Anxiety is a lot more common than anyone likes, not only in people but companion birds too.

The thing is, these birds have been removed from their natural habitats, where their wild instincts and flocks kept them comfortable and happy. Now, we put them in our homes and expect them to adjust overnight. Domestic pets like cats and dogs, have been bred over generations, to live alongside humans, in their homes, happily. Parrots are bred simply for reproduction, and there is little difference between obtaining a baby bird from a tree and one from a breeder. So with that come issues like anxiety.

Anxiety can present in many forms, from digestive issues, self mutilation, plucking, excessive vocalisations, to aggression, and even physical illness. We have spent thousands on running every test imaginable, consulting with every specialist available, only to be told the bird has anxiety.

So how do you manage anxiety? Your first step is to become best friends with your avian vet. They’re your inside view into your birds body and mind, and the greatest asset you can have when taking on a new bird. Once every physical possibility is ruled out, you start to explore their mental health. Note their behavior towards every action and move you make, the tone of your voice, how you present food to them. Pay attention to when their behavior or physical health starts to change, there is always a clue in there somewhere.

Once you’ve accurately determined their triggers, what exactly makes them uncomfortable and how they respond to it, you go from there.

There are several treatment options available for avian anxiety, which need to be discussed with your avian vet to determine which will work best for you. There are medications, and supplements, even physical aids to assist in managing these symptoms. But it’s important to never just experiment on your own, and only do so under expert guidance. I have worked with several anxious birds, with such vastly different symptoms and solutions.

My own cockatoo, the infamous Chap, suffers from massive anxiety, and is currently on a monthly hormone treatment to reduce symptoms. He was ready to wean off, but hormone season but a spanner in the works for us, so we keep going until he’s in a better place mentally. Chap’s anxiety presents as plucking, and fear. He’s never aggressive, or excessively vocal, he just gets scared of the world around him, and something as simple as a bandaid on my finger can set us back 2 days.

Another fairly well know case is Rosie, the Alexandrine. Rosie experienced some trauma in her previous home, which resulted in anxiety and PTSD. We used a similar hormone treatment on her for a while, as well as CBD, but upon finding her perfect match and new home, she is currently thriving and totally unmedicated.

Another very interesting case was a young male eclectus. Initially he was thought to possibly have PBFD, considering how ill he was, he presented with discoloration on his skin, very poor feather quality, and even cysts. On top of that he was also showing signs of aggression and excessive vocalisations. After running every possible test, amounting to thousands of Rands, he came back with a spotless bill of health. His trigger is his environment, and his recovery was rapid and truly astounding with me, as soon as his environmental triggers were removed, he had no reason to show any forms of anxiety. It is so interesting to note the different ways in which anxiety presents, alongside the various treatments. There is no one size fits all, and definitely no quick fix. It’s vitally important to have a strong support network in place to manage these conditions, and a team of experts willing to offer guidance and treatment options. While we are not qualified vets, we do work closely with them, and have a vast network that can be utilized to help your beloved friend.

Written By: Abi Strachan

Source: Cheeky Beaks