Parrot Behavioral Resources
If you're having problems with your bird such as excessive screaming, biting, feather destructive problems (picking, pulling, mutilating), or other neurotic behaviors, your first stop should be your avian veterinarian. Your vet should conduct a full work-up that would rule out any physical problems as the cause of your bird's behavioral issues.
After physical problems have been ruled out, you can try the following to correct behavioral problems:
• Be sure your bird is getting enough sleep. Most parrots need approximately 10 hours (12 is ideal) of sleep. Parrots cannot really get a good night's sleep if there is activity going on in the room even if it is dark (such as putting the bird to "bed" and then staying up and watching television).
• Be sure your bird is on a healthy diet. This would include fresh vegetables, legumes, grains, some fruit, some pellets, and some seeds.
• Provide plenty of out-of-cage time. Parrots will suffer physically and psychologically when confined to a cage for too many hours a day. Unless your bird is in an extremely large cage or aviary, your bird should be allowed at least 2-3 hours every day of out-of-cage time.
• Allow your bird to fly. Do your best to ensure your bird's safety by closing all doors and windows, covering up windows, turning off ceiling fans, etc., and allow your bird some time each day to fly.
• If your bird is new to your family, allow some time for him to adjust. Birds don't just automatically love everyone like a new dog might. They need time to acclimate and get used to a new lifestyle, schedule, and new flock members (you and your family).
• If your bird is picking her feathers, be sure you are providing enough humidity in the room through the use of a humidifier and showers/baths.
If you are still having problems you may wish to contact a parrot behavior consultant. The people listed below have many years of experience with parrots and these are also people that I personally know and trust. Some of them may charge a fee for their services, check their own websites for further information.
