While it’s often difficult for bird parentsto tell whether their pet is sick (because birds commonly hide signs ofillness), it’s even harder for most people to tell if their bird is stressed orunhappy. Birds can certainly feel these emotions—and hide them until thesefeelings become so extreme that they are manifested either physically orbehaviorally.

Birds can express unhappiness and stress inseveral different ways. Here’s how to tell if you’ve got a stressed ordepressed bird—and how you can help.

Signs of Stress in Birds

So, how can you tell that your bird isunhappy? Here are some common signs of stress in birds:

1. Biting

While many people misinterpret birds’biting as an act of aggression, this behavior is often a sign of stress andfear. Birds will frequently bite and lunge to try to protect themselves whenthey are afraid; they may bite humans, other birds, or the bars of their cage.

Because biting also may be a sign of painor discomfort, a bird that suddenly starts biting a lot should have a completeveterinary examination to ensure there’s no underlying medical problem for thisnew behavior.

2. Vocalizing

Normal parrots, depending on their species,make loud noise. However, a sudden increase in screaming, repetitive chirping,alarm calls can be linked to distress, and screeching may indicate that a bird is bored orunhappy.

But just as biting can be indicative ofpain or discomfort, so can vocalizations. Any bird that suddenly startsscreaming—or has any change in their vocalizations—should be checked out by aveterinarian to ensure there is no medical basis for this behavior.

3. Decreased Vocalization

While screaming can indicate underlyingstress or unhappiness in birds, so can decreased vocalization. Birds thatsuddenly start to vocalize less may be stressed, depressed, bored, or ill.

It’s imperative that any bird who suddenly vocalizesless be examined as soon as possible to make sure that there is no medicalcause for this change in behavior.

4. Feather Picking

Feather picking is avery common outward manifestation of stress and boredom, particularly in largerspecies such as Eclectus parrots, cockatoos, and Africangray parrots. But this is also seen in smaller birds, including Quakers parrotsand lovebirds.

Some birds will start picking as a resultof an initiating cause, such as a loud noise or construction in the house,changes in their routine, boredom, or metabolic stressors (nutritional ormedical). They may continue to pick even when that initiating stimulus isremoved or the condition is resolved.

Feather-picking birds should have athorough medical examination, including blood work, to help rule out othercauses of illness.

5. Self-Mutilation

Some stressed birds will go beyondfeather-picking to chew on their skin or even dig deeper into muscle and bone,causing severe trauma. These birds must not only be examined by a veterinarianimmediately, but they must also be started on anti-psychotic medication and/orfitted with a recovery cone to prevent them from doing further damage while theveterinarian figures out what’s going on.

6. Stereotypical Behaviors

Some species, especially cockatoos,manifest stress as stereotypical behaviors such as pacing, toe tapping, andhead swinging (or any abnormal repetitive behaviors). Often, birds performthese behaviors to stimulate themselves because they are bored.

While these behaviors may be harmless insome cases, they can be a sign that the bird is unhappy, and pet parents shouldpay attention to these actions before they progress to more destructiveactivities such as feather-picking or self-mutilation.

7. Decreased Appetite

Birds that are severely stressed ordepressed may eat less and lose weight. because a decreased appetite can alsobe a sign of medical disease, birds whose appetites change should be thoroughlyexamined by a veterinarian to make sure they aren’t hiding an underlyingillness.

What Causes a Stressed or Depressed Bird?

Regardless of how they manifestunhappiness, birds, like people, may become stressed for a variety of reasons.

1. Lack of Attention

Many parrots, especially extremely socialand intelligent species such as cockatoos and African grays, need a great dealof attention. When they don’t receive regimented attention and stimulation,they become bored and stressed and may scream, feather pick, or self-mutilate.

2. Environmental Changes

Often, environmental changes can upset abird. Some potential stressors include:

·       A recent move to a new home

·       New people or pets in the house

·       Diet changes

·       Loud noises (such as from construction or thunder)

·       A change in the location of the bird’s cage in the house

·       Repainting your home’s walls a new color

Indoor birds also can become stressed fromthe sight or sound of unfamiliar wild animals, such as hawks or raccoons,outside a window.

3. Changes in Routine

A change in the bird’s daily routine, suchas from an alteration in the pet parent’s schedule, can upset a bird. Changesin light cycle, such as if a bird’s cage is moved to a dark room or is suddenlykept covered, can also throw a bird off.

Basically, because birds are such creaturesof habit, anything that alters their routines can stress them out or make themunhappy.

The Effects of Stress on a Bird

Chronic stress and unhappiness can affectbirds’ physical health. Birds that are constantly stressed and sad may eat lessand may lose weight or suffer nutritional deficiencies.

Extremely anxious birds that feather pickand self-mutilate may permanently damage their feather follicles, preventingregrowth of feathers and scarring their skin.

In addition, reproductively active femalebirds that produce eggs, such as cockatiels, may havedifficulty laying if they are stressed or unhappy. These birds may become egg-bound and mayrequire veterinary intervention with medication or even surgery to get them tolay.

Finally, chronically stressed birds alsomay suffer compromised immune system function, making them more susceptible tocontracting infections and other diseases.

How To Help a Stressed or Depressed Bird

If you suspect your bird is stressed orunhappy, there are several ways you can help. The key is to try to find thecause of the bird’s anxiety or sadness so it can be addressed and enable thebird to get back on track.

1. Get Help From a Vet

It can be difficult to pinpoint the exactcause of a bird’s stress, but working with an avian-savvyveterinarian or bird trainer can provideinsight and may help an you get relief for a bird more quickly.

2. Give Your Bird Enrichment

Birds that are feather picking, screaming,or biting because they are bored or lacking attention should be providedwith interactive toys andother stimulation, such as a TV to watch or a radio to listen to. Pet parentsshould give them extra attention and as much out-of-cage time as possible.

3. Provide a Safe Space

Pets that are frightened by loud noises oroutside animals should have their cages moved to a quieter, interior location,away from windows. Stressed birds whose cages have recently been moved shouldbe moved back to where they were before.

4. Don’t Rush Introductions

If there are new pets or people in thehouse who are stressing or upsetting the bird, seek the help of a veterinarianor bird trainer to help gradually acclimate the bird to the new individual. Usepositive-reinforcement training, in which the sight or sound of the newindividual is paired with a yummy treat orfavorite toy.

Birds are psychologically complicatedcreatures, as they are very smart and socially very needy. When well-adjustedand provided with adequate attention and mental stimulation, they can beterrific pets for many years.

But bird parents must be prepared to adaptto and change with their birds as they age. Remember that, like people, birdsare living, thinking beings whose needs and desires change over time—and whomust be attended to accordingly.