Strange sleeping behavior? Or normal?

[Chariclo]

:oops: Okay - as a new Macaw owner, I'm not sure sometimes if what I'm seeing in my 7 month old is typical macaw behavior, baby behavior, or if it's time to call in a pet psychic - so here it goes...

Maia does not sleep like a regular bird. Any other birds I've had have always tucked their heads around back to their wing and tucked it in, one foot up. Not Maia. When it is cuddle time, she grabs a hold of the top of her head with one foot, and lays on her side, as if she's blocking out the light. Now I thought she only did this when lying on the couch with me, however when I peek in on her at night, she is in the Y of a branch in her cage doing the same thing! Even lying on her side!?:shock:

She seems to be comforted by this foot on head thing. But I'm worried she'll roll right off her perch! AND I'm concerned she'll "poke her eye out!" -(to use a phrase I heard many times from my mother when I was a kid)

Come on Outlaw - let me know what you think of this...??? :D

[The Outlaw]

Hmmmmm.I'm not sure. Do you cover her cage at night? Try that. She sounds like she needs some form of security blanket. I don't think its anything to worry about however. Just be glad she sleeps!

THE OUTLAW

[Chariclo]

Yep-cage is covered. She sleeps fine. Goes to bed faithfully at 8:30. Gets up okay too. I guess if you don't think that it's anything to worry about, then I'll just let her do her thing. I'll be posting pictures soon so you can see this - it's pretty goofy!

[Joel]

Hmmmmmm, I myself have never seen or heard of anything like that but I would get it on video tape and submit to Funniest/strangest video type shows if I were you maybe, might win ya 10,000 or more? :)

[TooLover]

Actually, I am going to submit Buck Buck doing the imitation of the chickens he was raised near and maybe win some big bucks! Funniest darn thing I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Outlaw]

Laurie:

I had a similar experience with a female Severe that I owned for only 3 months. She was raised around game fowl and did the craziest wild turkey calls you've ever heard. It drove me nuts. During breeding season, she actually used their mating calls.

We have since parted ways. :oops:

THE OUTLAW

[TooLover]

:shock: :!:

[Tivona]

I know that they sell tents for parrots which work really well!! I am not sure if they make them in Macaw sizes but you can check it out at a pet store, if not maybe you could construct one yourself. They seem to esspecially love the fleece lined ones. Hope u try it out! :-)

[TooLover]

My U2 loves to squat/roost - I wonder if he would enjoy the hammock in his cage? Do you have a web link? Thanks!

[Peaches]

Most if not all birds can "lock" their feet when perching to prevent falling; if they didn't they'd be falling out of trees all the time right into the mouths of ground predators !