Hi Everyone

Im hoping you might be able to help me... please

Pinocchio has been reguritating his food onto (of all things) his foot and it seems to be happening more and more. Over the past couple of days he has also lost interest in talking and playing like he used to.

He is very spoilt with a lot of toys and people company so I am not sure if there is a problem and/or what I can do to stop it.

I have read the BBC FAQ's and it did say that it is a natural thing for budgies to do to show their effection (even if it is his own foot), but it is quite concerning when it happens so frequently.

If you are positive it is regurgitation vs vomiting you can control some of this behavior by increasing the nighttime hours by covering your bird up an hour early and keeping him covered an hour later. Make sure there is no running water near by such as a fish tank, sink etc... Different things in their enviroment will simulate a "breeding" condition and they will start get to all "flirty" to be kind with everything in sight. By doing this for a couple weeks you will see a change in behavior. Keep us updated.

Hi Elly

Thanks so much for the quick reply. Yes I am positive it is reguritation.

He actually stays in the lounge room which is next to the kitchen so I will remove him from that area and put him in the bedroom. I will also cover him earlier and remove the cover later. He has always been a very 'flirty' bird with not only his mirror, but with fingers, bells, his sead box, paper... pretty much everything and everything!

Thanks heaps again for the advice, I will definately keep you updated

your welcome you may want to also remove the mirror too just for the week to see if that helps with the behavior seeing this other budgie look a like can also stimulate him to be more flirty then usual. It is controversial if a mirror should be kept in a birds cage but more and more I read evidence on why mirrors and reflective objects can cause unwanted behavior such as what you are experiencing, possessiveness over the mirror or certain objects, frustrating with banging on the mirror to get the other bird to respond along with feeding the mirror all the time and more... So it may be something you want to consider along with rearranging his toys, perches etc..in his cage 2x a month. It makes it interesting and keeps him busy vs flirting all the time. . I also have a sole budgie so these are steps that I do to ensure Merlin is stimulated in different ways.

WOW, thats great advice! Thank you so much. I will certainly do that and keep you posted.

Hi Everyone

Just to keep you informed, Pinocchio had a change of scenery, cage steamed cleaned (without him in it) and a complete re-style of his living conditions. He was absolutely fine for a few weeks, but now he has gone back into his regurgitating faze. I just don’t know what other options I have. Is there something similar to a 1/2 a bucket to put over his head, like cats and dogs get when they pick their stitchers?

you may have to rearrange every few weeks and make sure he is covered for a good 10-12 hours daily.

Might be time to get Pinnochio a friend

I have rearranged his cage again and put him back into the lounge. I have also taken out another toy he got from Santa and this morning he seems to be better, crossed fingers this helps...

I have heard that if he has a play mate he doesnt talk as much or sometimes at all?

I have rearranged his cage again and put him back into the lounge. I have also taken out another toy he got from Santa and this morning he seems to be better, crossed fingers this helps...

I have heard that if he has a play mate he doesnt talk as much or sometimes at all?

I have heard that about taking budgies too. What you are basically doing is diversion therapy. So I hope it works

Yes this is true, thanks Karen. I will see how he is tonight and let you know if minimising his cage with toys had helped

Pretty stopped talking when I got Merlin. Now that Pretty is gone Merlin is talking. You may want to try some enrichment things too and food forging to keep his mind busy. Is he regurg on you or a toy? If a toy what type.

Hi Elly

 

I think I will get him a playmate as a last resort. Sorry to be naive but what do you mean by food forging?

 

He does it on his foot, which ends up in mounds on the perch and ground... which is really odd. Rarely on his toy, but I took that toy out last night

where they have to forge and look for their food like they do in the wild

under food and nutrition there is the post but you may have to do a search if you can't find it I think I have it bookmarked and will look it up.

 

I think what he needs is stimulation and work his mind. How much flight time does he get a day or week?

 

I have a sole bird Pretty for 9 months and Merlin coming up on 12 months so I do know what it is like to keep them active. .

Hey thats a brilliant idea!!! Soon as I go home I will do that, thanks Elly. I will look it up and follow the instructions

 

He is out of his cage most of the time, for atleast a hour or more a day. He likes flying on the fridge to look at his reflection in the microwave and also on the carpet to pick up dirt and what-not.

 

Maybe what I could also do is get him a bigger cage to put more stuff in it so his mind is stimulated and change it all the time like Kaz had suggested. I must say Pretty and Merlin are absolutely beautiful budgies, I am deeply sorry to hear Pretty had gone

I have heard that if he has a play mate he doesnt talk as much or sometimes at all?

 

 

i had a male Tweety by himself for 12 months and he use to talk heaps to me and then i put Runt my baby male with him and he stopped talking to me but talks heaps to Runt. Tweety seems to be trying to teach Runt how to say hello. Some birds stop talking and some continue but Tweety is a much happier bird now he has a playmate.

Hi Deb, thanks for that. Quite a few people had suggested it would stop his bordom and make him happy but after reading the thread on foraging I am going to try that, and Im looking forward to it too Another interesting thing, Pinocchio used to listen to talkback radio but when I moved him, I also changed his radio to an FM station. He seemed to quieten down a little after this and now he might be bored of FM.... I wonder if its time for classical

food and nutrition there is the post but you may have to do a search if you can't find it I think I have it bookmarked and will look it up.

 

WOW, what a load of fantastic information!! Here I was thinking that I will take out the toys that are making him do it, but its the absolute opposite!! Thanks heaps again Elly, Im looking forward to trying all these new foraging things tonight I will definately keep you all informed

 

This is a quick snap of him....

 

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc118/P...g

Edited January 16, 200817 yr by KAZ

Yes keep us informed , we would love to hear his progresses. I do feel with more mental stimuation you may find him to settle down.Thank you for your kind words about Pretty.

Edited January 16, 200817 yr by KAZ
Edited for double post

Pinocchio looks like a sweety... I have a few pair of budgies, and one pair continue to feed each other (male feeds female), even after breeding has ended... I guess it's love. Never heard of them doing it on their feet though, he must love them . The key, like the others have said would be to keep him busy. I have a toy for my cockatiels, can't remember what it's called, but I bought it from a pet shop. It's rubber and has holes all over it and I stuff it full of things, from food to branches. They love pulling everything out, and if your pack it really full, it can take them hours. Just a thought. I've heard about budgies who stop talking when they get mates, but never experienced it myself. I guess it depends on the budgie. Good Luck and keep us updated

Hi Everyone

 

 

When I came home yesterday Pinocchio seemed to be back to his normal self. He wasn’t regurgitating on his foot at all

 

 

I put his little toy back into the cage and he went straight for it, regurgitating over the little love-heart at the bottom. I also put in branches so he had a variety of perches and went down to the shops to give him a special blend on nutritious cooked food as the forum suggested under the ‘food and nutrition’ section, then I wrapped it up in a paper towel and placed grass over it allowing a little opening so he could see the food inside. He just looked at it, but he might attempt something today….. normally if I put food to my mouth he would jump all over it, but possibly not with this because its quite large I will try something different tonight, but it all seems to be working

 

 

Thanks everyone for all your help and advice, I will keep you posted and take some photos as well

Just incase it helps and the problem arises again, i would suggest removing all reflective objects. My weero who is tame (charlie) although not a budgie used to have a habit of regugitating all over his "mate" (the mirror) almost as if he is bonded to it and trying to feed "her" since he's being put in the aviary with the other birds and had a mirror removed he hasnt done it again

Thanks Libby. His favourite toy was his mirror and after taking that out he did move onto a plastic semi-reflective toy so I will certainly keep that in mind if he does do it again

Hi Everyone

 

Just to let you know, Pinocchio's behaviour has changed for the better. He is extremely playful and full of charactor since I changed his cage and altered his food areas. I have not seen any regurgitation evidence for a little while now. It may be becuase the cage is too crowded Its fantastic!!

 

I have taken a couple of photo's for you all.

 

This is Pinocchio in his cage and to the right is some paper with food in it

 

 

This is the food with a little hole in the top (its full of lentils, peas, carrots, brown rice, organic pasta etc) and as you can see by the floor covering, Im still using my 'lost' pamphlets I printed out when he flew away

 

 

He wouldnt eat it at first, so I had to stick my head next to the food and pretend to eat (hmm.... yum) - yes that is my hair you can see

 

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc118/P...inocchio001.jpg

 

This is what he generally does before he comes flying at you and lands on your shoulder

 

Once again, thank you all for your help and advice

It is wonderful to know that you can turn to a forum that is full of not only brilliant advice but also wonderful and caring people who will do anything to help, thanks again x

Edited January 18, 200817 yr by Elly
changed the one picture to link because it was oversized, board regulations are no more then 450x450, thank you for understanding

Hi Everyone

 

Just to let you know, Pinocchio's behaviour has changed for the better. He is extremely playful and full of charactor since I changed his cage and altered his food areas. I have not seen any regurgitation evidence for a little while now. It may be becuase the cage is too crowded Its fantastic!!

 

I have taken a couple of photo's for you all.

 

This is Pinocchio in his cage and to the right is some paper with food in it

 

 

This is the food with a little hole in the top (its full of lentils, peas, carrots, brown rice, organic pasta etc) and as you can see by the floor covering, Im still using my 'lost' pamphlets I printed out when he flew away

 

 

He wouldnt eat it at first, so I had to stick my head next to the food and pretend to eat (hmm.... yum) - yes that is my hair you can see

 

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc118/P...inocchio001.jpg

 

This is what he generally does before he comes flying at you and lands on your shoulder

 

Once again, thank you all for your help and advice

It is wonderful to know that you can turn to a forum that is full of not only brilliant advice but also wonderful and caring people who will do anything to help, thanks again x

 

That's fantastic!!! I'm glad all is well for you both. His cage looks fantastic! Just remember to keep things fresh, keep changing the layout and toys around, introduce different foods, and foraging ideas (if it's bird safe and has a hole in it or can have holes put in it, you can stuff it with food) Untreated pine(or other safe wood) if great, drill some holes in it and shove branches, veggies and herbs etc in it. He'll have to get them out and it'll give him something to chew also. Well done to you again on your progress! :(Laughing out loud):

Edited January 18, 200817 yr by Elly
changed the one picture to link because it was oversized, board regulations are no more then 450x450, thank you for understanding

excellent news and as maise said keep it interesting