Birds make wonderful pets, but even the best-behaved birds can develop problem behaviors. Some common bird behavior problems include excessive screaming, biting, aggression, feather plucking, and phobias. Understanding why birds develop problem behaviors and how to correct them is key to having a happy and healthy pet bird.
Why Do Birds Develop Behavior Problems?
There are several potential causes of problem bird behaviors:
- Improper environment – Birds need adequate space, proper diet, toys, and social interaction. If their needs are not met, they may act out.
- Health issues – Illnesses and conditions like nutritional deficiencies can cause changes in behavior.
- Stress and anxiety – Birds that feel threatened or insecure may scream, bite, or self-mutilate.
- Boredom – Birds are highly intelligent and need mental stimulation. Lack of enrichment can lead to problem behaviors.
- Lack of training – Birds allowed to get away with problem behaviors will continue displaying them.
- Hormones – Reproductive hormones can trigger aggression and other issues.
Identifying and addressing the root cause of the behavior is crucial when correcting bird behavior problems.
Excessive Screaming
Excessive vocalization is one of the most common bird behavior problems. Wild birds squawk and screech to communicate with their flock. Pet birds continue this loud vocalization to get their owner’s attention. Birds that are ignored, stressed, or bored tend to scream more often. Other reasons for excessive screaming include:
- Seeking attention
- Communicating excitement or alarm
- Expressing frustration
- Signaling distress from illness or injury
- Showing hunger or thirst
- Conveying territoriality of toys or perches
To curb screaming, ensure the bird has adequate enrichment and interaction. Provide food, water, toys, and social time before the bird screams. Reward and praise the bird when it is quiet. Discourage screaming by walking away or covering the cage when it starts. Never yell at a screaming bird, as this reinforces the vocalization. If the screaming persists, consult an avian veterinarian to address potential health issues.
Biting and Aggression
Biting and aggression are concerning parrot behaviors. Possible causes include:
- Fear or mistrust
- Illness causing pain or irritability
- Lack of handling and socialization
- Protecting perceived territory or flock status
- Hormonal changes
- Redirected foraging behavior
To reduce biting and aggression:
- Build trust through training, handling, and rewards
- Never react with punishment, yelling, or pulling away
- Identify and address causes of fear, pain, or hormonal changes
- Refrain from touching sensitive areas like wings, back, and feet
- Teach acceptable chewing toys and redirect biting
- Use behavioral techniques like timeouts to discourage aggression
In some cases, anti-anxiety medication or hormone therapy may be needed. An avian behaviorist can assist with curbing more serious biting and aggression issues.
Feather Plucking
Feather plucking, also called feather damaging behavior or self-mutilation, is a complex disorder in pet birds. Parrots will pull out their own feathers, sometimes removing entire sections. Causes include:
- Physical health problems, often related to diet
- Allergies or skin conditions causing irritation
- Parasites
- Bacterial or fungal infections
- Stress, anxiety, or boredom
- Poor environment or social isolation
- Hormonal imbalances
- Attention-seeking behavior
Treating feather plucking involves addressing any medical issues and improving the bird’s diet and environment. Providing enrichment toys and social interaction helps reduce boredom and anxiety. Anti-anxiety medication may be prescribed in severe cases. Preventing a bird from accessing plucked areas can allow feathers to regrow. However, the underlying cause must be resolved for long-term improvement.
Phobias
Like humans, birds can develop irrational fears and phobias of certain objects or situations. Common bird phobias include:
- People – Often stemming from past abuse or neglect
- Hands – From being grabbed or restrained
- Other pets or birds – From frightening interactions
- New foods – Due to inadequate variety when young
- Toys or cage items – That they associate with past trauma
- Going into carrier – If only transported for vet visits
Helping a bird overcome phobias requires patience and positive reinforcement, such as:
- Gradually desensitizing the bird to triggering objects or situations
- Using clicker training and treats to build positive associations
- Ensuring new experiences are safe and non-threatening
- Praising and rewarding desired calm behavior
- Never forcing interaction to avoid worsening the fear
In some cases, anti-anxiety medication may be needed temporarily during the retraining process. An avian behaviorist can design a customized desensitization program for phobic birds.
Destructive Chewing
Chewing is normal parrot behavior, but can become problematic if directed at inappropriate items. Cause of destructive chewing include:
- Boredom from inadequate toys and activities
- Stress relief
- Exploring new textures
- Getting owner’s attention
- Teething in young birds
Solutions for destructive chewing include:
- Providing acceptable outlets like bird-safe wood toys
- Using bitter sprays or hot sauce to deter chewing off-limits items
- Rewarding toys and perches, not fingers or household objects
- Keeping the bird engaged and active
- Blocking access to electrical cords, books, furniture, etc
With patience and training, destructive chewing habits can be redirected to appropriate items.
Conclusion
Bird behavior problems can be frustrating, but are often manageable with insight into the cause and consistent positive reinforcement techniques. Identifying whether the issue stems from health, environment, stress, boredom or fear is the first step. An avian vet can diagnose medical conditions contributing to the behavior. Beyond that, improving the bird’s diet, enriching its cage, providing motivating toys, and spending quality interaction time usually helps curb problematic behaviors. With patience and persistence, parrots can overcome even deeply ingrained behavior issues and become well-adjusted companions.