Captive parrots exhibit symptoms very similar to Complex PTSD symptoms in humans, including persistent sadness, suicidal thoughts, explosive anger, isolation, and distrust. Many rescued parrots are too traumatized to form relationships with humans or other birds at sanctuaries.
Trauma is a common presentation for avian patients. Cat or dog bite wounds or large birds attacking smaller birds all occur frequently. Pet birds allowed to roam or fly freely in the house can become injured flying into walls, windows, or ceiling fans, or falling off shoulders, play gyms, or the top of their cage.
OFTEN THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS TO BACK UP AND GIVE THAT BIRD PRIVACY. Start by not interacting. Avoid direct eye contact. Open cage doors and reach inside as little as possible.
Biting, hissing, lunging, and excessive screaming are all signs to watch out for. Fear – While not all birds are outwardly friendly, if your bird suddenly becomes timid and avoids being handled, this could be a sign that your feathered friend is stressed.
The bird will generally take 4 to 6 hours to recover from shock if there are no other major medical issues or injuries sustained – if it doesn't – seek advice. While the bird is in shock, don't force it to eat or drink.
When a parrot is stressed, this is when you have to be aware of what is happening and do your part to calm the situation. A frightened bird will hold their feathers close to their body. A frightened cockatiel or cockatoo will put their crests up. In most cases, birds will huddle away to a corner to seek protection.
We also know that parrots that have been abused suffer from PTSD-like symptoms, and respond negatively to whatever situations or objects remind them of the abusive instances. Like humans, these birds can be de-sensitized with appropriate training and care over time.
The short answer is yes.
Just like humans and a range of other animals, budgies do grieve the loss of their partner or companion. If one of your beloved pets has passed on, you'll be desperate to know how to help a grieving budgie.
Place the wild bird in a cardboard box and cover it with a lid or towel. Then place the box in a cool, safe place to give the wild bird time to recover from the shock of the injury. Be careful when handling the injured bird; use gloves to protect yourself from any disease or germ.
Symptoms of a depressed bird can include: Fluffed-up feathers. Loss of appetite. Change in droppings.
Aggression. One of the biggest and most easily recognizable signs that a bird is depressed is a sudden change in personality. Often, especially in parrots, this manifests itself as aggression.
When examined through the lens of complex PTSD, Dr. Gay Bradshaw, a psychologist and ecologist and an author of the study, wrote, 'the symptoms of many caged Parrots are almost indistinguishable from those of human P.O.W.s and concentration-camp survivors.
Trauma is a common presentation for avian patients. Cat or dog bite wounds or large birds attacking smaller birds all occur frequently. Pet birds allowed to roam or fly freely in the house can become injured flying into walls, windows, or ceiling fans, or falling off shoulders, play gyms, or the top of their cage.
Too often, bird owners do not understand what birds find rewarding. More than likely, a parrot does not like being yelled at any more than a child would. Eventually, the bird finds the yelling humorous, which prompts even more bad behavior.
However, birds can and do get angry, especially if you threaten their nests. If you get too close to a bird's nest, you may be seen as a predator. In that case, prepare to come face to face with an angry bird!
If you do react, the bird will learn that biting gives it control and gets a response and perhaps it will learn to bite more. By reacting, even negatively by yelling at the bird, you are inadvertently positively reinforcing the biting behavior.
If your bird's anger is a quick reaction to something you have done to offend him, simply apologize and walk away for a while. Often that gesture will suffice. If your bird's anger is in reaction to a new animal or human, apologize to him and then reintroduce everyone more carefully, while cuddling your avian friend.
Birds that are constantly stressed and sad may eat less and may lose weight or suffer nutritional deficiencies. Extremely anxious birds that feather pick and self-mutilate may permanently damage their feather follicles, preventing regrowth of feathers, and scar their skin.
Some birds will recover within 10 minutes while others may take around three to four hours. Try to resist the temptation to open the box every few minutes as it's better to leave the bird to recover on its own without further added stress.
While it is true that there are occasionally situations when a parrot genuinely wants nothing to do with an individual, it is very rare for a parrot to suddenly “hate” someone it has previously trusted. Many times, a parrot changes its behavior toward its owner because it is no longer comfortable with that person.
Many parrots are very affectionate, even cuddly with trusted people, and require a lot of attention from their owners constantly. Some species have a tendency to bond to one or two people, and dislike strangers, unless they are regularly and consistently handled by different people.