Are our companion parrots destined to live frustrated, unhappy lives?
Not always; particularly if the owner makes an attempt to improve the parrot’s environment. Changing the surroundings of a captive parrot, giving them a way to express their natural behaviours, and keeping them occupied are all parts of environmental enrichment. Chewable toys, hunting for hidden food, and suitable social groups are a few examples of this. Companion parrots live happier and less problematic lives as pets when provided with a varied habitat, a variety of food and toys, and opportunities for play and socialisation.
Why is it so crucial to enrich the environment?
Unfortunately, parrots in homes and pet stores are still frequently found in bare cages, however many responsible parrot owners have realised how important it is to provide their birds a well-stocked environment of their natural habitat tree branches, nuts and chewable materials in natural form. Numerous scientific studies conducted over the last 10 years on a wide range of species have repeatedly shown the numerous benefits of living in an enriched environment. When compared to animals in lifeless environments, those in such environments are typically healthier, have better cognitive capacities, and display fewer unnatural, routine behaviour.
Until recently, little formal research has focused on the special needs of parrots in captivity. However, this gap was addressed in a study of orange-winged Amazons ( Amazona amazonica ) showing that parrots in an enriched environment are less prone to feather damage compared to cages with only food and water bowls (Meehan et al., 2003). http://surl.li/nwdxh
Two groups of eight 16-week-old Amazons participated in the study. One group only had access to basic necessities(non-enriched group), while the other group (enriched group) engaged in foraging, including overcoming food barriers and interacting with chew toys.
The feather quality of each parrot was recorded during the study. After one year, six of the eight Amazons in the non-enriched group (only with basic necessities) and none of the birds in the enriched environment began shredding or plucking their feathers.
The researchers were able to reverse the effects of feathering in six Amazons that plucked feathers by placing them in an enriched environment. At first they were wary of their new environment, but they soon started using the toys. After a few months, they stopped chewing the feathers. Each Amazon was examined by a veterinarian to ensure that the feather chewing was not due to an undiagnosed medical problem. All parrots were fed a healthy, balanced diet, so feather picking/plucking was not due to nutritional deficiencies.
The researchers also noted which parrots developed stereotypic behavior – dysfunctional, unchanging and repetitive behavior often seen in captive animals. Stereotypes seen in orange-winged Amazons included pacing, climbing in a circle, twisting the cage in one corner, and repeatedly chewing the cage wire in one place. Amazons in non-enriched cages behaved more stereotypically than those in enriched cages (Meehan et al., 2004). http://surl.li/nweez
It is clear that parrots in captivity will not thrive if they are kept in a non-enriched (boring) cage for decades. In an enriched environment, parrots show less abnormal, stereotyped behavior or feather picking. Enrich the environment of our parrots and give them the life they deserve, because they can even outlive the owners.
Watch the video given below to see how we make the parrots work and be active !
Instagram Page – https://www.instagram.com/jayden.joshua.aviculture/
Video – https://youtu.be/jvZi2lUixqs?si=MM-wfu6j4Shm8K_1
Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/JaydenJoshuaAviculture
Whatsapp Link – https://wa.me/918807793973
Subscribe to our newsletter!
