We must regard picking behavior as a very serious problem. Plucking behavior in parrots and parakeets is largely caused by uncertainty.
Within the Bird Advisory Practice we see that uncertainty can be the result of:
- Physical problems, whether or not linked to nutrition, housing and care.
- Many parrots and parakeets are made insecure (without the owner noticing) by:
- not to take the parrot seriously as a prey animal
- not taking intelligence/cognition seriously
- reward or correct normal behavior
- reward undesirable behavior
- failure to recognize and use jumping behavior
Hand-raised parrots often develop a range of behavioral problems. It sometimes takes several years for the problems to really manifest themselves.
Physical problems, condition problems and behavioral problems are often not recognized at an early stage by owners because parrots/parakeets are naturally inclined to pretend to be better and healthier than they are when problems arise. Behavioural problems can also be an indication of physical problems.
Conclusion:
Causes of picking behavior:
- Long-term fitness problems, metabolic disorders mainly due to nutritional errors. Nutritional errors are still the leading cause of health and welfare problems,(underlying) diseases and pain.
- Hormonal influences can play an important role and physical changes often occur.
- Behavioral problems based on uncertainty. There are notable differences between the different species and between individual birds.Being literally behind bars is a major cause of welfare and behavioral problems.
- It is essential that the birds are truly hand tame because fewer uncertainty problems are to be expected with tame birds.
- In addition, the circumstances play a major role in the occurrence of picking behavior.
- It is underestimated:
- lack of sunlight, not enough fresh air, not enough outside
- too little exercise and lack of challenges
- lack of privacy makes you insecure
- insufficient activation of intelligence
- no separate sleeping area that is separate from the daytime cage
- too low humidity, showering and spraying is important, but that may also be insufficient if the humidity is structurally too low
In almost all cases it appears to be a combination of causes.
Depending on the species, very specific causes may play a role, meaning that picking behavior in a African Grey can have a completely different cause than picking behavior in an Amazon parrot, a lovebird or a lorikeet. For example, with lovebirds we must take into account specific causes of plucking behavior and/or skin/feather abnormalities.
The approach consists of:
- an extensive questionnaire (anamnesis)
- a physical examination
- a behavioral consultation
The treatment and advice depend on the findings.
Stories of “once a picker, always a picker” are well-known nonsense. The suggestion that picking behavior is mainly caused by boredom is also bizarre. Recovery depends on the causes and is then largely determined by environmental factors.
It is not possible to draw conclusions via e-mail or telephone without examining the bird and without a consultation in which a large number of questions and backgrounds are discussed. It is important to assess the bird's behavior and the interactions in the consultation room to arrive at a diagnosis.
Picking behavior is a complex problem where the causes and solutions can be very simple in practice. Without knowing what the cause is, advice or tips are not useful. Owners have often been given a wide range of “tips” and “done everything” but nothing helps because the cause is unknown and no diagnosis has actually been made.
It is therefore always advisable to make an appointment if you are picking.
Recovery can vary from a few days to several years. This is largely determined by the period in which the bird already shows plucking behavior. Unfortunately, we too often see parrots with picking behavior where the birds have been showing picking behavior for months and sometimes even years. Experience has shown that the longer the problem exists, the more time it takes to resolve it.
The Advisory Practice for Birds in Meppel has a history dating back to 1983
In all these years it has become increasingly clear that in addition to a physical check, a behavioral consultation is also essential for the responsible keeping of parrots and parakeets and for the well-being and health of the bird. A puppy course and an annual visit to the vet with the dog or cat are also essential for responsible pet ownership.
It is therefore always advisable to make an appointment if you are picking. The advice is always that everyone involved with the parrot/parakeet comes along for such an appointment. If there are children in the family, you are requested to bring them along to the consultation.
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