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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:	Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:	INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:	VIDEO::PULSIFER

Created:	Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:	Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	942
Total number of notes:	6016

546.0. "What Does This Mean?" by AYOU05::FLETHAM () Wed May 08 1991 04:42

    Can someone explain the following behaviour:
    
    Every once in a while my cockatiel will stretch her neck, open her
    beak as wide as it will go then close it.  She will do this up to
    a dozen times in a row.  She appears to be quite content when she
    is doing this and it only happens every now and then.
    
    I was just wondering if anyone can explain why she does this - I
    first thought it was a yawn but then not when she does it so many
    times?
    
    Frances [Ayr, Scotland]

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
546.1		DECLNE::TOWLE		`Wed May 08 1991 09:46`	1
	I think it may be moving seed/food around in it's crop?
546.2	Mine too!	MYGUY::LANDINGHAM	Mrs. Kip	`Wed May 08 1991 13:49`	5
	My cockie used to do that, too. Thought something was wrong with him, but he was fine. Glad to see the explanation! Rgds, marcia
546.3	Mine too!	SALSA::DEFRANCO		`Wed May 08 1991 20:49`	7
	I have two tiels and only the female does this. She will also do it if I scratch her ear in just the right way. I assume its OK and seems to be pleasurable. Jeanne (and Sunny, the stretching, beak opening bird)
546.4	me too!	SEDOAS::SHAW		`Mon May 13 1991 13:25`	8
	Hi, I have a female normal grey cockatiel which does exactly what the last note describes - neck stretching and "yawning", and will also do it on demand if you scratch in just the right spot behind the ear! (I always thought it was because she didn't realise she was a bird and fancied being a dog!) Tim
546.5	Sleepy birds?	LACV01::BUCHANAN	Life should have a soundtrack	`Wed Aug 28 1991 13:56`	6
	Both of my tiels do this (silver male/lutino female) for up to five minutes at a time. They seem like they enjoy it. I always thought they were yawning.... silly me BJ