FINCHforum

My hen a half-hour ago began shaking her head and entire body in quick spasms for a couple of seconds at a time, then stopping for a few seconds, and repeating. During many of these spasms, something flies out of her mouth and hits the cage bars or floor -- I can't see what it is, but I hear it hit. It seems to be water, although it may be seed.

She has been fine and very active all day -- until a few moments ago. But now she's just sitting on a perch, going into these violent spasms. She almost fell off her perch a second ago during one of these spasms.

I have noticed both birds pulling nesting material from the dispenser and chewing on it, since they seem clueless what to do with it and try to eat it. Maybe some of the sisal fibers or other material got stuck in her throat?

I've never seen either bird exhibiting this type of behavior in the 9 months I've had them. Any ideas what's going on? Anything I can do?

I have never seen this before, but I that you are able to resolve the problem

I think I would remove the nesting material and see if it still happens. If so then you would know that's it and go from there.

Hens will have shaking of the head just like the male while courting, followed by body twitches and then their tails will twitch back and forth very quickly, many times with her curving her tail in his direction. I have seen them almost fall off the perch in this maneuver. This is common hen courtshop behavior, though not all are this extreme.
The stuff flying out of her mouth.... well you've got me there. I have never seen that before but I am beginning to think you have a gouldian hen from hell. Have you considered an exorcizm?

False alarm. Sorry. The episode lasted for about 45 minutes, but then suddenly stopped as quickly as it had begun. It was almost as if something had stuck in her throat, and during the head-shaking she'd somehow expel a seed now and then that I'd hear as it hit the bars.

She's eating, drinking, chirping and flying around normally again now, but I'll be keeping a close watch on her for a while -- just in case.

CandoAviary wrote: I have never seen that before but I am beginning to think you have a gouldian hen from hell. Have you considered an exorcizm?

Believe me, it's crossed my mind!! Yes, she has been definitely exhibiting very strong courtship behavior -- including the head shaking and tail bobbing whenever he does his courtship dance (which lately has been several times/day). But this was very, very different. He wasn't doing his dance when this happened, and she was quite violently shaking her entire body -- especially her head. Just one of those things we'll never know, I guess.

Do finches sometimes swallow nesting material that can stick in their throats, or are my birds the only ones stupid enough to think they can eat it?

Yikes, I thought you were just being the worried Dad... I had no idea that it was that serious... sorry to have made jokingly light of it. I am glad she is well now.

No apology needed, Candace. After all, she IS quite a handful, as ya'll know as well as anyone after all my posts. Thanks for indulging me. I've had various behavioral problems with her over the months, although most of that seems to be due to nesting frustration from what I can tell. The male, on the other hand, is quite low-maintenance....no problems at all from him. So far. (Unless you count not having a clue what that nesting material is for in his cage. ) Their personalities are about as distinctly different as they can be...they're quite the "odd couple"!

Sounds like your hen is there to add some excitement to your bird ownership experience!

I'm so glad she seems well again now.

From your original description of what happened I had the passing thought that she was trying to get something unstuck from her throat. Hopefully that was all it was and she's all better now.