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The New Bird - A Few Guidelines

01/04/12 22:07 Filed in: Birds | Behavior | training


By Father Don

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When you bring a new bird into your home there are several things important to do. Knowing what these are requires knowledge of parrot psychology, common sense, and the ability to pay attention to exactly what is happening. Parrot psychology is different than ours in many ways. We are predators and they are prey animals. Being prey animals they are on the lookout for danger at all times. We as predators are often unaware of the potential for danger and find it difficult to understand why parrots move away, threaten, or refuse to respond to us. They have no hands and prefer to fly away from danger. We often use our hands as weapons. We are hunter gatherers and tend to eat food when it’s available. Parrots tend to eat for 3 hours of the morning and 3 hours just before the sun sets. These are just a few of the differences between us -there are many more examples.


There are certain basics that apply in nearly every situation. It is important not to give the bird too much attention when they first become a part of your family. This is especially important if the bird has a rough time of it recently. Dazed and confused by the move, the new surroundings, the new people, a change in diet and a new schedule, they need time to get their bearings. It is even worse if they do not have their original cage with them, no matter how bad that cage may have been. It is often a good idea to leave the cage door open and just go about your business as would normally without making a fuss. If they show any interest in you then respond to it but be careful not to move too fast.

There’s one other reason but you should avoid spending too much time with a new bird. A parrot will expect you to give them the same amount of time as when you first brought them into the home. Unfortunately, most people spend a large amount of time with the bird the first few weeks it is in their home and then begin going back to the daily routine of their lives. This leaves the bird feeling, at the very least, left out. This is not the beginning of a good relationship. Buildup to spending as much time with the bird and you plan to spend with that each day for the rest of its life. That being said, most birds require at least 2 hours of attention today and more time playing by themselves. If you can’t do that you shouldn’t have a bird. No one wants a biting, screaming companion; and no bird enjoys screaming and biting. We know normal bird behavior from biologists who have done fieldwork.

There are many aspects to bringing a new bird into your home. The two mentioned above: leaving the cage door open and giving them a proper amount of attention are important. It will save you much grief if you keep them in mind. Also be aware that each bird is a study of one and that you may need to modify some guidelines depending on the bird in your care. Be careful though and take action with care, the early days in your relationship are the foundation of the future.

Love and understanding are two tools best used when a new bird comes into your home. With those who your guide you cannot fail.

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