this behavior?

Thanks.
*smile*