View Full Version : Cindy is picking at/eating her own poop!
TikiTalks
12-27-2007, 06:46 PM
Its so icky! I'm not sure whats wrong with her, she eats cuttlebone, but she won't touch veggies. Do ya'll have any ideas? None of the others do this. This is the plucked cockatiel we rescued/adopted that is plucked all over her chest and part of her wings. she's friendly, she's getting some pinnies but her chest is still soooo bare. :( I'm not sure how to get her to stop!
Does her cage have a grate? How is she getting to the poop? I guess wiping it off would mean a trip every 20 mins. to her cage plus is would reinforce the idea of getting mom to come to me. Maybe the smart folks will be along soon.
How are her droppings? Are there any seeds in them?
TikiTalks
12-27-2007, 08:12 PM
yes she has a grate, but the cage she came in was horrid so the cage we have isn't the best birdy cage it's missing a tray so we homemade a tray because i'm poor :( she eats it on her perches and goes between the grate. i'm saving up for a cage but there have been financial issues going on in my life and i'm completely broke.
yes she has a grate, but the cage she came in was horrid so the cage we have isn't the best birdy cage it's missing a tray so we homemade a tray because i'm poor :( she eats it on her perches and goes between the grate. i'm saving up for a cage but there have been financial issues going on in my life and i'm completely broke.
Do you have any idea what her diet was? It is possible that she is missing some minerals and is trying to find them. What kind of diet is she on now? Did she have a well-bird check up before you took her in?
bonnie
12-28-2007, 02:55 AM
Do you have any idea what her diet was? It is possible that she is missing some minerals and is trying to find them. What kind of diet is she on now? Did she have a well-bird check up before you took her in?
I think Dot has something here... I know that when children and other animals are missing certian minerals they have strange eating habits. Like, when there's a craving but you just can't figure out what you want, sometimes your body needs something and that is its way of finding it.
FoxersArtist
12-28-2007, 04:41 AM
The only time birds usually eat their poop (unless they are babies and still learning what food is) is when they are lacking the vitamins needed to function properly. You had mentioned to me that Cindy was also plucking. This may not be true in all cases, but usually when a cockatiel plucks, it is for reasons of health, not because of emotional issues. Also, she just laid a clutch of eggs a few weeks ago, right? That probably used up a lot of her vitamin and meneral supplies.
I had a cockatiel who ate her poop for a while and also plucked her legs and under her wings. When we did bloodwork and it came back negative, I assumed that she must be lacking in her diet or that she was allergic to something in her diet. She had been eating seed and veggies. I switched her over to a pelleted diet and the plucking and poop eating stopped. Before I got her converted to pellets and other fresh foods, I offered her some brewers dried yeast mixed into peanut butter. You can buy it at the grocery store.
-Anna
Anne-Samantha's Mom
12-28-2007, 07:32 AM
usually eating their own poop is a sign of choline deficiency....you need to start giving her more green foods....
TikiTalks
12-28-2007, 10:48 AM
usually eating their own poop is a sign of choline deficiency....you need to start giving her more green foods....
she ignores the green! Tiki is just now starting to pick on broccoli which we're so excited about! he likes it raw and sits there nibbling. The others are terrified of it. As far as her previous diet they fed her a seed mix based with ostly sunflower seeds.. not the best thing for a birdie. I'll continue to offer her pellets and try and convert her and try yeast and eggies and dandelions. Also, I think Anna had an awesome idea with the peanut butter!
Thank you all very much for your help. we adore cindy, and she's ending up becoming my baby lol. She sits and tilts her head and whistles. I'll keep you all updated :)
too&me
12-28-2007, 11:03 AM
Try chopping the greens very fine & sprinkling on top of their food & make certain they see you eat it with much gusto & lots of mmmmm goods. It sounds funny but can be very helpful in convincing them it is safe. The behavior sounds like something is lacking in the diet. Look forward to her progress.
she ignores the green! Tiki is just now starting to pick on broccoli which we're so excited about! he likes it raw and sits there nibbling. The others are terrified of it. As far as her previous diet they fed her a seed mix based with ostly sunflower seeds.. not the best thing for a birdie. I'll continue to offer her pellets and try and convert her and try yeast and eggies and dandelions. Also, I think Anna had an awesome idea with the peanut butter!
Thank you all very much for your help. we adore cindy, and she's ending up becoming my baby lol. She sits and tilts her head and whistles. I'll keep you all updated :)
You can wet those greens and put them on the grate. She will also "bathe" in them. While playing there, she might take a bite. For my keets, I took carrot tops (their favorite) and threaded it in and out of the cage bars. They couldn't resist checking it out.
Also, if you can find some small whiffle balls at a dollar store or Wal Mart, you can stick the carrot tops through the holes and make a toy. You can do that with any to piece that has holes in it. Then hang it on a very short piece of rope or sisal (short to prevent hanging) and it is a foraging toy.
Julie
12-28-2007, 12:58 PM
Michelle,
My two tiels will not eat lettuice if it is cut up and cleaned like we prepare a side salads. Instad I take a whole stalk of lettuice (we normally eat green leaf because the ends are bearded and the boys LOVE that) wash it and use a wooden close pin and afix the peace on the top of thier cage. They love greens this way. They also get a pasta veggie mix for breakfast every morning (warm) and they will get in to those as long as they are still warm...
I also have two "safe" house plants that the tiels LOVE to land in and eat up. Normally I only let them get at them once a week or so, because the plant does have to grow back eventually!
Good luck and keep us posted.