Is it Really a Behavioral Problem?

Is it really a behavioral problem?

Most behaviors we find problematic in our birds are natural behaviors. Chewing furniture or wood frames, screaming, making messes, etc. are all behaviors that are natural to birds. This doesn’t make it a problem to the bird. When we have this “problematic” mindset for a natural species-specific behavior, we start to apply consequences or possibly punishers when the animal preforms the behavior, suppressing (or still not) these behaviors.

When these behaviors are more prevalent, like excessive screaming, food throwing, chewing on things we don’t want them to, it’s likely more a gap in the animal’s needs being met. The animal is likely doing this more frequently in desperation to increase what it’s desiring.

Because all behavior happens for a reason. There is a desirable consequence for the bird that keeps the behavior high.

So, let’s increase physical and mental stimulation. Let’s allow them to chew wood that’s more appropriate for them, like bringing a wood toy for them to chew instead of our furniture. Let’s have more meaningful interactions. Let’s find the root to the excessive screaming and give the animal what it is lacking, either more social interaction, more mental stimulation, diet change to decrease energy naturally.

Let’s stop not allowing our animals to rehearse species specific behaviors because they’re undesirable to us and find the gap to the reason for excessive rehearsing or give them the resources to rehearse the behaviors more desirable to us.