It’s natural for pet bird owners to be concerned when they see their feathered friend regurgitating food. Birds have a few reasons for “throwing up” like this, some completely normal and others that signal an underlying health issue. Let’s explore the main reasons behind this behavior so you can get to the bottom of it.
What is regurgitation in birds?
Regurgitation refers to when a bird’s crop expels contents back out through the mouth. The crop is an expandable food storage pouch near the throat where avians first send meals when eaten. From here, food gradually moves further down into the digestive tract.
Regurgitation happens when contractions in the crop push food back up. This differs from vomiting where digestive juices and food contents from the stomach are forcefully expelled. Birds lack a diaphragm muscle preventing them from vomiting this way.
When a bird regurgitates, you’ll see partially digested or whole food pieces come up. This is often directed toward a mate or babies the parent is feeding. But sometimes they involuntarily regurgitate due to crop issues.
Is regurgitation normal in birds?
Regurgitation is perfectly normal and healthy behavior for parent birds feeding their young. Baby birds are unable to swallow whole pieces of food. So parent birds store food in their crop, then regurgitate and feed it to chicks piece by piece.
Some bird species like doves continue to regurgitate for their mates once bonded. It’s thought this reinforces the pair bond. Regurgitation between mates outside of breeding season is normal for many avians.
Occasional regurgitation can also be normal if a bird eats too quickly or gets overly excited. Think of this like when people have food “repeat” on them after eating fast or laughing hard with a full stomach.
But take note if regurgitation seems excessive or without cause in an adult bird not feeding babies. Frequent regurgitation could suggest an underlying health problem.
What causes problematic regurgitation?
While normal in some contexts, regurgitation can also result from issues preventing normal food movement through the digestive tract. Common causes include:
- Crop infections
- Crop impactions from eating foreign objects or too much fiber
- Ingesting toxic substances
- Crop stasis when emptying slows down
- Neuromuscular crop disorders
- Narrowings or blockages in the intestines
- Certain bacterial, viral, parasitic or fungal infections
- Systemic illnesses
Problems are more likely if the regurgitation smells foul or contains blood or unusual colors. Let’s explore some leading causes of unhealthy regurgitation in more detail.
Crop infections
The crop is prone to bacterial, yeast and fungal infections. This is especially true when food sits too long inside. Fermenting food creates an ideal environment for pathogens to multiply.
Sour crop is the most common type of infection. It results from a yeast overgrowth called Candida albicans. This causes a sour smell and fluid leakage from the crop.
Bacterial infections often cause foul odors. One called megabacteriosis occurs when overgrown Clostridium bacteria create toxins. Fungal crop infections are less common but also cause regurgitation.
Crop impactions
When fibrous, foreign or too much food is eaten, it can get tightly packed into a dry mass in the crop. This crop impaction blocks normal emptying. Birds may regurgitate indigestible pieces trying to clear the obstruction.
Hulls from seeds, bean pods, fibers from fruits/veggies, pieces of toys or cage accessories could all contribute to impactions. These are more common in smaller bird species.
Toxic ingestions
With their love of chewing on anything, birds often ingest household toxins. These include heavy metals like zinc or lead, cigarette smoke, avocado, chocolate and foods mishandled with Salmonella bacteria.
All of these can cause digestive upset and regurgitation. Quickly expelling toxic foods is protective for birds.
Crop dysmotility
Sometimes the crop has reduced contractions to move food, termed crop dysmotility or stasis. This food then sits for prolonged periods allowing fermentation and regurgitation.
Diseases affecting the nerves and muscles involved in crop emptying can cause this. Birds with metabolic disorders are at higher risk too.
Intestinal blockages
The passageway lower in the digestive tract can also become blocked in some cases. Tumors, abnormal tissue masses or strictures narrow the intestines. When this limits food passing through, regurgitation can occur.
Infections or illness
Systemic infections and chronic illness often cause digestive upset and reduced appetite in birds. Conditions like avian gastric yeast, proventricular dilatation disease and megabacteriosis infection prompt regurgitation.
Chlamydia bacteria, feather damaging mites and lead or zinc poisoning may also play a role in some birds.
Is regurgitation ever normal in adult birds?
Rare regurgitation may happen in otherwise healthy adult birds, typically for the following reasons:
- Eating too quickly and gulping down air along with food
- Overfilling the crop by eating too much at once
- Getting startled or overly excited
- Accidentally inhaling small pieces of food
- Normal clearing of the crop after a very large meal
- Attempting to feed a bonded mate outside of breeding condition
In these cases, the regurgitation is not chronic or accompanied by other symptoms. As long as the bird seems normal otherwise and regurgitates infrequently, it’s less concerning.
What are signs of problematic regurgitation?
Look for these red flags to identify regurgitation linked to a health problem versus normal situations:
- Foul, abnormal odor
- Discoloration – green, yellow, blood, black
- Pieces of toys, fibers, shells or other foreign material
- Undigested food indicating reduced crop emptying
- Weight loss from inadequate nutrient absorption
- Repeated regurgitation every day
- Listlessness, puffed feathers and lethargy
- Reduced interest in food
- Respiratory signs like tail bobbing
- Feather destructive behavior
- Diarrhea
Seek prompt veterinary care if you notice any of these alongside regurgitation to figure out the cause.
How to prevent problematic regurgitation
You can reduce chances of unhealthy regurgitation by:
- Feeding a healthy diet – high in pellets, veggies and fruits vs. seeds
- Avoiding oversized food pieces the bird could choke on
- Removing lead, zinc and other heavy metals from the environment
- Discarding cigarette butts, which birds may chew on
- Making human foods like chocolate inaccessible
- Routine cleaning to prevent crop infections
- Avoiding overfilling the crop at meals
- Providing clean, filtered water to support hydration
- Being watchful for signs of illness and seeking veterinary care when needed
Wellness exams to monitor your bird’s health are also recommended 1-2 times per year. This allows early treatment for any conditions before regurgitation occurs.
How is regurgitation treated in birds?
Identifying the underlying cause is key for proper treatment. Your avian vet will likely perform:
- A physical exam of the bird’s body condition, crop and abdomen
- Lab tests on blood and regurgitated contents
- Radiographs or endoscopy to visualize the digestive tract
- Biopsies of abnormal tissue
From here, typical treatments may include:
- Antibiotics for bacterial crop infections or systemic illness
- Antifungals for sour crop or other fungal diseases
- Anticoccidials for protozoal parasite infections
- Anthelmintics to eliminate intestinal worms
- Heavy metal detox for lead, zinc or iron toxicity
- Proventricular dilatation disease testing and treatment if this condition is suspected
- Fluid therapy and nutritional support if the bird is dehydrated or underweight
- Surgery to remove masses or foreign objects
- Crop massage to loosen impactions
- Diet changes to avoid indigestible foods
In many cases, identifying and resolving the issue leads to long term relief. But recurring or severe cases may require ongoing care and monitoring.
Can regurgitation be prevented in baby birds?
It’s normal for parent birds to regurgitate food when feeding young. But hand-fed orphaned chicks can also develop issues.
Here are some tips to avoid problems when hand-raising baby birds:
- Use a vet-recommended formula suitable for the species
- Follow exact mixing instructions to avoid thin or over-concentrated formula
- Warm formula to “crop” temperature of around 100-105 F
- Feed using a syringe without needle to control flow rate
- Feed slowly to reduce air ingestion and over-filling
- Keep baby warm during and 20-30 minutes after feeding
- Burp and gently massage the crop after feeds
- Check crop for retention and emptying between feeds
Monitor for signs of aspiration like clicking sounds, gaping or labored breathing. And watch the crop for proper emptying over a few hours. Seek help from a veterinarian if issues come up.
How much regurgitation is normal in hand-fed baby birds?
Bird Age | Normal Regurgitation |
---|---|
0 to 2 weeks | None |
2 weeks to 2 months | 1-2 times per week |
Over 2 months | 1-2 times per month |
Some regurgitation can happen when babies first transition to feeding from a syringe. But it should reduce in frequency after the first couple weeks once the chick is accustomed to hand-feeding.
Regurgitation more than 2-3 times per week warrants an evaluation. Be especially concerned if the chick seems lethargic, stops begging for food or shows other signs of illness.
Can regurgitation be a sign of megaesophagus in birds?
Yes, frequent undigested regurgitation can result from megaesophagus, an enlarged, flaccid esophagus. This condition prevents normal movement of food into the stomach.
Megaesophagus is often congenital in young birds. But it can also develop from:
- Mycotoxin poisoning
- Lead or zinc toxicity
- Neoplasia
- Fungal infection
- Nerve damage
Birds regurgitate undigested food because the esophagus lacks the motility to push it into the stomach. This undigested food can ferment in the crop leading to further regurgitation.
Diagnosis is made by imaging tests and contrast radiographs showing the enlarged esophagus. Underlying causes are also investigated. Management involves providing food in a vertical position and possible tube or surgical feeding techniques.
Is it ever normal for birds to vomit?
While regurgitation is common, vomiting is abnormal in birds. Their physiology simply makes vomiting impossible through the traditional stomach contraction and diaphragm mechanisms mammals have.
Rapid respiratory distress right after eating followed by food expulsion is the closest birds get to vomiting. This can happen if they inhale food or experience anaphylaxis. But true vomiting like other animals is not expected.
Call your vet if your bird ever appears to vomit. This requires prompt evaluation to determine the cause.
Takeaway: Is regurgitation normal in birds?
- Regurgitation is normal when parent birds feed babies or bonded mates
- Occasional regurgitation can happen if an adult bird eats too fast or gets startled
- Frequent, foul-smelling regurgitation or signs of illness likely indicate an underlying problem
- Common causes include crop infections, blockages and systemic diseases
- Diagnosis and specific treatment depend on the cause
- Prevent unhealthy regurgitation by supporting a bird’s overall health and nutrition
While not always a concern, keep an eye on increased regurgitation in your feathered friends. Seek prompt veterinary advice for proper diagnosis and treatment when needed.