Ask Lafeber

Parrots eating poop

Why do some birds eat their poop? How problematic is that?

Hi Marianne,

We really do not know why some birds and mammals do this – it is not limited to parrots. Theories include nutritional deficiency, boredom, and instinct to keep a nest or den clean and thus safer. There is no known benefit for parrots that do this. It’s best to have a cage with a metal floor grate, where the tray is low enough that the bird can’t reach any poop. The main concern would be a bacterial infection if it is the bird’s own poop, or contracting a disease if a parrot comes in contact with another bird’s poop, so it’s best to keep a bird from doing this.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda