Appearing "dead"

[kjs]

My GCC, Kiwi, has never done this when I've been home, but on two separate occasions had my daughter (in tears) and my husband upset.....both called me at work!! Kiwi likes to go to the bottom of her cage and tear up the paper towels, and sometimes just hides....this is what I see. My daughter called me hysterical one day because she thought Kiwi was under her towels dead....my husband went through the same situation yesterday. They both claimed that they don't know where she is.......call her name, bang on the bars, shake the cage a little, pull the paper towels, open the door......nothing.......she appears "dead"!! She then rouses and is perfectly fine. It, according to my daughter who has now experienced this a few times and stopped freaking out, seems that she is in an extremely deep sleep!!??!! What is this behavior....has anyone had this happen??

[TheNzJessie]

i have not had it happen with my birds but my rabbit does it ALL the time she lies there on her side (looks like shes not breathing) i freak out i go to pick her up she does not move when i touch her but the i go to pick her up and she jumps up giving me one hell of a fright! i dont knwo what it is but it is very scary!

[Michael]

This behavior sounds strange. How old is the bird? Have you considered getting rid of the towels or using a grate?

[TheNzJessie]

it is strange. i dont know about it happening to birds but i did take my rabbit to the vet and she came out with a clean bill f health 'exceeding expectations' so i have no answer for it ethier

[entrancedbymyGCC]

GCCs do like to sleep in enclosed spaces -- they are cavity nesters, I'm told, and don't just use the nest area for breeding behavior but sleep in them all the time. Does she have a box or tent to sleep in? Is it possible something has changed and she's not sleeping as well at night?

At any rate, if Scooter suddenly started doing something like this I would drag him to the vet.

And, yeah, I have one cat that habitually sleeps so soundly we have to check to make sure he's still breathing.

[kjs]

She does have a "tent bed" that she loves.......she goes to bed when I do and gets up when I do unless I am up super early. She doesn't seem to go under her paper towels when I am here.....I'm wondering if she is "entertaining" herself, gets comfy, and goes to sleep. Otherwise, she is perfectly fine.

[ptuga72]

I'm wondering if she is "entertaining" herself, gets comfy, and goes to sleep. Otherwise, she is perfectly fine.

My GCC used to do this as a baby. Sometimes he also sleeps on his back which scares the shnikes out of me every time!

[bmsweb]

I'm told, and don't just use the nest area for breeding behavior but sleep in them all the time.

This is a 100% correct. The deep sleep part is a bit of concern. Does she wake up straight away when you talk to her? My Green Cheeks will sleep on their back and also sides, but they do this only in the breeding box now (ever since I put one in).

If all she is doing is sleeping on her back and side, then this is perfectly normal behavior for Green Cheeks. When my son takes Neo our male green cheek on his bed, he puts down a small towel for him and sometimes Neo will roll the towel over himself and sleep on his back or side. This is normal for Green Cheeks and VERY Cute I might add

[Brittanyv326]

Just thought of this thread when I saw this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuLZkBSY--M

Very strange... I think it'd scare me if my bird did that.

[bmsweb]

What's scary is the fact that our Green Cheek Eggs are due to start hatching in 2 days time and from speaking to breeders, they say its even more common to see little chicks in the nest box on their back with there legs up in the air!