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Why does my parrot throw up its food and then eat it again?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Hi, my ringneck eats and then he throws up the whole time on purpose, and then eats it again. The whooole time .. please help

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 20th, 2017

Often they regurgitate (not vomit) their food when they are in the presence of a friend or mate. It's a way for them to show off. If you have a particularly close relationship with your parrot, then this could explain the behavior; especially if it's something he does regularly. They can also do it more often during breeding seasons. There are a couple of different diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that can also cause frequent regurgitation, so it's best to have him checked out by an avian vet if this suddenly started occurring. If you are suspicious that it's more behavioral, then you may consider altering how you interact with your parrot. This is especially important when it comes to touching your parrot. In the wild, friends will only touch around the head and neck, while mates will touch areas below the neck, like under the wings and belly. Essentially, you'll want to give a little distance between you and the parrot. If that stops the regurgitating, then you'll know that's the problem. I hope that helps and all goes well with your Ringneck.

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    Answered By Susan England-Foster

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    If you feel like your bird is eating well but vomiting due to being ill I would recommend taking it to the vet for a good exam. Some birds will vomit on things to mark there territory and show affection. It is hard to tell by the information given if this is a concern for your bird or not. I feel if you ever think things are not right a vet visit is best. You can always try a pet coach consult so you can provide more detailed information. Thanks for using pet coach

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