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1 June 2011 Surveys of Avian Practitioners and Pet Owners Regarding Common Behavior Problems in Psittacine Birds
Lori A. Gaskins, Laurie Bergman
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Avian veterinarians and pet bird owners were solicited to participate in online surveys to gather information about behavior problems in pet birds. A total of 84 avian veterinarians' and 203 psittacine bird owners' responses were analyzed. Behaviors with a high prevalence and a high level of owner concern, in descending order, were aggression, screaming, and feather picking. Veterinarians reported that the most common behavior problems presented to them were feather picking, chronic egg laying, aggression, and screaming, in that order. Most owners seeking advice went elsewhere before talking to their veterinarian. When consulted, most veterinarians recommended a combination of a medical workup, nutritional changes, housing changes, and environmental enrichments for these problem behaviors. Because owners do not often seek a veterinarian's advice, behavior problems exist in birds that are not being addressed by veterinarians. Advising veterinarians to question owners about problem behaviors at every visit will facilitate discussion and improve the treatment and welfare of pet psittacine birds.

Lori A. Gaskins and Laurie Bergman "Surveys of Avian Practitioners and Pet Owners Regarding Common Behavior Problems in Psittacine Birds," Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 25(2), 111-118, (1 June 2011). https://doi.org/10.1647/2010-027.1
Published: 1 June 2011
KEYWORDS
aggression
Avian
behavior
birds
chronic egg laying
feather picking
screaming
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