Help? Why is my bird eating its feet?

[SouthernRogue]

I've had my lovebirds for a couple yrs now. My problem child has always been mildly insane. Honestly, they sold him to me, because he's a little loony. Well, he's taken to eating his toes. :( He's actually chewed off the tips of his two or three of his toes. Do you think this is related to his mental instability or could it be something else? His feet look slightly swollen, but at the same time I wonder if that's because he's always chewing on them. Thank you! :confused:

[linda040899]

I, personally, don't think the behavior is related to mental problems. This sounds like a medical problem to me. If you have an avian vet, you need to have your lovebird's feet checked and I would probably ask the vet to check for Giardia, a parasite that can live in the body of a bird and it will cause a bird to bite at the feet just as yours is doing.

This is something that needs immediate attention before the feet become infected!

[KenDRAGON]

i noticed my bird bites at its toes a little too, but not to the point of hurting or damaging them, could that be the same thing? cause i just thought he was biting at his toenails or something

[Chickobee]

Birds will nibble at their feet to clean them. And, maybe sometimes they itch or it just feels good to them. I notice my birds do that along with preening their feathers. I think most of the time it is just part of grooming.

[michael]

i noticed my bird bites at its toes a little too, but not to the point of hurting or damaging them, could that be the same thing? cause i just thought he was biting at his toenails or something

One of my lovebirds Goofy has always been somewhat fond of nibbling and preening at his toes. He's also held a rather peculiar habit of clipping his own toenails. .. Every now and then you'll hear a snap! ... If you look at his toenails closely, every one of them is blunt. ... I used to wonder why he was such a poor climber, at times, going so far as to tumble down my shirt. ... Thankfully, he's never once injured his feet. ........Or his little noggin'...........:)

[KenDRAGON]

thats exactly what she does! she really keeps her nails well trimmed and i do hear them snapping. i'm so glad this is a semi-normal behavior!