Evidently, the spinach is dirty...

[DamonIRB]

I work from home and have the flight for our pair of Owls in my office, so I have a lot of time to observe them. Last week, I noticed the hen hopping from the seed/food dish to the water bowl - back and forth, back and forth, over and over. She didn't do it Monday or yesterday, but she's doing it again today. I stopped what I was doing to watch her for a little while and noticed that she was picking up pieces of spinach, taking it to the water bowl, dipping it several times, then taking it back to the food dish and dropping it. She'll grab another piece of spinach, head to the water bowl to "wash" it, and take it back to the food dish. Eventually she eats the 6 or 7 pieces of spinach she has "washed", then goes about her business.

I thought back to last week and realized that I had spinach in the food mix on Thursday and Sunday, but not last Friday, nor Monday or Tuesday of this week. But it's in there today. I wasn't around to watch her on Sunday, but I'm guessing she went through the same exercise with it then as well.

I know some species like soaked seed and other soft food, but dipping spinach bits in the water isn't doing anything to soften it - it's only get it wet. Also, I only buy organic greens, so it "shouldn't" have anything on it, and I always rinse everything before chopping it and putting in the flight.

What the hack is she doing? She doesn't do this with anything but spinach. I've had several types of greens in there - carrot tops, romaine, cilantro, etc. She eats each of these, but doesn't "wash" any of it like she does the spinach.

Maybe she's just OCD when it comes to spinach... ??

Damon

[skyjump100]

LOL Damon, I have no idea but she sounds defintely OCD to me You have one fussy bird!

Looking forward to other people's theories!

[Ginene]

DamonIRB
Definitely OCD...as am I . Spinach is a very sandy veggie. I like to rinse mine extra too. That is one smart chicky you have there, Damon

[Nanajennie]

DamonIRB that is really cute! I wish I could observe mine at work!

What a smart little hen! LOL

[Lisa]

Mine always toss their greens into their bathtubs too, but mine leave it there. I always take it to mean "I'm done with this, waitress. You may remove it"

[skyjump100]

What I want to know is.... when do you get your work done rather than watch your birds lol !!!

[ac12]

he he he
That sounds so neat

[Zebrafincher]

Birds can be notoriously picky when it comes to food! I have three birds - male canary, male star finch and male Zebbie. My finches nibble at Greens, but its only the canary that eats 95% of it consistently. My canary will also not touch any greens which are less than fresh or slightly wilted! The spoilt one is also the same with seed! I get very good mixtures, and if I have to get substandard seed they will not touch it! Spoilt brats!

[Diana]

Hahaha! That is soo funny! One cute little birdie!

[Ember]

Haha! This thread was so funny to read through!
Clever birds!