There are 3 main types of behavioral issues that many companion parrots experience:
- Instinctual or natural behaviors that become problems for the people who care for them
- Unintentionally trained behaviors
- Problems caused by the ‘Conditions of Captivity’
The brutal truth is that birds were not designed to live in your house or to be perfect pets. These creatures evolved to survive in some of the most dangerous jungles, desserts, and rain forests of the world. As a result we can’t always expect them be quiet when we’re on the phone or play nicely with small children. That said, there still are ways to correct or at least alleviate most of the problems that you may have with your parrot. ~John Perry, Feather Me
Common Bird Behavior and Husbandry Issues That I Address
• Excessive/obsessive vocalizations
• Aggression (towards you, your partner, or other animals in the home)
• General fearful behavior and stress
• Recently re-homed parrots
• Acclimating a parrot to an optimal diet
• Feather plucking
• Stress-free grooming (nails) - I teach you how to do this.
• How to create an enriching and safe parrot enclosure
• Target training
• Clicker training
• Daily Enrichment
• Increase natural parrot behaviors foraging behavior
• Aggression (towards you, your partner, or other animals in the home)
• General fearful behavior and stress
• Recently re-homed parrots
• Acclimating a parrot to an optimal diet
• Feather plucking
• Stress-free grooming (nails) - I teach you how to do this.
• How to create an enriching and safe parrot enclosure
• Target training
• Clicker training
• Daily Enrichment
• Increase natural parrot behaviors foraging behavior
Chopin and me, educating children about the complexities of cockatoos
My Published Parrot Articles
Stimulation for Psittacines! Transforming a Parrot’s Life in Captivity through Enrichment
Physical and mental stimulation is vital to every species on the planet. Squid, poison dart frogs, pigs,rats, cats, tortoises,spiders, jaguars, sheep, dogs, ferrets, parrots, you name it, they all need daily stimulation. Enrichment is a fundamental component of responsible, preventative companion parrot care. But how can we ensure the parrots we care for are getting enough? (Full article on pages 48-50.)
Putting Together the Parrot Puzzle Pieces
Breeds of dogs and cats are grouped under one genus and one species; Canis familiaris or Felis catus. Although a Maine coon looks very different from a Siamese, they are both the same species. Comparatively, there are hundreds of species of parrots. Some parrot species are even classified in a different genus. We might be able to make some generalizations about the nutritional, emotional and physical needs of dogs and cats because of their species, but we cannot generalize parrots. Each species of parrot has very specific dietary, emotional and physical need.
Learn more in the full article, Putting Together the Parrot Puzzle Pieces: The Key to Successful, Species-Appropriate Enrichment for Captive Parrots.
Learn more in the full article, Putting Together the Parrot Puzzle Pieces: The Key to Successful, Species-Appropriate Enrichment for Captive Parrots.
The Power of Play: Thinking Outside the Cage
​Pictured: Sarge the blue and gold macaw enjoying his daily walk about in a safe area under supervision
Parrots need to play every day. They may be living in an enclosure at your house or shelter but they still have innate behavioral needs that must be met. It is crucial to the physical and emotional health of every bird. Utilizing and encouraging play increases coordination and circulation, and provides a healthy and productive energy outlet. If we want to encourage natural behaviors such as flying, flapping, foraging, climbing, chewing, tearing, tossing, walking, hiding, holding, preening, searching and singing, we can do all of this through play. Read full article here.
“For me, the sight of a parrot living alone, living in a cage, deprived of flight, miserably bored, breaks my heart. And the parrot’s too, perhaps.” — Jane Goodall
Raptor resources coming soon.
Igor, the Great-horned owl, on programming at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans
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