Regurgitation is a natural behavior for lovebirds where they feed their mate or chicks by bringing up food from their crop. However, pet lovebirds will often try to regurgitate on their owners as a sign of bonding and affection. While it’s important not to discourage this bonding behavior completely, excessive regurgitation can be messy and unhealthy for your bird. Luckily there are some steps you can take to reduce regurgitation from your lovebird.
Why Do Lovebirds Regurgitate?
In the wild, lovebirds form monogamous bonds with a mate and work together to raise their young. Lovebirds will regurgitate food to feed both their mate and babies in the nest. It’s an instinctual parental behavior that strengthens the pair bond.
Pet lovebirds will often direct this regurgitation behavior towards their owners as a sign of affection and acceptance. It shows they view you as their flock mate. Some key reasons lovebirds regurgitate include:
- Showing affection for their perceived mate (you)
- Offering food in an attempt to feed you
- Responding to interactions like petting, scratching or feeding
- Establishing their relationship to you
- Signaling they are comfortable and content
While this mimics their natural breeding behavior, excessive regurgitation should be discouraged in pet lovebirds, especially when it becomes messy or disruptive.
Problems with Over-Regurgitation
Frequent regurgitation from your lovebird can cause some issues including:
- Messes around the cage and home from spilled food
- Stains on carpets, furniture or clothes
- Loss of nutrients as the bird brings up food before properly digesting it
- Weight loss from excessive regurgitation
- Respiratory irritation or infections from inhaling regurgitated seeds
- Bonding too heavily on one person which causes aggression with others
While some level of regurgitation is normal, curbing over-regurgitation will help keep your lovebird’s habitat clean and support its health. It also prevents aggressive bonding behaviors.
How To Minimize Regurgitation
You can take several approaches to gently reduce the amount of regurgitation from your lovebird:
Discourage triggering behaviors
Avoid petting, stroking or playing with your lovebird in ways that seem to trigger regurgitation. For example, discourage scratching the neck, head or back which often leads to regurgitating. Redirect the bird’s attention with a toy or treat when they try to regurgitate.
Don’t respond positively
When your lovebird starts regurgitating, don’t give positive attention like saying “good bird!” Avoid petting or giving treats which may reinforce the behavior. Gently move your hand away and give neutral responses until the behavior stops.
Remove bonding triggers
Remove any perceived bonding triggers that prompt regurgitation. This includes mirrors, nest boxes, cozy huts and anything that signals mating. Rearranging toys and perches periodically can also help.
Limit food intake
Try feeding smaller meals throughout the day rather than full bowls. This gives less excess food your lovebird may regurgitate. Lean proteins like cooked egg can also minimize regurgitation compared to high carb seeds.
Discourage breeding condition
Reduce breeding triggers that can increase regurgitation like long daylight hours, nesting spots and high-fat foods. Keep light levels lower, limit protein and provide more low calorie veggies. However, don’t fully starve your lovebird of healthy fats and protein.
Avoid bonding to one person
Make sure all family members interact with your lovebird daily so it doesn’t bond solely to you. Have others offer food or treats so the bird associates others with positive reinforcement too.
Try aromatherapy
Some birds may regurgitate less when exposed to soothing aromatherapy scents like lavender or chamomile. Try diffusing these non-toxic essential oils in the room near your lovebird’s cage.
Use distraction and redirection
When your lovebird starts to regurgitate, get its attention with a fun distraction. Offer toys, treats, head scratches with a tool or play a favorite song to interrupt and redirect the behavior.
When Is Regurgitation Normal?
While minimizing excessive regurgitation is important, some cases are perfectly natural for lovebirds:
- Feeding a mate during breeding season
- Regurgitating for chicks in the nest
- Occasional regurgitation when bonding to an owner
- Regurgitating when learning to eat solid foods as a baby
As long as the regurgitation remains occasional and not excessive, it can be a normal display of affection. But consistent over-regurgitation should be discouraged.
Signs of Illness
In some cases, an increase in regurgitation may signal an underlying health issue requiring veterinary attention. See an avian vet if regurgitation is accompanied by:
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Fluffed feathers
- Disinterest in food
- Difficulty swallowing
- Respiratory symptoms
- Changes in droppings
- Signs of pain or illness
This could indicate a problem like crop infection, gastrointestinal issue or other sickness needing treatment.
When To Avoid Discouraging Regurgitation
Situations when you should not discourage regurgitation include:
- Feeding chicks by parent birds
- Sharing food between bonded mates
- When weaning chicks off hand feeding formula
- If recommended by an avian vet for feeding an ill bird
Discouraging regurgitation should only apply to over-regurgitation directed at owners, not normal parental feeding situations for breeding birds or birds directed to regurgitate by a vet.
Regurgitation vs Vomiting
It’s important to distinguish regurgitation from vomiting in birds. Regurgitation is the intentional act of bringing up food from the crop. Vomiting is the forceful ejection of food accompanied by gagging motions and discomfort.
Signs of vomiting that warrant medical care include:
- Gagging
- Extreme lethargy after vomiting
- Undigested food coming up
- Blood or bile in vomit
- Weight loss or anorexia
- Heavy breathing or distress after vomiting
See an avian vet immediately if your lovebird is vomiting instead of regurgitating food. This indicates a health problem needing prompt treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my lovebird regurgitate on me?
Lovebirds regurgitate on their owners to display bonding behaviors. Mimicking feeding their chicks, they see you as their mate and want to share food. It’s a sign of affection but excessive regurgitation should be discouraged.
How do I stop my lovebird from over-regurgitating?
Reduce bonding triggers like petting, mirrors or nests. Feed smaller meals, don’t respond positively to regurgitation, use distraction and have family bond with your bird too. Discourage breeding condition and try aromatherapy. But never fully eliminate normal bonding regurgitation.
Is regurgitation bad for lovebirds?
Frequent regurgitation can cause nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, crop infections and aggressive bonding. But occasional regurgitation is natural for bonding and feeding chicks. Only discourage excessive regurgitation, not normal parental behaviors.
When should I worry about regurgitation?
See an avian vet if regurgitation is excessive, accompanied by lethargy, weight loss, respiratory issues or other signs of illness. Increased regurgitation can signal an underlying health problem needing treatment.
Is regurgitation the same as vomiting in birds?
No, regurgitation is the intentional act of bringing up food. Vomiting involves gagging, discomfort and forcefully expelling food. Vomiting indicates a health issue and requires prompt medical attention.
Conclusion
Regurgitation is a normal part of bonding, feeding chicks and developing social relationships for lovebirds. But excessive regurgitation directed at owners should be minimized through positive reinforcement methods like distraction and discouragement of triggers. Reducing over-regurgitation prevents messes, nutritional loss and aggressive bonding while still allowing normal parental behaviors.
With gentleness and consistency, most lovebirds can be guided to regurgitate less often, creating a happier home for both you and your bird. Just be alert for any signs of illness requiring veterinary care. With some effort and patience, you can have a loving relationship with your lovebird without the constant mess of over-regurgitation.