A Parrot's sense of security

These are 4 crucial things to a parrot's security and well being, which then translates to their physical and mental condition, and behavior towards you and others:

A good breeder will take the time to properly wean the bird. Reputable breeders will not sell an unwean bird. Birds that are forced to wean early or are forced to be handfed by different people will develop insecurity problems, to name the least.
Get your bird from a reputable breeder and that is your first start to a healthy relationship. For notes on "buying a pet bird", please refer to our article entitled "Rules for Buying A Pet Parrot".

This factor determines a lot of how your parrot behaves. Many people don't realize what goes through their minds when they scream, call, bite, or pluck their feathers. Birds in the wild generally do not bite unless provoked, they don't pull out their feathers, and they only scream for short periods in the day - to communicate with their flock. Same with a normal, healthy pet bird.

A bird's sense of security derives from several things, and are all equally important:

a) Necessity:
- Nutritious food and clean water. Bowls should be washed daily, and nutritious foods be fed. Please visit Zachary's food page to get some ideas on what parrots should be fed.
- A large cage & location of cage. Your bird needs a large main cage - to accommodate 3 bowls, several perches and toys, a birdie bed/enclosure for some species, a grate to protect birds from stepping on their feces, and all cage papers must be changed at least twice a day.
- The ability to take showers often and that they receive exposure to sunshine or indoor full spectrum lighting.
- They need daily exercise, toys and activities to stimulate their minds.

b) A routine that they can count on - the way nature provided for them. That includes waking up to sunlight and having 10-12 hours of dark, uninterrupted sleep every night. Your schedule has to correspond with theirs, for this to make sense.

c) Flock. This is why "one person birds" don't exist naturally, except for the humans who create and encourage it.
Birds in nature are flock animals. They feel safe around their flock, they need to know who they are and be able to spend a good amount of time with them. That is why having a bird means having the time to spend with it. An hour or so a day is not enough for a parrot's security and well being. Quality time alone is not enough either. They need to spend time with their flock - They need both direct and indirect quality, not one or the other. Having playpens around the house where you hang out is necessary to keep them involved.

d) Understanding their flock. Your bird must know and perform step ups and downs as soon as you can teach them. Use the commands always, even after they know what it means. Those two commands are very important in building the first human/parrot bond. Then always talk to them like you would a young child - slowly, use consistent words, and in the case of Amazons - the more animated you are, the more it attracts their attention.

e) Mate. Most parrots in the wild pair up with a mate. And there are also many that don't. Just like humans, mates are needed by most, but not always for everyone. Mates alone, are not enough for a bird (or human for that matter) to be fulfilled and happy. They need their flock - with or without a mate. A bird that only has one person to bond with will develop territorialism from knowing nothing better and not given anything better. If everyone in your world treated you badly (or ignored you) except for one person, you'd be protective of that person to no end, as you think you'd be alone otherwise. And suffer a lack of self esteem too, not to mention other psychological problems. Same thing with a bird that is brought up that way.

f) Environment. In the wild, the bird chooses its environment. They stay in environments where they can hang out with their flock and feel safe. If a situation calls for danger or chaos, they can fly away. As pet birds, they don't have a whole lot of options in your home. It's important that you provide them with the same secure and non-chaotic environment. Their hang-out places and cages should not be totally exposed to large windows, busy areas or corners. Calm kids and other loud activities around them, and give them the peace and quiet they need when they are resting during the day and at night.

A pet parrot needs love and affection, just like other pets and humans do. But because they are birds, they need what birds need: to be preened, heads scratched, nuzzled and other things that birds do in nature. A bird is not an ornament to look at.

Give them the crucial things they need, and you will have a loving, trusting, and loyal companion for life.