How to Destress a Parrot?

Captivity can be very stressful for parrots and can lead to illness or undesirable behaviors such as feather pulling, screaming or even aggression. Wild parrots enjoy unlimited social interaction, hours of exercise, free forage and a number of other pleasures that are unavailable in even the best domestic situations. If your parrot exhibits stress by weaving its head, dancing back and forth from foot to foot or refusing food, you should attempt to relieve its anxiety by creating a more natural environment.

Things You'll Need

  • Variety of parrot food
  • Toys
  • Large cage
  • Music player
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Take your parrot to a veterinarian as soon as you notice a change in behavior. Have the vet confirm that the change is due to stress rather than illness or injury.

    • 2

      Keep a regular schedule. Feed the parrot at the same time every day, try to make time to play with the parrot at the same time, and go to bed at the same time. Parrots thrive on predictability.

    • 3

      Observe your parrot and learn to read its body language. If the parrot stretches, extends its wings or shakes its tail, it is probably happy. If the parrot bites its feet, weaves its head or dances back and forth, it is probably stressed.

    • 4

      Identify the cause of your parrot's stress by pinpointing the times it acts out. Parrots do not respond well to change. New family members, guests, or pets could be upsetting. Your parrot may also be unhappy with a change in schedule or a change in your personal appearance, such as a new hair color.

    • 5

      Locate your parrot's cage in a secure corner of the room your family spends the most time in, if you have not already done that. Your parrot needs to feel like a member of your family group. Isolation will cause stress. At the same time, parrots do not like to sit near doors or staircases where people seem to appear from out of nowhere.

    • 6

      Vary your parrot's diet. Technically, your parrot could survive on parrot seed alone. Your parrot will be much happier and healthier if it has a wide range of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds to choose from, though.

    • 7

      Spend time with your parrot. Talk to your parrot and handle it whenever possible. Parrots should not be locked alone in their cages for days on end. If you know that you have to leave the parrot alone every day, try playing soft and peaceful music for the parrot to listen to while you are away.

    • 8

      Offer your parrot a wide variety of toys to play with. Parrots are smart, and boredom can be very stressful to them. They should have a selection of safe parrot toys to occupy their minds when they are alone.

    • 9

      Do not allow small children or household pets to access the parrot unsupervised.