Psychological (Emotional) Needs Guide (produced by SSEBS)

Social Interaction

Why should we be concerned about social interaction for our parrots?  Basically because it supports their emotional well-being, and because they are sociable creatures who have very specific and serious social needs.  In the wild parrots are flock animals who have very intense social bonds, and they survive by staying with the flock.  Being lost from or abandoned by the flock means an individual bird likely will quickly become another animal's meal.

As our companions and members of our “flock”, parrots may not always receive proper and adequate social interactions from us, not always because we intentionally don’t provide them but because we sometimes don’t know what is proper and adequate. When that happens, they are susceptible to developing behavioral problems such as excessive screaming, feather picking and destruction, and other problematic behaviors that can be difficult to reverse.

To prevent those behavioral problems, we need to provide the stimulating interaction, the companionship that may be missing in our parrots’ environment.  The solitary parrot requires companionship, and it’s up to us to figure out how to provide it.  If you can’t provide a companion of its own species, sometimes a bird of another species brought into the home will fill the gap, but lacking that, it really is our presence and time that will be the best alternative.  Spend time playing and talking with your bird, and if you must be out of its sight, create a contact call to reassure the bird that its flock (that’s you!) Is still in the vicinity.  Flock members don’t have to be in physical contact, but that contact call is extremely important to each member. 

Besides the contact call, develop a flock language for you and your parrot!  You may not think your bird can talk to you, but what are the noises it makes if not talking?  It just isn’t human language.  By listening to your bird, trying to figure out what it is indicating by its various sounds, and learning how to mimic them, you may soon find yourself non-verbally communicating.  By communicating, you likely will have a relaxed, happy parrot who will find ways to invite social interaction with you.

Social stimulation can also be found in the creation of rituals and predictability.  It’s soothing for parrots to go to bed and get up in the morning at predictable times.  When you uncover their cages in the morning, the ritual of who is first to be greeted, the manner of greeting, the order in which chores are done– all these are parts of the flock experience and extremely important in the life of a companion parrot.

Mental Stimulation

Wild parrots are challenged mentally every day.  Finding food, avoiding predators, and interacting with their flock mates are all part of their daily lives and take a lot of mental agility to be successful.  Even in the best of homes, companion parrots often remain caged for hours a day, and they are dependent upon us for stimulation and activity.  The problem is that far too often they receive limited stimulation, and that can be disastrous for their well-being.  Because they are intelligent, inquisitive and social, parrots need physical and mental stimulation.

Parrots are very intelligent and have very specific and serious intellectual needs.  Like children, they need to play.  By giving them foraging and puzzle toys you allow your companions to engage in natural behavior that promotes a parrot's mental well being.  Whatever stimulates a parrot to "figure out something" qualifies as mental stimulation.  Hide its food, make foraging toys within which treats are hidden, or simply introduce safe, novel items into its environment.  Watch to see what intrigues your parrot– does it like the noise of your baby’s plastic keys?  Buy a set for your feathered friend!

Playtime helps to build better mental health and a sense of independence.  Parrots provided with a variety of toys are less self-absorbed and exhibit fewer negative behaviors such as feather destruction and self-mutilation.

Mental stimulation isn’t provided only by toys.  Trick training is fun-- a parrot who learns a trick is mentally stimulated and is on its way to staying happy and healthy.  Again, watch how your bird interacts with its toys; perhaps there are actions it makes with certain toys that you can introduce as a trick.  (The side effect of watching your bird is that you are being companionable with it, part of being a flock member.  Just try standing next to your birds without at least talking to them – bet you can’t do it!

Independence

Companion parrots must have the opportunity to make decisions.  Hopefully your parrot will have had the chance to develop some sense of independence during its first year, the best time for it to learn that sense.  By making their own decisions, companion parrots can acquire a sense of independence and develop at least some control over their lives.  That in turn contributes to an overall sense of well-being and ability to live happy, healthy lives.  Independent birds have the ability to:

.   Entertain themselves

.   Make choices regarding when and what to eat, to play with, and when to bathe and sleep

.   Self-reward by choosing activities they find to be pleasurable and fun; and

.   Channel their energy in appropriate ways.

Being flighted gives most birds a greater sense of independence.  If you can provide a flight-safe environment, they can move about under their own volition and have the chance to become happier members of the flock.

*Inclusion of information on this website does not constitute endorsement, unless produced by SSEBS.

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