I know I've seen questions regarding the reason birds eat their poop and I'm wondering if anyone really knows? There have been things said about them 'needing something in their diet', etc., but is that what vets generally say or can it be more than just one 'general' answer?
My IRN just started eating poop. She is a 14 year old rescue and did not do this when I first brought her home, 2 weeks ago. I just noticed it this past weekend. I haven't changed or added anything new or exotic and since I have an eclectus, along with 2 other species, I have always stayed away from anything but a few organic pellets, soy, wheat and corn.
Any help is appreciated. (Her blood work was normal when she was checked)
Sky

If you have just brought the bird home, are you sure she is actually eating enough food and not just emptying the dish? Although I do not feed pellets I would have thought they are complete in terms of nutrition. You may want to consider offering a more interesting/complete diet that includes fresh fruit and veggies. A mineral block may also be an idea although it may get destroyed before it get eaten and used. Is there any chance she is eating poop due to boredom? I have found my IRN's to be destructive they need toys,more than the other birds. They also feathered trash cans, they eat anything and everything. They even try catch insects although for food or play I don't know.

Thanks for your response. I have this little girl on a long-term 'foster' as she was rescued, along with 21 other birds, from a hoarding situation. There is no history on any of these birds, but after being in quarantine at The Gabriel Foundation for over 45 days, all the birds transitioned to a healthy diet. She gets fresh fruit and vegetables every day, along with TOPS pellets, a cooked meal that includes, legumes, grains, beans, veggies, and all my birds get sprouted seeds, no dry seeds mixes. I live near a health food store and provide organic variety from Whole Foods or Wild Oats markets. Her appetite is good and since there was no history on these birds and because she doesn't seem to know how to play with toys, I've assumed she never got any. I believe she was kept in a very small cage as her tail seems permanently 'bent'. As with my Alexandrine, she's a buzz saw and I've started making her 'chewable toys', so to speak, both to keep her busy as well as helping her learn she can play with them too.
My avian vet's input was, she likes her food and finds the poop as good as the food in her bowl. There is very little food on the cage floor so I believe she is indeed eating it. The dinner meal is a time for eating AND playing for all my other birds, but the IRN digs right in and always finishes her dinner while the others are eating/playing with theirs. lol
She actually 'picked' me as I have been one of the primary 'feeders' for this group since they came in to The Gabriel Foundation. She was almost 'hysterical' as TGF's president noted, when the group came in, but settled into thinking I was her 'mom' after about 4 weeks and she seems to have adjusted fairly well in my home, even with the other birds I have.
I can only watch her and hope this 'habit' will disappear shortly.
Thanks very much for your suggestions!
Sky

I myself had that happen with my breeders... Before they started egg laying the hen would start eating her poop... I just put in another larger cuttlebone, and it seemed to curb that behavior.. I never did see that with my males.
So I do not know if this helped, but just to let you know I have also experienced this...

Hi Denise,
While she seems to be quite comfortable with me and such, I do think she's probably still experiencing some stress from having two different 'housing' situations in the past 2 months or so. I believe she was with the one person who was hoarding the birds, so I actually feel humbled and most appreciative that she seems to have attached herself to me. After being in one house, with a primarily seed diet, no baths, sun or toys, I think she's doing extremely well so if she's eating her poop well... I'll just have to keep an eye on her and monitor the situation as we go along. I truly don't think it will be very long before she learns to play and keep herself more busy than she is. I may look into something like a cuttlebone or something to that effect that will keep her better entertained.
I don't think IRNs probably use or need cuttlebone, and she can certainly go through an entire, large coconut in a relatively short amount of time, but I'm sure there MUST be something else out there I can find for her.
Thanks for your reply and great suggestion!
Sky

Thank you for taking her in! I will bet she will be out of the habit of eating poop within a short period of time.

Gary -your response makes me wonder - since there is no history on this little feathered gem and she may not have been fed the best diet or enough food, I wonder if she got into the habit of eating her poop since she was hungry?

My ring neck loves to destroy cuttle bones from time to time, so if you have a spare around, she just may be amused. I've never noticed coprophagia in my fids, but have most of them with grills, so they would have to work at it. Congrats on fostering her!

I would hope the diet change and good food would lead her away from the habit. If it were me I would be adding a few drops of ACV to the birds water to keep the bacteria count down. Once she stop a fecal and gram stain would be in order to check bacteria count to see if a stronger antibiotic is needed. An avian vet may have more information.

Sky,
I was just wondering if this behavior is still continuing?
Or have you seen any improvement with her?