Parrot Throwing Up

[Jstew320]

I adopted a 17 year old senegal about three weeks ago and he just tried to throw up on me for the first time when I got home from work today. I've read that it's a sign of affection but it really freaked me out that he was sick or something was wrong. Is throwing up really a sign of affection or is it something else that I should be worried about?

[marie83]

Birds do regurgitate food to feed to their mates, chicks and occasionally other flock members. It can't be helped but it isn't a behaviour that should be encouraged either as by doing this their stomach acid ends up in the crop, this isn't too much of a problem when it happens the way nature intended (ie occasionally) but frequent reguritation can irritate the crop in the long term which can sometimes cause plucking around the area because it is sore, I'm not sure if there are other health issues that can arise from too much reguritation but like I said it is not something to be encouraged.

Birds can also vomit which can be a sign of ill health although I have heard of birds which are travel sick too. If you think your bird is vomiting then you need to seek the help of an avian vet urgently.

I'm not sure if there are any tell tell differences between vomiting and regurgitation, I know the birds will make a pumping action to regurgitate but I am not sure if they do the same when vomiting. I have never had either thing happen to me so its probably something I should have learned more in years ago so I can tell the difference if it ever does happen.

[Pricey_boy]

bandit was throwing up once and i took him to the vet and i was giving him medication with a syringe and he stopped after 2 days

[marie83]

bandit was throwing up once and i took him to the vet and i was giving him medication with a syringe and he stopped after 2 days

How do you know the difference between throwing up and deliberate regurgitation? Do they not do the head/neck pumping thing when they throw up?


**edit** Just found this "
Vomiting is more of a head ‘flicking’ event. The bird will often seem uneasy, pacing or uncomfortable and although the head bobbing might be similar to the regurgitation action, it’s usually more of a shaking and the end result is a very splattered, sticky substance that may or may not include food."

[alliethebirdnerd]

vergil was sick when i got him, when he was actually throwing up, his head would shake side to side and it would be like (trying not to be gross but) a milkshake consistency. when he regurgitates, he pumps his head up and down, usually makes little squeaks, droops his wings, and if he actually does bring up food it will actually look like chunks of his pellet.

[alliethebirdnerd]

and regurgitating is a sign of affection, if i make a certain noise both my sennies will do it. be careful with it though, i don't do it anymore because i know it can make them a little confused and get some weird sexual feelings which is not good. sometimes they do it because they are getting their favorite treat, or something is making them really happy, but try not to provoke it.

[Jstew320]

Thanks for all of the responses!! He has tried to throw up on me in several days and I should have added in my original post that nothing actually came out.