Help bird people!!

[Behind the Aegis]

I have a Black-masked lovebird who has decided to eat his own poop!! I have done searches on all kinds of things tonight (if Homeland Security gets a hold of it they will have a field day..."bird feces, poop"). Why is my bird eating his own shit?! He gets seeds and a special stick of coconut treats (his favorite). He also "dances" after he eats his own droppings! He is not tame, so we talk to him, but he is not allowed out of the cage often, but has plenty of toys. When we let him out of the cage, he close all blinds, shut off all fans, close the cat out of the room, and let him fly around free.

I am afraid he will get sick. Does anyone know what the hell is going on with my scat-loving bird?!

Thanks!

[Magrittes Pipe]

1. Does he have a cuttlebone or mineral block?

He may be hypocalcemic.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. He does not.

But, he will be getting one. He has a calcium bowl that is "eatable." It is just the oddest thing.

[Ladyhawk]

3. Consider buying a cage with a grate well above the tray.

This will mostly eliminate the problem.

Of course, make sure he has a balanced diet. He needs more than seeds and treats. Try adding vegetables and fruits to his diet as well as the cuttlebone or mineral block.

You could try to convert him to a pelleted diet. This can be hard to do with birds that aren't tame. There should be information on the 'net that's good. Just remember that it has to be done slowly and that birds can starve quickly...especially little birds like black-masked lovebirds.

BTW, if you don't plan on taming him, you might get another lovebird of the same species. They have to be introduced very carefully because lovebirds are extremely territorial. If you just put a new bird into your current bird's cage, it would probably be disastrous.

The best way to introduce birds to one another is to put them side by side in separate cages until they seem to be responding to one another favorably, then allow them time together in a neutral setting. Once they are getting along, try them in the same cage. To be extra safe, it would be great to have a THIRD, neutral cage. Otherwise, you just have to watch them very closely. Luckily, black-masks are not as persnickety as peach-faces when it comes to other birds. But be careful anyway. In my work as a pet store employee, I saw lovebirds kill one another quite often. We should have put the new birds in separate cages...sigh. But that's another story.

[Kat45]

4. The grate above the tray may not work.

Grace's cage is like that, and a lot of her poops just stick to the grate. Unlike some birds who avoid the bottom of their cages, she sometimes likes to go down to the grate and run around. Sometimes she goes down for a "snack" as well. :shrug:

[mopinko]

5. it's common and generally harmless.

unless there is a bird with parasites involved, not much is likely to happen. a pelleted diet is best, and a mineral block should not be used when they make up 50% or more of the diet.
it can be hard to convert, but then again, some birds just take right to it.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. Update

First, thanks for all the info! Second, he is still picking at his poop. It is a little runny, at least the ones on his perches. The scat at the bottom of the cage, and elsewhere, is normal color and thickness. After he eats it, he seems like he is on a "high." He does a weird little dance and sings some.

We are planning to tame him. When we first got him, he was VERY timid and any movement scared him. Now, we can move around him, even clean his cage with him in it and he doesn't scream. Even when he was skittish, we always talked to him and got as close as we could so he would get used to us. He still doesn't like being held, but doesn't try to bite as a first response, which I think is progress! We have even held him a few times, in a rag, and he is calm and doesn't cry like he used to, but as soon as I loosen the rag, he flies out (in his cage) and screams once. Should we take him out everyday, or just like once a week, then up it, as he gets more calm?

I appreciate the help. Reading various books and on-line things has made me NUTS! Everyone says something different and it is very confusing!

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Update: Bad news

It took hours of on-line research, but I have found that my litte Caesar is very sick! He had undigested food in his poop, which may be why he was eating it. It could be PCC (I can't remember the full name) and if it is that, he will die! There is no real test for it until after death (which helps me little). Or, it could be an intestinal 'bug,' which can be cleared up with antibiotics. I started him on antibiotics today.

Please keep happy thoughts that it is just a tummy 'bug' and this medicine will clear him up! Caesar needs all the birdies of DU to send him good thoughts and a speedy recovery!!

Here he is:

[flamingyouth]

8. I'm sorry to hear that

He's a very handsome guy.

Buster, my cockatiel, had an infection when I first got him. I had to give him Baytril (I think) for a couple of weeks but he got better and he's still just as feisty as ever. Hope Caesar feels better soon. :hug:

[Behind the Aegis]

9. Thanks for your sympathies!

I appreciate the kind thoughts. Caesar is acting better, but I am still pretty worried. I will keep giving him his medicine, but it sucks that I can't hold him for fear that I could transfer any disease to our other birds. :( He knows we love him! :) Thanks for the :hug:!