Kady & Kita eat better if I sit with them while they eat. They eat even better when I'm able to eat my meal with them at the same time they eat. It seems to be a preference whether they're having their meal in the bird room, on their play stands in the living room or in their outside aviaries.

Do you think I am spoiling them by sitting with them for meals or is this something that would be considered flock behavior and they consider me part of their flock?

I think it is flock behavior because my aviary birds don't settle down and eat till everyone has been served, they take a bit and go sit on the perch. When everyone has new dishes they eat at the dishes.

Depends on the species, I suppose, but in general I think feeding is a social occasion for them. Spoiling them? Nah.

Gosh, if this is something Kita and Kady want to do and you enjoy, then that is the ultimate gathering. I am sure it makes them feel like part of the flock which is what macaws love. As far as spoiling them goes, I am sure they will continue to expect it, but if they eat better with you I would continue to share the warm experience.

They are looking at you as head of their flock, they wait to eat with you as a flock, I think that is wonderful, but also try to get them to eat without you, as god forbid you have a accident etc.. and someone else has to feed them, they may not eat.

It's most definitely flock behavior and the reason why they don't start eating until all the members of the flock do is not because they wait for the leader to eat (there are no leaders or bosses or any other alpha role in birds flocks), it's because it might mean danger (a bird on alert mood means he heard or saw something, a bird eating is completely relaxed and feeling safe). It's wired into their brains and part of species survival behavior.

Every single bird guardian should eat with his/her birds every single day. It has many benefits aside from the fact that they eat better (which, you are correct, Karen, they do).

Thank you Bea, I never knew why they wait but that makes sense.

Funny. Buddy wont eat enless I stop looking at him. LOL. I watch him eat sometimes because I want him to try something new and he just looks at me like stop watching me eat. I also watch to see what he prefers to eat so I can continue to get what he wants. I do the same with the iguanas and they just look at me evey now and again as if to say "you're a strange one." I also eat with buddy and he still doesnt like to eat when I am around. hummmmm. maybe just preferences????~Jenna

Thank you Bea, very interesting observation and now that you mention it I can see that's what they're doing. I also notice that K&K watch each other periodically (as well as me) while they're eating. I would assume they're checking that 'all is safe.'