 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Published in the Ithaca Journal on Friday, August 1, 2003
Positive affirmations can prevent potential pet parrot problems
Spotlight on Pet Behavior
By MICHELLE BAMBERGER
Special to the Journal
Question: I recently adopted a five-year-old Golden Conure named Ted and he is perfect in every way. Is there anything specific I should be doing to make sure he doesn’t develop behavior problems?Answer: Yes, there is! I commend you for thinking of this in advance instead of waiting for problems to happen.
In order to prevent behavior problems, it is first important to understand normal parrot behavior. In the wild, a bird that feels threatened, fearful or anxious can often escape the situation by flying away, but in our homes, our birds are often confined, forcing them to deal with the situation. You can help Ted to cope by partially covering his cage and providing a safe sleeping area that is quiet and dark from dusk to dawn. If Ted’s cage is large and in a busy area such as the family room, consider buying another cage to be used for sleeping. It is also a good idea to keep the his cage at least five feet from a path of traffic as you will help lessen the chance he will be surprised or the cage bumped.
Commands for getting on and off your hand and for stopping unwanted behaviors are necessary if you expect to have a calm confident bird. Provide Ted with different experiences, such as meeting new people and traveling both within and outside of your home. Be sure to make each experience positive and this will help assure that he won’t become fearful when confronted with novel situations. Remember not to force Ted to do something if he seems frightened; let him move at his own pace.
As with children, it is important to establish rules and boundaries with Ted. Be certain that everyone in the family knows what he is allowed and not allowed to do. For instance, is it okay for Ted to perch on shoulders? Can all family members handle him? Are friends allowed to hold him? Is screaming acceptable at certain times of day, and if so, for how long? And what should family members and friends do to let Ted know that a behavior is unacceptable? Most birds will quickly learn by our actions what is allowed and what is not.
The best way to teach Ted what you want him to do is to “catch” him being good and then reward with lots of praise. If Ted begins to pluck his feathers and you notice him in the cage not plucking, praise him. If Ted sits quietly and doesn’t scream, praise him. In short, be an expert at finding a positive behavior and marking it with praise or a click. What to do if Ted is misbehaving? Ignore him by leaving the room, or if that’s not possible, turn your back on him. You may find that the behavior will worsen before it improves, but be patient and you will succeed in your efforts.
In summary, if Ted is screaming, biting, destroying his feathers or misbehaving in any other way, be sure to first have him examined by your veterinarian. Once medical problems have been ruled out, carefully consider what may be motivating Ted to behave in such a way. Once that is known, the problem can often be managed with behavioral and environmental techniques, and if necessary, medication.
Michelle Bamberger is a veterinarian and owner of Vet Behavior Consults (www.vetbehaviorconsults.com), a practice based in Ithaca and devoted exclusively to solving behavioral problems in small, large and exotic animals. Send questions for her column to mjb57@cornell.edu, mail them Care of Jessica Keltz to The Ithaca Journal, 123 West State St., Ithaca, NY, 14850, or fax them to 277-6845.