Snow Enrichment... Is it Actually Enriching?

Today I wanted to talk about taking advantage of the bad weather a lot of us are experiencing, especially us with snow! Snow is something special for a lot of birds, or at least only happens a quarter of the year for our northern friends. This can be a great visual enrichment for our birds by having them perched or cage near a window to be able to look out at the new landscape.

You can also bring the snow inside! What I always do is when it starts snowing, I put many large stainless-steel bowls out to collect fresh snow. If you thought of this too late, you collect snow from an untouched area that is not too close to the road and treated surfaces. You can bring that into your bird for them to experience something new! Sprinkle their favorite treats inside the snow for them to forage through, and give them the confidence to try to interact with it. Put some fresh foods on top of them to grab if you have a soft bill or a bird that just really loves fresh food!

Feathered parrots could go outside for a few minutes and be fine. But, should we? Though this in theory is enriching because it is a new stimulus added to the environment, not all enrichment is enriching to the animal. Birds can be weathered overtime to withstand colder climates outside. Generally, not in the 30’s for long periods of time, but I have heard about it. Our house parrots are not weathered properly. Going outside is likely extremely cold to them. For example, in human world, when its summer turning into fall, that first 50-degree day we are all bunded up in sweaters and jackets. But during the winter once it has been cold for a while, 50-degree days are hot with us not wearing a jacket, driving with the windows down, etc. Our parrots are like going into fall. It is a huge temperature difference! Can a fully feathered bird handle it for a few minutes? Absolutely. But, is it actually enriching for them, or fun for us?

I saw online a video from a larger creator of them taking their plucked African grey outside while it was snowing, recording them, saying that they are taking an opportunity to use this natural enrichment for their parrot. They did specify it was only for a few minutes. Again, is that bird going to survive? Yes. The concern comes in is it enriching to the animal? A plucked parrot to any capacity cannot regulate their body temperature well. Taking a plucked bird outside in cold weather, and specifically this grey that had no feathers on its chest/abdomen, is like us going outside naked. Would we be okay? Yes. After wards, we are freezing. Outside we are freezing. It is not a fun thing. The same thing would be for the bird. They were forced to go outside (owner carrying them out and holding their foot while outside) to be freezing and then take a while to warm up inside. I put in the word “force” there because it is by definition. Sure, the bird could have chosen to not by biting the caretaker or trying to fly off, but if it has been conditioned that when their foot is held, they cannot leave, then they wont leave (learned helplessness).

Maybe I am looking too much into that situation, or being too “sensitive,” or just making this one video of a creator I do not know into an example. Either way, I think it is an example to teach with, and something to think about. Often, we think solely on our enjoyment, our perception, and our desires when it comes to our animals. We control almost every aspect of their lives! I am sure for the caretaker of this example, it was a memory they will never forget with their beloved pet! Thinking more deeply into how the animal might perceive it, and if there are alternatives that we can employ to bring similar results, then we need to consider it.

This is true with any animal and species. My dogs LOVE the snow. It is hard to get my two bassets and elderly dachshund inside with snow on the ground. I only let them stay out for about 10-minute increments because I do not want them to get too cold, even though they have all that extra skin and longer short hair coats (if you know you know what I am talking about). I have clients with small dogs, super short haired dogs, or dogs with a fresh hair cut who do not like the snow and cold. Though you may want fun photos, or be encouraging them to have fun to make those memories, I am sure the dog does not appreciate it, especially without a jacket. Just like when you see a northern dog breed, like a husky, outside all day in the snow, that dog is likely having the best day of its life!

I know that our companion animals lack stimulation and enrichment that they need and crave. No matter how amazing you are, you cannot meet their needs. We do the best we can with what we got, and our animals adapt. We cannot take any situation and consider it enrichment without considering the individual animal in front of us. A bird just sitting on our hand outside shivering is not enrichment to the animal. A bird, like my blue and gold macaw, who almost throws himself into a bowl of snow in his aviary eating it, blushing, going “mmmmm” is a bird who is being enriched by the snow. Some of my other parrots, like Alfie, just took their treats from the snow and were done with the experience, telling me that they are just not that into it. I am sure with more opportunities and desensitization they may catch on like Merlin did instantly, but there are tons of other enrichment items I can give that they already love.