Is this normal behavior????

[carrier]

Recently Fenway has begun a behavior that seems strange to me. :confused:


She often sticks her head in between her legs and it looks like she's pecking at her vent with her beak. Is this just normal grooming/preening behavior or could this indicate a possible illness or problem?

It really looks strange.:x

[Kirby]

hehehe

I have seen Skittles do this when she goes into a Grooming frenzy after her baths. She will clean her belly and then sometimes goes between her legs.

Does she look like she's in pain when she does this?
Is this behaviour included when she's grooming or does she just all of a sudden stop what she's doing and then go at her nibbling?

[carrier]

No, she doesn't seem to be in any discomfort or pain...

She does tend to do it when preening, but on occasion she will only do that.

Her vent area appears clean, and I'm not sure she would let me get away with holding her still while trying to get an even closer look. :omg:

[Kirby]

I think she is just cleaning her self..

:x kind of like a dog cleaning his *ahem* genitals LOL
I would still try to take a look at her vent. Maybe wrap her with a towel and have her bum exposed to see if there is any redness or signs of irritation.

[mjm8321]

I can't say I've ever seen one of my lovies stick their head between their legs to preen. :lol The youngsters sometimes do some crazy things, but usually if someone is mucking with their own vent, they just turn their heads around and reach back to is with tailfeathers up.

Definitely have a look at the vent, though I wouldn't bother with the towel as it often can be more traumatic than helpful. There is a picture here http://www.lovebirdsplus.com/red.jpg that shows how to hold Fenway to keep her still while you look without getting a good old bite. If anything looks abnormal, give the vet a call.

[Kirby]

That's how the vets handle the biters :p

Unfortunately they can still manage to bite.. ok maybe just Kirby and his jell-o neck :lol

[thebubbleking]

Bwahahah jell- o neck to funny!
I would be missing several fingers if i held boo like that lol

[thebubbleking]

Oh i have never seen them clean thier own vent but i have seen them clean each others vent but i dont realy watch to closely as it makes me feel like a perverted peeping tom lol

[Kirby]

hahahahahha you're a pedobird aintcha!!!

I have seen Skittles clean her belly and then between her legs (not necessarily her vent) but that is just her manically grooming lol

[butterfly1061]

That's how the vets handle the bitersThis is the only way I've seen vets hold ANY bird - biters or not. The hold gives you control so you can examine a bird. If the bird is biting you, then you are holding it wrong.

[thebubbleking]

hrmm i'll try if you pay for my doctor bills:D

[michael]

This is the only way I've seen vets hold ANY bird - biters or not. The hold gives you control so you can examine a bird. If the bird is biting you, then you are holding it wrong.

Jackie. This is so true. I've used this way to handle many birds, even a few larger ones like cockatiels, and their bites are a bit more damaging. By lifting your middle and forefinger a bit it actually helps to keep them from biting those very fingers. The only thing is, they can sure get wiggly sometimes :) .................Michael and Goofy

[carrier]

Well, I managed to hold Fenway exactly that way last night, with only minor protest, and got a chance to get a closer look at the vent area...everything seems fine. :) She is such a sweetie-bird!

I just hope Fenway didn't get any "wrong" ideas about me touching that area! >o

[michael]

Hi Carrie :) . Although it may very well be Fenways own peculiarity, aside from there being no obvious physical damage you may want to take note of how frequent she's doing this. You know your lovie better than anyone else and if this seems to you to be excessive then perhaps she's ready for a checkup. Otherwise she just may like to look at things in a different perspective while tending herself. Upside down! ....Say, how old is Fenway now? Does she exhibit much nesting behavior or has she produced any eggs yet?.................Michael and Goofy

[carrier]

Michael, Fenway's real age is a mystery, but my vet seemed to think she was about 3-4 months when I got her. Judging from her coloring, I would tend to agree, as she has gotten more vibrant since I got her in late April. That would make her about 10 months old. Only Fenway knows, and she's not telling!:nyah: I do wish I knew her hatch-date, but will have to settle with her adoption day for celebrations.

The vet also guessed Fenway was a she, with a feel of her pelvic bones and also because of her attitude that day (NASTY) and her unwillingness to let me handle her. (mind you, Fenway was only with me for a week at that point and now is a total velcro-birdie). I am now convinced Fenway is a BOY...never have I seen paper shredding, there is no nestiness around the happy hut, and this lovie is one of the sweetest creatures I have ever been around....I don't know what I did to deserve such an amazingly sweet, precious birdie. :D

As far as the vent pecking is concerned, she doesn't do it every day, and I am keeping an eye on her. If need be, back to the vet we will go!

[michael]

....I don't know what I did to deserve such an amazingly sweet, precious birdie. :D



You know Carrie, I feel the same way! When I first got Goof none of my experience really included lovebirds, so I expected love to be shared at a distance. Although my daughter had one before me that was lovable, I felt he was the exception. My daughters lovie has since passed on due to unforeseen tragedy but the ironic part is Goofy is the brother of the one she had. Not really knowing much about lovies until I joined on here, I had no clue as to just how lovable they can be. Heck, I would even take in a nasty female if given the opportunity! Anyways, about Fenway, I kept picturing that maybe she's waiting for an egg to drop :D as I was thinking you always refer to Fenway as "she". Perhaps just out of preference maybe? Of course I did call Goof sweety girl even though my daughter insisted she was a DNA'd "he" :roll: . And even "he" was a bit "nesty" for a while there!......Thanks for the tidbit on Fenway :) ..................Michael and Goofy

[thebubbleking]

Ok i tried to hold boo like in the picture several times and i dont know if it's because i have huge hands or she has what lauren would call a jell-o neck but my hands are mangled! I mean all my fingers and palms and even under my fingernails have bites! (Slipped her beak under the nail and dug!) We are talking vintage boo bites atleast 3 layers deep and bleeding..oooh it aches just to type.......And no i couldnt use the gloves of doom beacue i couldnt feel if i was holding her to tight or not with them on...
OW OW OW........

[Kirby]

^

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAH

All I can do is laugh.. I'm so sorry for laughing... but I have to

[thebubbleking]

Remember lauren paybacks a b**ch! lol :P