Congo African Grey Parrot

Common sense tells us that common parrot behavior problems usually have some common contributing factors. A frequent contributor to many problems is when parrots aren’t given enough out-of-the-cage time. While there are certainly plenty of people who aren’t letting their birds out enough, did you know it’s actually possible to error in the other extreme? That you may be contributing to a problem parrot by not putting him in his cage?

This is the “free-range parrot factor”, and it can vary from a parrot having no cage at all to one that has too many opportunities to come and go from his cage as he pleases. While this isn’t usually the only factor involved in a parrot’s inappropriate behavior, it’s often a major player. For some parrots, it is one of the biggest mistakes an owner can make. Just ask anyone who has ever had to get around their home without stepping on the floor because they were being pursued by an attack cockatoo with a major Napoleon complex.

Rose Breasted Cockatoo

A parrot that comes and goes wherever and whenever he wants can become difficult to handle, to say the least. Biting and a bullying, territorial attitude are some of the possible consequences when your bird “runs loose”, as well as the risk of your home becoming one giant parrot chew toy. Setting some limits for your bird is part of being a responsible parrot owner. Having a parrot that’s out of control isn’t. We know our dogs need to stay in their own yards or on leashes when they go out. So why would we let our birds run amok around the house?

Often an owner thinks he’s doing the right thing for the bird by allowing all that freedom. The thought of a parrot spending considerable amounts of time in a cage is distasteful to us. After all, we know how much room a wild parrot has at his disposal. But look at it this way: Most of us have a room in our homes in which we spend large amounts of time, and are comfortable doing so. If you look at your parrot’s cage as his room, and not like it’s a prison cell, then you may not feel so guilty asking him to be in there once in a while. If you really feel bad that he’s in one spot, setting up multiple cages around the house is an option. Or at least have a couple of stands or play gyms where he’s taught to stay.

With a “free range” parrot often comes an “I won’t step up unless I feel like it” problem, often very common in Macaws. This tends to happen when the bird doesn’t have a strong sense that stepping up for his people leads to privileges, like getting to come out of the cage to play, or getting to go back in for a bowl of treats. It can develop in parrots that are kept at liberty, and also in those that are kept in a cage where the door is almost always open and the parrot goes in and out at will. I used to be guilty of the latter myself, so I know it’s an easy habit to get into, but in the long run, it’s not a good one. You can find that your parrot resists stepping up altogether. Why should he step up if he can get out whenever he wants? A solution to this is to teach your bird that he doesn’t get to come out unless he steps up. It may take some time, but is well worth doing.

Camelot Macaws, Blue Throated Macaws

I‘m normally a big believer in following through with a command. If you ask your bird to step up, you should see that he does. But I’m also a believer in keeping stressful “arguments” to a minimum. And I think parrots can be given some choices about when they want to come out. So teaching your bird to come to a certain area of the cage when he wants to come out is a good idea. This way, you’re likely to get the response you want when you ask for it. Otherwise, you may be frequently reaching way into the cage, dodging toys and perches, chasing after your bird, pleading for him to listen to you. This is a problem, and our own good intentions may have contributed to it. A parrot that doesn’t mind being in his cage, and doesn’t mind coming and going when you ask is a lot more pleasant to have around. And common sense says that’s no problem!

Written By Kim Bear
Parrot Behavior Specialist

Swainson Toucan

Every creature in the animal kingdom must sleep. Sleep is the time of restoration for the body and mind. Without it, we’d be useless. You know how you feel when you don’t get enough sleep, so does it surprise you to know that your parrot won’t be at his best either if he doesn’t get enough? In fact, there are several behavior problems for which improper sleep can be a contributing factor. Parrots tend to want to be up if we’re up, and that’s not really what’s best for them. Screaming, nippy, cranky parrots may need more shut-eye, especially if they’re acting fussy at night. Making sure your bird gets his rest is extremely important for his well-being.

Parrots are sun-up to sun-down creatures, with a natural preference for rising at first light and roosting at dusk so they can get the 10 to 12 hours of sleep they need. Most families don’t adhere to this schedule. Not only do we stay up past sundown, leaving lights and televisions on into the wee hours, but we sometimes don’t even get home before our parrots should be winding down for the day. Spending quality time with your bird can be a challenge in this situation. For the most part, parrots are adaptable and learn to deal with our schedules, but we should accommodate their needs as best we can so they aren’t stressed too much.

Those of you who are home during the day for whatever reason, consider yourself fortunate. It’s often the “nine to fivers” that struggle, balancing time with a bird and allowing him his proper sleep hours. One of the easiest ways to be with your parrot when he’s in full swing is to do so in the mornings whenever possible. If you allow yourself just an extra 15 or 20 minutes before heading off to work or school, you can fit in a play or training session. Or maybe he can sit with you as you eat your breakfast, read the paper, put on makeup, whatever. Just that little bit can mean a lot to your bird. If you come home for lunch, that’s great, too. That gives you another chance to interact with him.
But what can you do when you come home in the late afternoon, or have other commitments that keep you away until well into the evening? During the spring and summer, it’s probably easier to manage, since we have longer daylight hours and parrots will naturally want to be up later anyway. But, in the winter when it’s dark at 5pm, and even you may feel like going to bed, that’s another matter. Keeping the bird up really late isn’t doing him any favors. If the primary bird people are mainly home in the evening, the focus needs to be on the quality of bird time, because there won’t be much in the way of quantity. Even if it’s a good hour of interaction and play, that may not be enough, though. Hopefully some members of the household are there to provide the bird some during-the-day face time.

White Budgie

After your parrot has had his time with you, it’s time for him to settle down for the night. But you plan on being up for several more hours. So do you just put him in his cage, cover him and figure he’ll sleep through your family’s conversations and television shows? Not the best plan. If you tend to stay in the same room where your parrot is trying to sleep, it’s likely he’s not getting the relaxing, uninterrupted sleep he should be getting. Consider setting up a sleeping cage in a dark, quiet room that your bird can have all to himself. This cage doesn’t have to be very large or elaborate, only needing a couple of perches and some water, with enough space for your bird to spread his wings. By putting your bird here when it’s his bedtime, not only will he be away from wakeful distractions, but it can help you establish a routine that he finds familiar and comforting. He’ll know he’s “Done” for the day when he goes to his bedtime cage. If your parrot can talk, he may literally tell you when he’s ready for bed. Hopefully you will listen to his request.

Chet Womach’s Comments: I’ve had a client tell me just the other day how changin their African Grey’s sleeping schedule made all the difference in his nippy behavior. Even though my courses are designed to teach people techniques to get their birds to stop biting, sometimes you really can fix a birds behavior by just getting it some more shut eye.

Congo African Grey Parrot

All parrots talk. Maybe they don’t all learn words, but they do communicate to us in ways that can be just as understandable as human speech. They do this through body language and vocalizations. Just like people, parrots have moods and emotions. And just like people, they don’t necessarily have to say what’s on their minds for us to know. If we’re observant, and can interpret what we observe, we will know what our parrot is feeling and thinking about a situation. Learning to understand your parrot’s own language can even help you prevent and possibly solve behavior problems.

Different species of parrots display different mannerisms, and it’s not possible to describe what every parrot tends to do in every situation. I can’t describe what each squeal, head toss and tail fan may mean, but I can encourage you to pay closer attention to what your parrot does so that in time, you will learn these things. Is your bird mad when he pinpoints his pupils? Or could he just be really interested in what’s going on? Does that squawk mean he’s afraid, or is he having fun? To the casual observer, the behaviors may seem the same and it would be hard to know what the bird is expressing. But to someone who knows how to “speak parrot, these behaviors can be as clear as if your parrot were holding up a sign. It doesn’t happen overnight, but when you become more conscious of your parrot’s actions, you will get better and better at reading him.

Blue Fronted Amazon Parrot

Watching your bird go about his normal day is the best way to begin your lessons in “parrotese”. Realize that if you can observe him without him knowing, you’re likely to get a different picture than if he knows you’re looking at him, so try to be unobtrusive in your bird-watching whenever you can. Watch him play with his favorite toys and eat foods he enjoys to learn what he looks like and sounds like when he’s content. But also watch him when you suspect he’s upset, or is “on guard” and hesitant about something. While watching your parrot when he doesn’t know you’re watching is certainly helpful, paying closer attention when you’re interacting with him is important, too. Whether he’s being friendly, mellow, or downright naughty, take in everything he’s doing. Take note of the situation specifics, such as time of day, who’s around, and so on. If you want, you can even keep a written log.

What specifically should you look for? All sorts of things: Facial expressions are helpful (yes, parrots have them!), and also notice the way your parrot holds his feathers. Are they kept tight to the body, or are they fluffier and more relaxed? Watch for tail fanning, raised head feathers, wing flapping, foot stomping, etc. Not all parrots do all these things, but you’ll eventually learn what’s typical for your bird and what each behavior means. If there are some actions or vocalizations you’re not sure about, you can always ask another parrot person to see if they may have encountered something similar.

Hyacinth Macaw

If you have more than one bird, and they interact with one another, watching them together provides a real insight into the world of the parrot mind. Maybe they make each other angry once in a while. Maybe they play in a rough-and-tumble manner. Maybe sometimes they’re very affectionate and sweet to one another. What do those situations look like? The behaviors they engage in when they’re together will help you read them when they’re with you.

Knowing how to read your parrot allows you to know the difference between a bird that wants to be held, and one that wants to play, one that is angry, and one that’s afraid. When you have a better sense of how your parrot is feeling and what he’s telling you, you have a better chance of responding appropriately. Don’t be merely a casual observer of your bird. Start paying closer attention and get a real sense of how your bird talks to you.