FREE
|
Recommended Reading Available for Immediate Download The Ultimate Parrot Care Guide
|
Parrot Behavior – What is Normal?
Many times if we are experiencing “behavior problems” with our parrots it comes from the fact that we really don’t know what normal parrot behavior is and so we don’t know what to expect. After all a parrot is a wild bird. It always will be a wild bird even if some of its instinctive behavior is tempered with training, the instincts remain.
Many new parrot owners ask “what is normal parrot behavior?” Normal parrot behavior is certainly a relative term. All owners have different tolerance levels. What appears normal to one may be entirely intolerable to another. For example Amazon parrots are generally very noisy and love to screech. African parrots (African Greys) on the other hand are normally much quieter. Greys especially, once they learn to talk prefer to talk, whistle or make hooting sounds rather than scream – unless of course they are frightened.
Preening and molting are normal parrot behavior. Preening is the bird’s way of distributing oil and down powder over its feathers to clean and waterproof them. When they preen some feathers will be lost. This is normal and not a cause for concern.
All birds including parrots molt on a regular basis. The timing of this is dependent on several factors including the amount of daylight, the temperature, and the parrot’s breeding condition and overall health. Parrots that confined to the indoors may molt a few feathers almost all year long. During a heavy molt, a number of flight and tail feathers can be lost. This is not something to be concerned about. A bird will always have enough feathers for a quick getaway if danger appears.
As feathers are lost new one grow in. They are covered in keratin making them scratchy and uncomfortable. This is one reason your bird may seem cranky and nippy during the process. Be considerate of your bird at this time and be very gentle in your handling.
Another normal parrot behavior is the tendency to throw food around. When your bird is finished eating he will enthusiastically discard the remaining morsels everywhere – including out of the cage. Don’t worry this is normal. In the wild a parrot has no need to worry about unwanted food. He could just throw it out of the tree. In captivity he will behave the same way. The difference is you get to clean up the mess.
Parrots love to chew! Get use to it. Supplying them every type of chew toy made will certainly give them variety but won’t protect your valuable possessions if they are left unsupervised outside their cage. Many an expensive piece of furniture has been destroyed by unsupervised birds. If left alone, they can just as easily chew on that electrical cord as they can the dining room chairs.
Parrots have an instinctive drive for dominance. This stems from their behavior needs in the wild. The dominant bird in the wild has his choice of mates, the preferred nesting area, food and other necessities for survival in the wild. Now in captivity he doesn’t need to worry about all that but the instinct is still there. As a result, a parrot will always seek the highest place to perch. It may show some aggression in trying to achieve that. Much aggressive parrot behavior can be eliminated by merely never allowing the bird to perch any higher than the owner’s chest. They should never be allowed higher than this when out of the cage. If you do, be ready for trouble sooner or later.
Why do parrots bite? There are a number of causes. First, the bird just may not feel well. If your bird bites it may be time to look for other warning signs of illness or disease. A parrot may bite out of fear as a defense. Even the smallest changes in the bird’s normal surroundings may cause a bite. Simple things as a new food dish, a new toy, a different sound to your voice all may seem minor but can trigger the unwanted reaction in your parrot.
One of the best things you can do is get to know your parrot well. Get to know what he likes and doesn’t like. If you’re attentive he will always tell you. Learn more about parrot behavior and parrot care by getting a copy of “The Ultimate Parrot Care Guide.” You can also get a FREE parrot care minicourse with some tips and secrets that may surprise you.
|
|
Bookmark this on Delicious
