Emotional Needs of our Parrot Children

I'm a bad birdy mom at times. What can I say, except look my little guy in the eyes and tell him I love him, I'm sorry, and that I'll try to do better? We humans seem to get caught up in our little struggles, forgetting that there are others in our lives. Our feathered children do not understand bad days at the offices, or fights with significant others. All they know is that when issues arise in our lives, they can sense a change in us.

Birds, like most animals, rely on their instincts. They know when something doesn't "feel" right. When humans become emotionally charged, no matter the feeling, the way our birds sense us is different. When we are feeling blue, our birds (and other animals) may say or do things in an attempt to comfort us. How many have had a cat or a dog curl up next to them when it was needed the most? This is the animal's "feeling" at work.

Birds also know when we spend less time with them. A new hobby, a new love, overtime, anything that keeps us away from our avian pets, to them, means that we don't love them. They see our prolonged absences, as a child might, and every overworked parrot has heard "don't you love me anymore?" from their child who might have been pushed aside in the frenzy.

Birds ask that same question. They look at us, big eyes wondering, and think, "doesn't my mommy/daddy love me anymore?" Of course they don't think in words, but the same wondering is there. Their flock has left them, and they're sure that it's something they did.

These birds then turn to destructive behaviors. They might scream, because when we're yelling "shut up" across the house, at least they are getting attention. They might pluck and mutilate themselves, for they see that too gets a reaction out of us. Biting, attacking, and other behaviors also arise.

Sometimes we get caught up in our human dramas. When that happens, we need to step back, look at our feathered children, and ensure that we are meeting their emotional needs as well.

I hope in the future to cover such behaviors, your insights and comments, as always, are welcome at birdymuse@suite101.com

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