Why does my peach-faced bird flip food and sit low? How to stop?

You didn't indicate Snowflake's age and if she is still little enough that she needs to be hand fed, or if she is an adult. If she is an adult and not eating, it may be that there is an underlying issue, such as pain or illness, that should be ruled out by a vet in person to make sure she is OK. Adding in various food and water dishes that are easy to climb in and out of may also help make it easier for her to get to the food and eat on her own. A balanced diet of seed and pellets can help ensure she's getting the right nutrition, and too many extras may make her picky about food. Limiting treats may encourage her to eat more on her own. However, if she is sitting at the bottom of the cage, isn't eating at all, or otherwise appears ill, seeking vet care first is best.

Restlessness, picking or pecking at body parts, and holding a limb (whether it be wing or leg) in an abnormal way can all be signs of pain or discomfort. Sitting in a food bowl may be a sign Alex just isn't feeling well enough to perch or doesn't feel like she can balance safely without falling. Having Alex examined by a veterinarian who specializes in birds is a good step toward figuring out what is causing her pain. Your vet may recommend radiographs to see whether there is something going on that would explain her unusual behavior. In the meantime I would keep all of Alex's food and water bowls on the bottom of her cage and lower her perches to almost the bottom of the cage so she doesn't hurt herself if she has trouble balancing or grasping the perch. It doesn't take much for these tiny finches to hurt themselves so creating a safe cage space until she can be examined is a good idea. I hope this is helpful. Good luck with Alex!

It is not uncommon for birds to chew at one particular spot on a perch. It looks like you have a number of wooden dowel perches in the cage - you could try to vary these by providing Manzanita wood perches (they look more like branches) and this may provide them with some areas that they can clean their beaks and wear their nails as well. For your question about the food dishes - it is very common for birds to only utilize materials (including food, water, toys, and perches) that are at the top of their cage. The reason for this is that they typically live in the trees, so they like to be high up the majority of the time. I would advise removing the dishes that are down low, and only providing dishes high in the cage. You can still provide multiple dishes if desired, in case you have some competition for food among the birds in the family. I hope that answers your questions, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be just playful behavior. You can consider securing it to the cage with some type of material or just getting a new water bowl of a different color she may prefer. Best of luck!

If he is always fluffed up or otherwise listless, this can be a sign that he isn't feeling very well, and an exam from your vet is always a good idea. As for the pottying, birds tend to just go wherever they are (some can be trained not to), and so if he's perching on the food and water, he is likely to go there. Adding in some perches similar to the dishes may encourage him to perch there instead, or simply getting dishes that are more of a silo instead of a bowl can prevent stool from getting in them. Daily cleaning of all dishes will also help with any stool that gets in them.

If his behavior is unusual or any symptoms (such as changes to the stool and lethargic behavior) are worsening, seeking a vet visit in person is always best to rule out issues such as GI upset, illness, etc. Adding a little grit to the diet may also help better breakdown seeds in his food and allow him to digest/pass them more easily. Sometimes, parasites can look like seeds in the stool, so having a vet take a look and checking for any parasites may also be a good idea. As for fresh fruits and veggies, birds can sometimes be picky about what they eat. The best rule of thumb is to keep offering them until your bird finally gets curious enough to try it. He may find a new favorite!

In the second image, she definitely looks unthrifty and ill. Without a physical exam though, it is difficult to say for sure what is going on with her. If you can, transition from an all seed diet to a pelleted diet which is more balanced. Brands include Harrison's, Lafeber, Pretty Bird or KayTee Exact. You can still offer a small amount of a fortified seed mix as well as fresh fruits and vegetables to round out the diet.