Is it normal for a sun conure to eat solid food while on its side?

Thanks for reaching out about Sweetie and including photos. Offering table food, letting him see you eat it and then sharing. Decreasing hand feeding might leave him hungry. Continue to try. Good luck.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It can be normal for birds to lean on food bowls, toys, or their cage walls while asleep. I would not be concerned unless the leaning continues while he is awake. Examples of this would be tilting his head to one side while walking or circling in one direction. If he is acting normally otherwise, he is likely just getting comfortable. I hope this helps!

At his current age, you can start weaning him off of hand feeding formula. Begin to gradually decrease the amount and frequency of feeding. Offer a commercial pelleted diet and a fortified seed mix. Millet sprays can also be offered. Check his crop to ensure he is eating. You can continue to supplement as needed though to prevent weight loss. The droppings look normal for a chick being hand fed. The increased liquid can result in loose stool. Expect the consistency and appearance of droppings to change once the transition to solid food is made. Contact local breeders, bird keepers or even zoos to get information on avian veterinarians that will be able to examine Kiwi if necessary.

This is no cause for concern. Some birds do it, others don't. If he is having difficulty perching, grasping or walking, then that IS a cause for concern requiring an exam with your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian.

It sounds like regurgitation, but if you are concerned about it, it doesn't seem normal, or Mango shows other signs of illness, seeking a veterinary exam is always the best course of action (and will give you some peace of mind.) I would keep an eye on her as well and note down any other changes in health, if there is a pattern with this, etc as that could help your vet pinpoint what may be going on.

It could be that is just how your parrot fell asleep, which can be normal. If he is showing any signs of illness while awake, such as a head tilt then, refusal to eat, listless behavior, etc, then this is cause for concern and should be checked out by a vet.

Monitor him for more episodes. Determine if it was regurgitation (which can be normal) or true vomiting. When birds vomit, they typically flick their head from side to side while ejecting matter. Regurgitation is accompanied by bobbing the head up and down and bringing up food. It is not as violent or serious an action as vomiting. If it is vomiting, Patito should be examined by a veterinarian. You may need to take him to the nearest veterinary ER. If he is behaving normally (not lethargic or fluffed up) then he may be able to wait until your vet is available. Keep him warm and as stress free as possible until he sees the vet.