Grover is kicking seed all over

[LoriS]

Grover started this strange behaviour recently. He gets in his food dish and runs in place like crazy shooting seed out in all directions. Its almost like he is looking for that one seed he wants and he can't find it. This usually occurs at the end of the day when there is hardly any seed left in the dish. Once he has run in place a bit he grabs some seed and goes to his favorite perch to munch. Then its back to the dish, back to the perch, etc... Very few empty shells are accumulating in the food dish so there really isn't any reason to "dig" for the good stuff.

Any thoughts? Maybe he just likes to watch me clean up the mess.

Lori :confused:

[mjm8321]

It's called foraging. ;) At some point, most lovies do this once in a while. I've found that mostly my youngsters do this to find just the right seed or my hens do it when they are beginning to feel nesty.

It make a mess and wastes some seed, but there really isn't a whole lot you can do to change it, unfortunately. Smaller dish or a covered one might help, but I've found they'll do it if they want to, no matter the dish. :lol

[linda040899]

Hi Lori,
The term to describe what Grover is doing is foraging and parrots do it in the wild. They scratch and "dig" for their food so you may want to start giving him things that will satisfy what birds do naturally. I know there's a thread that discusses foraging and I think it's in the Care forums. Do a "search" and you should be able to find some information about it.

[Flapjack]

When Jack was younger, not too long after he moved into his first cage, he used to do this. I thought it looked like he was SWIMMING in his bowl. :omg:
I went out and got him one of these: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754614&cp=&sr=1&origkw=cup&kw=cup&kwCatId=2767034&parentPage=search&keepsr=1
and it's wonderful. Make sure you get the small one, with the perch. I originally got him the medium size, and he was still able to get his feet in, so I exchanged it for the small. No more mess. :)

[Mydoona]

its funny my Keiko flings food all over the place too but Mardi is so delicate and bobs up and down and no food ever flys over the side of the bowl. I guess Mardi is a lady!