My macaw is biting its foot and squawking. Is this normal for parrots?

Question

We are bird sitting a green winged macaw. She is biting and messing with her foot a lot and she squawks very loud when she does. Is this normal for parrots or should I try to contact her owners and take her to the vet? They are on a cruise and very difficult to get a hold of, so I don't want to worry them unless absolutely necessary.

Jessica Desrosiers · Accepted Answer

Birds can chew on their feet if they're bored or itchy. Checking over your bird's foot and looking for any visible wounds, redness, irritation or open scaling (some scaling is normal in all bird feet, but you shouldn't see sores, open wounds or dirt/debris stuck to it) can help you determine if there may be an injury that needs to be treated. If the foot looks OK, just keeping an eye on it for now is best. If it changes or a problem is visible, taking her to a vet is best. If she seems bored or stressed (especially because she isn't with her usual people), offering some extra treats, toys and interaction together may help reduce her stress and any boredom and keep her from picking at her feet more.

My macaw is biting its foot and squawking. Is this normal for parrots?

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