Behavior & Socialization

The usual explanation is sexual maturity rather than a change of character. Mature parrots defend territory, regurgitate for a favoured person and bite far more readily during the breeding season. Shorten day length to ten to twelve hours of darkness, pet only the head and neck, and remove anything that resembles a nest site.

Plucking is a symptom with many causes. Medical ones - parasites, PBFD, skin infection, liver disease, heavy metal toxicosis, pain and low humidity - must be ruled out by an avian vet first. Behavioural causes include poor sleep, boredom, lack of foraging and changes in routine.

Separate normal contact calling, which you should answer briefly, from problem screaming. Give attention during quiet moments and as little reaction as possible to the noise itself. Check that the bird gets ten to twelve hours of sleep and has real foraging work to do. Never shout back, as that reads as the flock joining in.

Parrots pair-bond, and in a household they often select one person as their mate. Have everyone in the family deliver food, treats and training, give the least-favoured person the most rewarding jobs, and have the favourite reduce close contact during the breeding season.

A minimum of two to four hours a day of supervised time in a bird-proofed room for most species, and more for large, intelligent birds. Time out of the cage matters more for behaviour than cage size alone.

Not automatically. Many parrots tolerate rather than enjoy each other, size mismatches can cause serious injury, and a second bird doubles the workload. If you do, quarantine the newcomer for 30 to 45 days in separate airspace with veterinary screening first.