Okay, so I hear that regurgitation is the highest form of flattery ... but come on! I can't pick up Tucker without him transforming into a puffed up, head-bobbing, beak-gaping gag machine. I usually say "thanks," put him down and walk away.

Is this hormonal and will it pass, or will I have to keep saying, "Not tonight dear, I have a headache"?

Jen

Aw, poor guy. He just wants to offer a proper courtship before his proposal. Just tell him you have a husband and I'm sure he'll do the respectable thing.

It will pass.

Jen,
That's too funny!!!

Aaaaawww thats called Loveeeee!! lol

Yeah, usually hormone driven. It seems to get worse with longer days. You can try and cut back on "awake" time. Better if you can just ignore it till fall. It should at least decrease then when the days get shorter.

Red (quaker) doesn't try to feed me, but Ferris (GW Macaw) does it ALL the time. I've finally gotten him to not actually spit the food out, but you can see it come up his throat, and I tell him "No" and move his beak away, and he will swallow it back down. It's SO gross, and it makes his breath smell terrible. I know he loves me, and just wants to provide for me, but it's seriously nasty, blech. I wish I could get him to stop completely, but I'll keep working on it, lol. Usually when he swallows it back down, I give him a little kiss and say "I love you too, but I'm not really hungry right now."

Haha, love the post. Made me and Bebe laugh aloud.

There's only so many times the head ache excuse will work.

When Charlie was doing that I would just put him down as soon as I saw the signs and completely ignore him until he quit.

awww what love! ... I agree.. put him down and ignore him for a moment or two.. he may figure you dont want his "gift"

On a side note.. Kiwi does a similar puffed up beak open head bobbing but no regurgitating when i shake his foot in our "nice to meet you" game.. i think its just excitement though... makes me want to make sure i dont see signs of "love" offerings" lol

Thanks for all the comments! I should note that nothing has actually come OUT of his mouth -- just gagging and a vaguely unpleasant odor. Sometimes a bit must come up, though, because he chews it and swallows it again. Blech!

But I love him ... and he knows it!

Jen

Gross!! but atleast u know he loves you haha!

Pickle does it all the time. He shakes his head, turns it upside down, lifts his foot up and down and then kicks his own butt!!!

Yuck, Casey tries to regurgitate for me too but it makes her breath smell so gross! Luckily nothing has ever come out she just goes through the gagging motions... I just try to ignore it or distract her and she'll stop. Our budgie does it constantly and actually brings up so much food, it's actually really gross to watch. But I'm with Stef, there is nothing worse than Macaw regurgitation... my friends foster B&G decided to give me a little gift one day, gross! It's all the hormones, hopefully it'll pass soon...


I don't want to ruin your 'nice to meet you game' as it sounds really cute, but it definitely sounds like more of a sexual thing. Puffing up, opening their beak (kind of panting), and lifting their foot is all sexual. I've been trying to teach Casey to shake and it either turns into a simple wave or she'll grab my finger and try to do other things. As cute as the 'nice to meet you game' is I'd try to discourage it... if you figure out how to get him to shake, do share as Casey always turns that trick into something inappropriate!