Continued from page 1Fear Causes Problems
Consequently, in a frantic effort to control an environment to which they sense they are not adapted, many adolescent parrots begin to show a variety of aberrant behaviors. They often become rigid in their patterns, like pulling out all their tail feathers because their cage is moved to the other side of the room They may get rigid about food choices - for instance, eating ONLY seed, corn and grapes. Or they may become excessively territorial about their cages, attacking even family (flock) members that dare venture too close.
Eating Dexterity
On the subject of food, Phoebe Linden, wellrespected aviculturist and parrot behaviorist, feels that a major cause of food rigidities are due to poorly developed eating dexterities. "They only eat a couple of foods because they have 'cracked the manual code' for only a couple of foods." In the wild, these babies would be taught by their parents how to cope with a wide variety of foodstuffs - like how to open hard nuts and how to find the fruit inside of its protective shell. In captivity we put the food in a bowl, assuming the young parrot can figure it out on its own which human babies are not expected to do.
Heartbreaker
But perhaps the most heartrending birds are the ones that become phobic like Dusty, and get hysterical when anyone approaches them. It is as if they anticipate their own demise every time another being comes near. When Dusty's behavior was described to Phoebe and Sally Blanchard, they agreed that he was probably "forceweaned" In other words, handfeeding was withheld before he was psychologically and physically ready to eat on his own. From our experience, forceweaning often sets the foundation for a variety of fears - fear of starvation, fear of abandonment, fear of change. Forceweaning can result also in obsessive foodbegging behaviors seen in older birds, such as adult macaws exhibiting chronic wingflicking and repetitive calling.
Aviculture = Big Business
So what does all this mean to the pet parrot owner? To quote internationally renowned aviculturist Rosemary Lowe, "Parrot breeders used to be parrot lovers. Now it seems there are some who care little for the birds they breed." (Psittascene, publication of The World Parrot Trust) Or to quote a breeder I know personally who told me, "Kiddo, you gotta understand that it's a business, it's just a business." (Need I mention I no longer refer possible buyers to this person?).
Assembly Line Production
Nowadays, large numbers of baby parrots found in the pet market are raised in assembly line style in large "puppy farm" styled breeding facilities where profit seems to be the prime motivation. No thought is given to any nurturing or psychological development. The chicks are pulled from their aquariums only to be fed, then stuffed back in - that is the only handling they receive. If the babies are really lucky, they might be kept clean. Some babies donŐt even get that much handling. There are massproduction setups where the feeder simply pokes a ketchup bottle full of formula through the wire of a cage full of parrot chicks and squirts in the direction of begging mouths.
My Short Pet Store Career
In my stunningly brief career of running a baby bird room in a local pet store, I was constantly criticized by the store manager for handling and teaching babies when I should be "working." In other words, I was supposed to feed and clean them only, then be out in the store waiting on customers.
Birds that come from these belowpar conditions can still be good pets, but as Blanchard puts it, "The owner starts out with one foot in a hole." It is possible, in other words, but it often is much harder. It is much better to start with a parrot raised by an aviculturist or pet store that truly cares about their birds, not just their income, and takes the time to socialize their babies properly.
Learning Is Critical
No matter how good or bad the source of your parrot, it needs to be taught vital skills and contrary to apparent belief, parrots are never too old to learn. Going slowly and taking care not to frighten it, start introducing it to a variety of stimuli - all the time talking to it and reassuring it. Carry the bird from room to room in your home, showing it a variety of settings - what Blanchard calls "Playing Real Estate Agent." Take it for rides in the car (in a safe and comfortable carrier). Take it to visit your parents and friends. If you have friends you trust with your pet, take it to their home for a slumber party. Teach it that change is interesting and fun, not terrifying and threatening.
Have a variety of toys for your parrot of different colors, shapes and textures. Teach it how to play with a new toy by letting it watch you play with it, then inviting it to join in the game. Rotate the toys in its cage at least weekly, making sure that life doesn't get too boring. "Hand toys" are useful in developing manual dexterity. As parrots learn to play, they often begin to invent new games. My own blue and gold macaw is 40+ years old and after more than twenty years, she is still teaching me new games.
PigOut Parties
Teach your parrot how to eat a wide variety of foodstuffs by having PigOut Parties. Phoebe suggests putting it on a table with lots of different bowls of foods - i.e., different kinds of nuts in one, multicolored pasta (cooked and raw) in another, cooked and raw veggies cut in different shapes in another, etc.. Get creative!
Parrots often learn by example, so show your bird what to do by letting it watch you eat something. (It'll improve your diet, too!) Learning by watching another bird is also very useful, so if you know someone with an older healthy parrot (one who has been thoroughly checked by a good avian veterinarian, like your bird has been) who can show your parrot the ropes as to food handling, then invite them to the party, too. Needless to say, expect a mess!
Climb The Ladder!
Teach your parrot vital survival skills. Whenever possible, Phoebe tries to replicate the mother bird's behavior with her babies, so if one of her young parrots falls on the floor, she will not pick it up. After all, the mother bird can't do that!
Instead, she teaches her babies the very real skill of climbing a ladder, and there are ladders leading to different perches all over her house. When she says "Climb the ladder!", all her babies scurry for them. This decreases anxiety levels by reassuring a young bird that it can reach safety without assistance.
Critical Skills
By helping your parrot learn the skills it needs as well as teaching it the controls I have discussed in previous articles, you will go a long way towards having a happy, welladjusted pet that you can enjoy for both of your lifetimes.
This article was first printed in CAGED BIRD HOBBYIST
| Liz Wilson | About Liz Wilson |
This article was first printed in CAGED BIRD HOBBYIST
Reprinted here by permission of the author.
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