Do birds fart?
December 22, 2004 8:54 AM

Do birds fart?
posted by Mayor Curley to Pets & Animals (21 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
Apparently.

So does the Sonoran Coral Snake!

So does xmutex.

Also a farter: William Shatner.

Do you?
posted by xmutex at 8:58 AM on December 22, 2004


According to this book, everybody farts.
posted by FlamingBore at 9:02 AM on December 22, 2004


My cat farts. She'll stretch and a fart will squeak out. Then she'll look around to see if anyone noticed.
posted by birdherder at 9:03 AM on December 22, 2004


Do you?

I'm a 6'2" vegetarian who weighs about 200 pounds and loves beer. I regularly emit bombs that interfere with radio transmissions.

But I was seriously wondering if animals with cloacae occasionally rip one. Thanks for the link.

My cat farts. She'll stretch and a fart will squeak out.

Yeah, it's pretty common knowledge that higher mammals fart. But has anyone borne witness to a bird's fart?
posted by Mayor Curley at 9:11 AM on December 22, 2004


That's why they sing so much: so we won't notice what's coming out the other end.
posted by papercake at 9:34 AM on December 22, 2004


One of the funniest things I ever saw was a bulldog be confounded by his own farts. He was leaning over to one side, kind of on his hip, and when he farted, he'd whip his head around and look quizzically at his ass. Still makes me giggle to think about it.
posted by Specklet at 9:51 AM on December 22, 2004


I'd guess that all mammals (all creatures?) do "break wind" -- it's the result of eating, and everything eats...right?

Specklet, that's funny...would be great to see on video!
posted by davidmsc at 9:56 AM on December 22, 2004


You know, I'm glad I know the answer, but jeez, dude, "Do birds fart?" is easily answered by Google...

My cats fart. This fact makes them a convenient scapegoat.
posted by mkultra at 9:58 AM on December 22, 2004


Well, Big Bird was the only other one on the elevator and it certainly wasn't me.
posted by bondcliff at 10:02 AM on December 22, 2004


"Do birds fart?" is easily answered by Google

I disagree. I found exactly one attempt to seriously answer the question (which xmutex linked to) and it's definitely weak.

The first result is "Doodz! Shaun Rider killed seagulls with fizzies because they totally can't fart!"
posted by Mayor Curley at 10:10 AM on December 22, 2004


But has anyone borne witness to a bird's fart?

Yes, I have borne witness to my chickens farting.
posted by ewagoner at 10:22 AM on December 22, 2004


Do birds fart? Do birds fart?

I never knew a question about farts could be so. . . contemplative. It's like a zen koan or something. If a bird farts in a forest and no one is around to smell it, does it produce an odor?

As to the question itself: I had a cockatiel for years and I don't remember her ever farting. That doesn't mean she never did though. She was pretty sneaky.
posted by LeeJay at 10:22 AM on December 22, 2004


Fish also fart, but then it is called a FRT!
posted by satisam at 10:32 AM on December 22, 2004


I disagree. I found exactly one attempt to seriously answer the question (which xmutex linked to) and it's definitely weak.

Dude, come on. A ZOOLOGIST answered the question there. Why do you think you'll get a better one here?
posted by mkultra at 10:45 AM on December 22, 2004


It's like a zen koan or something

What is the sound of one bird farting?
posted by TimeFactor at 10:59 AM on December 22, 2004


If a tree fell on a mime in a forest, would anyone care?
posted by Specklet at 11:34 AM on December 22, 2004


I never knew a question about farts could be so. . . contemplative. It's like a zen koan

I second that. it's strangely beautiful. soothing, almost. if one's sinuses are clogged, of course
posted by matteo at 12:05 PM on December 22, 2004


Specklet, you're on a roll. Thanks!
posted by deborah at 12:08 PM on December 22, 2004


One of the funniest things I ever saw was a bulldog be confounded by his own farts.

This comes as no surprise. Ours would bark in terror when coming upon empty paper sacks standing in the middle of the kitchen floor. Doggy Einsteins they are not.
posted by y2karl at 7:20 PM on December 22, 2004


satisam, your fish frt link made me laugh out loud.

the audacity of those scientists! Fast Repetitive Tick, indeed.
posted by Jonasio at 9:04 AM on December 23, 2004


Dude, come on. A ZOOLOGIST answered the question there. Why do you think you'll get a better one here?

a one sentence answer that did not explain the mechanism, though. In mammals, there is liquid waste, and then solid waste which as it's breaking down can produce gas as well; in birds it's all in the same place and it's less obvious that there would be gas in the mix as well... Anyway birds are just weird creatures; they can be almost reminiscent of flowers or something - they're often brightly colored, have beautiful (symmetry, detail) waterproof feathers, instinctively know how to sing pleasantly, plus I think they see in four primary colors... They seem a little alien, the way a dog or a mouse never does (cats are kind of alien for mammals, I think, but they're still mammals).
posted by mdn at 12:10 PM on December 23, 2004


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