Challenging but Rewarding
From the very beginning of my interest in
parrots, I wanted to learn everything I
could about them. I read whatever I could find and went to every lecture
or meeting that dealt with parrots. Most of the early information was about
breeding and raising parrots.
There was very little to help the companion
parrot owner and what there was talked about taming and training. I
continually came across information that simply did not make sense to me.
Most of the taming information was aggressive and trust-destroying while
much of the information about raising chicks was contrary to biological
facts. A glaring example was the fact that so many baby parrots were being
raised in well-lighted aquariums when in the wild, parrot chicks are raised
in dark tree cavities.
Another was the concept of weaning chicks according
to the breeder's timetable and not the individual bird's needs. I realized
that many of the avicultural writers who were sharing their techniques for
raising parrots had little or no information about the natural way parrot
chicks were raised.
Yet this didn't seem to matter to novices or those with
parrot experience. Much of this early information became established
protocol in aviculture even though it contradicted both common sense and the
optimum physical and emotional development of the chicks.
A Crisis in Aviculture
I believe there is a nationwide (and worldwide) crisis in
the bird industry. As editor of the Pet Bird Report and a companion parrot
behavioral consultant, I talk to hundreds of people each month from all over
the country and various parts of the world. These people include happy
parrot owners, people with problem parrots, breeders, pet shop owners,
rescue and sanctuary personnel, veterinarians, bird-related product
manufacturers, other behavioral consultants, and people in the media. I
believe this crisis involves four major problems:
-
Bird buying seems to be slowing down.
-
Poor quality product. Because of the production ethic, many young birds
being sold lack long-term pet potential.
-
Lack of education. Too often, even buyers who are interested in
understanding the needs and behavior of their parrots are not properly
educated in trust-building ways to develop or maintain their new
companions pet potential.
-
There are far too many throwaway parrots in need of rescue,
rehabilitation, and sanctuary and not enough homes or housing situations
with knowledgeable people willing and able to work through their often
overwhelming problems.
Seriously Stunted Macaws
The owners of several quality bird shops around the
country have communicated two fears to me. One is that there does not seem
to be nearly as many new bird buyers and the other is that it is getting
more and more difficult to buy physically and emotionally healthy chicks
from breeders.
One store owner has purchased from the same aviary for some
time and had been satisfied with the condition of the chicks. However, her
most recent order contained four seriously stunted macaws with little or no
eating response. When she tried to discuss these birds with the breeder, he
became angry and denied any responsibility. Unfortunately, this is not an
isolated incident.
The Early Socialization Argument
There still seems to be some confusion about what the
term socialization means. Biologically speaking, socialization is the
process by which the young of a species learn their survival and social
skills.
Through the years, I have been challenged many times to prove that
quality early socialization makes a difference in the pet potential of a
domestically-raised parrot. One production-type breeder defiantly stated
that she would not take the time to socialize her chicks until she had
absolute proof that it was necessary.
The absolute necessity of quality early socialization has
always been obvious to me for two basic reasons.
First, I came into the study
of parrots with a background in ornithology and bird watching.
Secondly,
over the years, I have worked with hundreds of companion parrots and always
asked where they were purchased. Patterns in problem behavior became obvious
in regards to what bird shops and aviaries took the time to socialize their
babies and which ones did not. I could quickly identify poorly socialized, gavage fed, deprivation weaned, emotionally needy, or even stunted birds
often only by knowing the source of the young parrot.
Absolute Proof
In my opinion, there IS absolute proof that
parrots need long-term instructional interaction and quality socialization
for survival. While much of a parrot's behavior is instinctual, it is clear
that the finesse of most of the daily routine is learned.
This is made clear
by the fact that most parrot family birds are what biologists call K-select
species. This term is used to describe birds that reproduce infrequently and
raise usually only one or two chicks each time. Each chick needs constant
parental (and sometimes family or flock) care and instruction for weeks,
months, and in some cases, over a year to survive within its flock structure
and environment. Without this involved early socialization, these chicks do
not survive. This is why K-select species (including parrots) are among the
most endangered in the world.
It is illogical to presume that because humans
raise parrot chicks that they would not need the same long-term early
socialization. In fact, it is logical that a captive-raised parrot
chick would need a higher level of socialization to help him adapt to the
totally alien environment of our living rooms.
So why is there still such an argument about this? With
some people it may just be habit or fear of change. Others may not have read
about the importance of early socialization or have thought about it in a
way that makes sense to them.
I personally think the number one reason is
human expediency. After all, it seems quicker to assembly-line gavage feed
dozens or even hundreds chicks at a time.
One breeder angrily asked me, "how
do you expect me to feed 80 chicks at a time without gavage feeding them?"
My question is why was she raising 80 chicks if she did not have the time to
raise them with nurturing care?
Aviculture versus Avi-industry
Is the right for a business to make a profit from the
birds they produce a valid argument or justification for the production
ethic? I question the wisdom of raising parrots if the most important
factors are what is convenient and affordable for the breeder rather than
what is optimal for the physical and emotional health of the chicks.
Too
often this defines the bird business as one based on production quantity
rather than a quality product. If we were dealing with furniture that
might be fine but we are dealing with a living creature who will be totally
dependent on us for the rest of its life.
What about the statement that Aviculture is
Conservation? We have greatly increased the numbers of many endangered
parrots by breeding them in captivity. But do the birds raised with the
production ethic count as a positive conservation effort if they are
emotionally dysfunctional and physically stunted with compromised immune
systems?
The Poultrification of Parrots
In my opinion - the one major factor creating crises in
the bird industry is the production ethic. One production breeder has
suggested in lectures and print that ultimately the key to breeding success
is to produce parrots with the same expediency of the poultry industry.
This
man clearly does not understand the biological difference between precocial
and altricial bird species. The chicken is a precocial species. Precocial
chicks hatch at a developed stage and need little, or in some species, no
parental care or instruction. Parrots are hatched blind, naked and helpless
and need long-term parental care and instruction from the moment they come
into the world until they have the skills to live on their own. This is a
critical difference that seems to escape far too many people breeding
parrots.
Parrots can not be raised like chickens and the attempt
to do so has created serious long term problems for this industry. How long
can an industry create an inferior product before consumers become aware?
I was discussing this article with an African grey breeder and she brought up a very valid point. Much of
the template we have for breeding and raising animals as companions comes
from experiences with relatively short-lived domesticated pets.
We know that
parrots are animals with long life spans and complex personalities. These
personalities evolve through a serious of developmental stages. By virtue of
their long life span these parrots have an extended period of immaturity.
The lessons they learn as youngsters impact their lifelong success and
quality of life—both as a parrot and as a human companion. This is the first
time in recorded history that humans have so extensively bred and raised an
undomesticated species of such complexity.
Consequently, we are faced with
an ethical challenge as we seek to define appropriate breeding practices. I
myself have a problem defining such a complex species as simply a product.
The Results of Production
If anything is absolutely evident to me after working
with parrots for a quarter of a century, it is that parrots raised with the
production ethic of little or no early socialization and deprivation weaning
do develop serious behavioral problems. These can include but are not
limited to phobic behavior, aggressive behavior, excessive and lingering
food begging or "crying," feather picking, food rigidity, inability to form
a trusting bond, and other factors contributing to poor pet potential.
These
problems may not be immediately evident, as they tend to become more obvious
as young parrots reach their independence stages from about 6 to 18 months.
Of course, this gives the breeder or pet shop ample opportunity to place any
blame on the pet owner rather than taking any responsibility themselves.
The Blame Game
A statement was made on an Internet breeder list by one
well-known production breeder that it was the pet owners that were at fault
for all the problems their parrots had. Then he went on to state how stupid
most bird owners were.
There certainly are people who buy parrots and make
no attempt whatsoever to educate themselves or take any responsibility for
the proper behavioral development of their new avian companions. I have also
witnessed situations where even well-socialized parrots had their
well-developed pet potential destroyed by an ignorant, arrogant, and/or
uncaring owner.
However the majority of people I have dealt with are
people who truly care about their new avian companions. They want to educate
themselves - they would not have called me if they didn't. Many of these
people didn't know the right questions to ask before they bought their
parrot.
If their birds are young enough, their new owners may be able to get
enough good information to make a difference in correcting problems caused
by poor early socialization. For example, young macaws who have suffered
weaning trauma can still become secure with regression weaning if they are
not much older than 12-15 months old. With any species, the older the bird,
the less chance there is of making a major difference in positively
influencing their poorly socialized parrot's pet potential.
Bird buyers pay a great deal of money in good faith that
they will receive a young parrot with the potential to be a good lifelong
pet for them. Often, not only do they buy a parrot with serious problems;
they also are not given even the most basic information about its proper
care.
A Negative Influence on Consumers
My comments are by no means a condemnation of the entire
bird industry nor am I blaming breeders and pet shops for all of its
problems. My criticisms are intended solely to call attention to the
production ethic used to raise far too many parrots. How long can an
industry prosper when the one product it produces too often betrays
the promises it makes?
Every parrot with serious behavioral problems is a
negative influence on consumers. While most bird buyers own more than one
parrot, the continued success of the bird industry depends on new
converts—people who have not owned birds before who decide to buy one. If
too many vocal people become disenchanted with parrot ownership, this will
decrease the demand for parrots.
Needed for Balance
Every week I talk with a discouraged breeder or bird shop
owner who is dedicated to doing a good job with the parrots in their care.
This industry desperately needs these caring people to balance the
production ethic in raising parrots.
Unfortunately, the very people the
industry needs to raise physically and emotionally healthy baby parrots seem
to be the ones who are rethinking whether they want stay to in the business.
They either can not compete or they are questioning their part in raising
more parrots to be placed in situations where their good care can not be
guaranteed.
Who will raise emotionally healthy chicks if these people do not
stay in this business? It is a tragedy every time an ethical breeder quits
or a quality bird shop goes out of business.
The Desperate Need For Rescue
What happens to parrots who have little or no pet
potential and/or are discarded at the whim of an uncaring owner? This is the
greatest problem facing the bird business.
Many individuals and
organizations are now spending a vast amount of time and money trying to
meet the needs of thousands of homeless high-priced parrots. More and
more caring parrot lovers are beginning to realize that there is a desperate
need for them to adopt a "used" parrot rather than buying a handfed baby.
Many bird owners are happy with their parrots. With many
this happiness did not come easily. Some people took the time and energy to
work to resolve the problems their parrots had. Others could not deal with
the problems or did not get the kind of information needed to create
positive pet potential in their parrots.
There wouldn't be so many expensive parrots in throwaway
situations if there weren't so many problems with people — both the people who
raise them and the people who buy them.
Proper socialization of chicks and
proper education of buyers are the two essential ingredients for the
salvation and successful perpetuation of this industry.
Related article:
KAYTEE PREFERRED
BIRDS and PETsMART |
