

But today, even pets deserve a life full of fulfilled needs. Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs was developed for people in the 1940s. Infographic Developed by Diane Burroughs, LCSW BIRD SELF MUTILATION IS OFTEN A RESULT OF SEVERAL STRESSORS THAT COME TOGETHER - NOT JUST ONE SINGLE ISSUE. Here’s why you’ll need to take a systematic approach to getting bird self-mutilation under control. Often times though, bird self-mutilation boils down to a combination of several stressors overpowering the bird. They are searching for ‘that one thing’ they can fix, hoping it will solve the issue once and for all. People often believe that there is only one reason why their birds do this puzzling self-mutilation. Understanding the root cause of a problem is key when trying to come up with a solution for the issue. The bird could be experiencing the following issues Deficits in its care can cause the bird to feel stressed. These behaviors are more of an indicator that something is amiss in the bird’s life.

SHOP BIRD SELF MUTILATION COMBO WHY DO BIRDS SELF MUTILATE?įeather plucking or self-mutilation are not really a disease, per se. These behaviors resemble those seen in birds performing feather picking or self-mutilation, and we can apply human research to determine the causes and what supports this behavior in our birds. For example, think about people cutting themselves or the bewildering problem of pulling one's hair out. People can adopt these maladaptive behaviors, too. Luckily, zookeepers can use some of the same tactics that psychiatrists and behaviorists use to get the animal out of their negative routine. These behaviors are signs that the animal is suffering mentally and physically. Zookeepers often see a lot of 'stereo-typical' behaviors in animals that are under a lot of stress.

There is a sense that your bird can’t control the behavior.Repeats the behavior over and over despite harmful consequences.This alarming problem is termed a “stereotypical behavior.” When humans engage in self-harm behaviors, we call it a compulsive behavior.ĭo you know the traits of a compulsive, stereo-typical behavior? Here are the traits of a compulsive, stereo-typical behavior
#Goffin cockatoo plucking feather skin
WHAT IS BIRD SELF MUTILATION?īird self-mutilation is when the animal eats into its own skin and muscle tissue. This article is all about getting your bird’s self-mutilation problem under control. A study revealed that approximately 36% of bird owners report experiencing behavioral issues with their pets, with the most prevalent behavior cited as concerns being the removal of feathers, or worse, self-mutilation of birds. This is likely one of the reasons that pets birds tend to have a high rate of behavioral problems. A large portion of their natural biology and physical needs remain intact. This means they were not domesticated like more traditional pets like cats and dogs. Pet birds make amazing pets, but we have to remember they are exotic animals with extremely specific needs for care.
