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Drinking
Mynahs
drink by dipping their bill into the water to scoop it up. Then they
raise their head tipping it up to let the water run down into their
gullet. Because of this method an ample amount of water is needed
for the bird to be able to fill his bill.
Preening
Mynahs
straighten their feathers with their beaks after any routine, such as
after bathing or being handled.
Scratching
A
mynah will scratch its head and neck with one foot by raising its leg
between the body and wing. This
is normal during a molt or when preening itself . The action may
be isolated. No reason to be concerned unless your bird is
constantly scratching.
Bathing
Mynahs
love their baths and will splash around in the water, dunking their
heads, getting themselves soaked to the skin. They like to do
this at least twice a day. There is no need to dry them afterward
for they do this themselves by shaking off the water and running their
beak through the feathers, wherever they can reach. It is normal
for them to shake their little heads to dry it after a bath to get the
water off and out of the ears. Most mynahs will take a bath after being
placed back in the cage from free time out, especially after being
handled.
Sneezing
It
is not unusual for mynahs to sneeze occasionally. They, like us,
get little tickles and irritants too. As stated above, they will
also sneeze after a bath to clear water from the nares
(nostrils). When sneezing is persistent and coughing occurs and
the nares are not clean and clear, then the bird is ill and needs a
veterinarian's attention.
Stretching
Occasionally
mynahs will stretch out the leg and wing from one side of its body and
then do the same on the other side, extending the head and neck
forward. This is done for comfort, just as we sometimes enjoy a
good stretch.
Yawning
Sometimes
a mynah will yawn just before or after napping. It beak opens
wide for a second or two.
Resting
& Sleeping Positions
A mynah will crouch down on its perch or
the nest box floor with its head tucked in between the shoulders,
facing straight ahead, with eyes closed. You may see your bird
resting or sleeping like this during the day also. Sometimes they
stand on one leg on the perch while resting. Seldom does a mynah
tuck its face under its feathers to sleep, but you may see this
also. Mynahs take short naps during the day and still sleep
throughout the night.
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