->    can explain it? He will come up to an object (person, shoe, toy,
 ->    furniture), put his beak to the floor and start scratching at the
 ->    floor. He looks just like a chicken in a barnyard scratching for
 ->    seed!
 DF> How old is he?  I think every single baby grey I've ever raised has
 DF> done that exact same thing... from about 4-5 weeks of age in the
 DF> brooder on into young adulthood in a cage.  Some of 'em still do it on
 DF> cage bottoms. :-) 
 DF> It's natural behavior, and  I've seen other African parrots do it. 
 DF> Nearly all my Poicephalus babies scratch in corners like a chicken. 
        Koko is 6 1/2. I've had him for 18 months... he just started
      doing this a few months ago (but then we didn't put him on the
      floor that much either). I'm glad it's "normal"... we just laugh
      and wonder why he's doing it. Did you see the PBS special about
      parrots a few weeks ago? They showed Greys digging around in
      elephant poop looking for minerals and seeds. I'd hate to think
      there's elephant poop on the living room carpet, but anything is
      possible...  
        Thanks for the response. I can cancel the parrot therapist
      appointment now, right? 
           Sue
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