Understanding the dynamics of bird breeding

Birds used in breeding programs are typically wild caught or parent raised.  They are  kept wild and do not make good pets.  They usually fear human contact or prefer little human contact and have all the natural instincts they would posess in the wild.

They are usually used in breeding as they have the natural instinct, drive and are  taught by the parents  the dynamics of breeding including how to nurture their young and how to look after each other during brooding.

Pet birds on the other hand are usually removed from their parents before their eyes are open and imprinted on human handlers.  They have not been taught how to raise young or how to feed their mate during breeding season and do not have the same natural drives and instincts. 

 This does not mean that some don’t get hormonal urges, but these are usually seasonal and typically milder in nature that their breeding cousins and can be controlled somewhat with a few behaviour modifications. 

What we have found is most pet birds, when placed into a breeding program are not very successful breeders.  They don’t understand the dynamics, have a higher rate of killing their mates or being killed or having their beaks ripped off  or other injuries(this is fairly common even with normal breeders but much higher in pet/breeding). 

Breeding is extremely stressful on even healthy birds but it is also the time when many birds shed dormant but deadly viruses which may have been remained dormant their entire lives.  There is a much higher rate of illnesses found in breeding aviaries compared to a pet home.  Much of this is brought on my the stress associated with breeding.

Pet birds usually don’t understand the physical aspects of breeding, courtship and typically don’t produce viable eggs .  They also have a much higher rate of killing their own babies as they don’t understand the parenting aspect as they were not taught if they are able to produce viable eggs.  They have been known to eat their young.

But, what typically does happen with birds in general is when they find a mate, they tend to mate for life and will protect the mate so they revert back to a more wild nature to an extent where they don’t want to be handled by people any longer, they only want their mate and will protect the mate by attacking anyone that they fear will harm their relationship.   Their homonal instincts are now much stronger.  The breeders encourage this by not handling them at all, not talking to them and no toys so they learn that the only thing left for them is to breed.  Breeders understand that in order to successfully breed, they need to regain most of their wild tendancies back.   They leave them strictly with a mate and breeding box for a number of years.  They typically end up plucking themselves bald and/or get plucked by their mate from all the stress.

The majority of breeders once they realize that this particular bird will not successfully breed, which usually occurs after several years of unsuccessful attempts to produce viable eggs,   usually try to sell them to someone again as a pet. Usually for a reduced price as they are now damaged goods and typically they sell them to someone without the knowledge or ability to care for it properly.  These people think they are getting a deal with the cheaper price.  Usually it is someone without the skills or this particular knowledge, so are setting them up for failure.  In some cases they go off to another unsuspecting breeder.   They no longer want the burden or expenses for housing, feeding and space so they can make room for other breeders.  

What is left of the bird?  He no longer wants human interaction as it once did  as it has now become fearful of humans and touch.  It is usually badly plucked with little hope of regaining its feathers due to all the stress of trying to breed and now gets hormonal with more frequency.  It is no longer a pet or breeder if he survived the ordeal at all.

These birds are now very messed up.  They are much harder to manage and typically end up in rescues.  If they are lucky they will get an experienced behaviourist that may be able to help them to adjust to life with humans again.  Otherwise they end up in a cage somewhere where they live a fearful life not wanting interaction, unloved and very stressed.

Presently we have 6 such birds at the rescue and we are finding our own frustration in trying to reintegrate them into a place that would be best suited to them.  We do work towards behaviour modifications to help them re-adjust back to life with people.  We just hope some peeople will read this and realize the long term results of wanting their parrot to breed.

Again, I can’t thank you enough … it has been a couple of weeks now that I have been working with Ellie, and she has really turned around. Last week I was able to bring her to my friend’s to help me clip her wings, and trim her nails. It went absolutely perfectly … (OK, she wasn’t thrilled, LOL) but there was no blood shed, and she was desperate to get “away” from my friend, and back to “mommy.”  Even my friend was amazed with her progress.

I have been able to have her perch on my shoulder while I’m working on the computer, and she’s a great little bird. Sometimes she even sits on the monitor (I have a laptop) and I put on a few of her favourite songs (ABBA, Beyonce, Britanny Spears, LOL) and we sing away.

Is you rescue open for visitors to come by?  I would love to make a trip to come and see you in person (sans parrots) and even bring some toys for your parrots that mine just don’t seem to like.

Take care and again, Nancy, I can’t thank you enough … if it sounds like I’m gushing, I am … you have helped me turn my little demon into a much happier little parrot! 

Marion

  ]]> http://www.parrotadoptontario.com/2009/07/13/articles/behaviours/another-happy-customer/feed/ 0 http://www.parrotadoptontario.com/2009/06/29/articles/behaviours/bragging-rights/ http://www.parrotadoptontario.com/2009/06/29/articles/behaviours/bragging-rights/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:17:16 +0000 Nancy Daniels http://www.parrotadoptontario.com/?p=1007 Recently we have joined a network of rescues all across North American which is helping to place even more parrots into loving homes.  It is also helping us to bounce ideas and advice off one another to assist each other.

During several discussions, I realized what a great job we have been doing in placing parrots into permanent homes.  Several rescues (US) were discussing the number of returned birds after placement two rescues responded that they had place 500 parrots in the past 10 yrs (very similar stats to our own) they have had 100 parrots returned to them! That is over 20% where the birds have to be relocated a second or even third time!

In our twelve years of operation, we have placed over 600 parrots into new homes and have only had 7 returned!  We had no idea how good we were doing until we got the statistics from some of these other rescues!  That is only 1%.  Although a zero return rate would be perfect, we did not realize how extraordinary that was and definitely worthy of bragging about!  Given that many of the birds arrive here with behavior problems, plucking issues etc we are very lucky that our numbers are this low.

We are now offering tips to other rescues to help them decrease the number of birds that are returned to them through behaviour modifications and screening processes.

Due to our work in the avian community, we get asked regularly to help owners find new loving homes for the fids (feathered kids).  They count on us as they know our standards are high and we are highly involved in the avian community from bird clubs to humane societys and local vet colleges.  They want to utilize our experience and vast network to find the best placements for their birds.

Many of the birds that come to us have come from wonderful loving homes that due to unfortunate circumstances have to be placed into a new home.  The owners are devastated at having to give up their loved ones and have entrusted them into our care  to find a proper home for their loved ones.

We do get cases of abuse and neglect from time to time but most of the birds that come here are not abused or neglected.  It is still sad and devastating on the birds that they have to be removed from their loving homes. But cases of abuse are not common place.  You might find some of these birds here for months on end while we work on behaviours.  They are posted available for adoption in the event that another experienced person may be able to take on a bird with  some of these problems and do the behaviour modifications themselves.  This does happen on ocassion.  We also believe in full disclosure and make sure each potential adoptive home, understands with eyes wide open, what to expect then they bring a particular bird home.  Some are definitely harder to place than others but during their stay with us we work on behavior modifications to fix some of the problems they arrived with.

My own philosophy and how I have always viewed what we do is that the owners have come to us and entrusted us to find the best possible placement and most suitable home for their bird.  It is my job to make sure that the birds come first and their needs will be met regardless of who wants the bird.  This job I take very seriously.

We try not to refuse homes when people want a bird.  We try to direct them sometimes on a more appropriate bird than what they may be inquiring about.  As we are aware of the various species needs and abilities or we direct them to further their research before deciding on a parrot as a pet.

It is our firm belief that pet birds belong in  loving homes and deserve to be loved and given lots of attention.  We carefully match up the birds needs to what potential homes are able to offer the parrot.  Only then will an adoptoin take place.

If you look at our past successes and reference letters, you will see that we are good at what we do!

Please consider giving some of these wonderful second hand parrots a chance at a new life as they can make wonderful companions and most come already trained!

One of the questions that I frequently get is “do you think my parrot’s lonely” or “I want to get a companion for my parrot, what kind should I get?”.

There are many things to consider before introducing a second parrot into your home.

There are any number of variables that can happen and I hope that in reading this, you will be better informed on making a decision that will be right for you and your bird as well as ways to introduce a new bird into your flock.

Most people automatically assume that the same species/opposite sex, would be the best companion for their bird.  But that is not usually the case if you want to maintain your parrot as a pet.

  Birds tend to bond to a mate for life.  In the wild this would be  the opposite sex, same species. 

In captivity, they bond to their human companion and can treat it as a mate.  They can also bond to a different species of parrot.

Birds act in a very similar way that we humans do in that they don’t always like those around them.  Some birds have an instant attraction for another and some can have an instant hate while others can remain indifferent to one another.

It is very hard to determine how your parrot will react to a new comer until they are placed in the same vicinity.

Typical reactions will be:

•      Indifference to one another
•      Instant attraction
•      Fear
•       Aggression/Jealousy/Hate
•       Over bonding
•       One Sided Emotion
•       Reverting to wild tendencies

There is no way of knowing until the birds are placed together.   Which in itself presents a problem.  How do we know if our birds will be compatible or hate each other?  All kinds of issues need to be well thought out and there are no easy answers. 

  I will describe each scenario and the implications or benefits and how we can do our best to make it work.  In each scenario, birds should be housed separately and only allowed to interact under supervision until you are confident that no issues will occur.

 Indifference – This would be fine for keeping a lonely bird company and would also work well as it should not affect the dynamics of existing relationships.  This is how many of the parrots at the rescue behave.

 Instant Attraction – As long as they get along and do not fall into the over bonding stage, this also works well.  Over bonding can take place later down the road, especially in the spring.  There are a few things that can be done to help avoid this.  In all of the scenarios, NEVER keep the parrots in the same cage.  They can have playtime outside of their cages but should never be housed together.  Certain types of toys can also stimulate hormonal/nesting behaviors and those should be avoided.

 Fear – One or the other bird is afraid of the new arrival, which can lead to other problems such as plucking, stress and anxiety.  The solution would be to remove the new arrival to a different area of the home.  This does not help the lonely parrot, but then he may not need/want the companionship.  However now, you are stuck with a second bird that may or may not share the same fears and have opened up another area of your home to have to keep bird safe.

 Aggression/Jealousy – Typically the existing bird would become jealous of the new bird which will lead to aggression.  They also may just not like each other.  This can be onesided or  with both birds.  Great pains will have to be taken to keep them apart and safe.  These birds can hunt the other one down either inside the cage or outside the cage.  There is a great chance of injury for these birds.  There can also be a greater chance of you getting bitten by one or the other as birds bonded to their human will try to protect the human by biting them to scare them off from what the parrot feels is a threat in order to keep them safe.  This aggression can lessen over time but great care would need to be taken to keep the parrots safe. See below about how to introduce a new bird into your flock.

 Onesided Emotion – It is quite common and happens here frequently, where one bird is attracted to another bird but the other bird does not reciprocate the feelings.  This can cause stress on both birds as the one bird will try to follow the other around and sit close to it, wanting to preen it etc and the other bird wants nothing to do with it.  This can cause stress on both birds. 

 Reverting to Wild Tendencies – Birds that bond tend to want to mate and want to breed, typically revert back to a wilder state where they will no longer interact with humans.  They want to protect their nest (cage) and become aggressive towards anything that tries to interfere with that, including feeding them etc.  Sometimes they only become aggressive during the breeding seaons and can be handled at other times and sometimes they become totally wild.  They will no longer make a pet for you and may or may not lay viable eggs.  It could destroy any relationship you had with your bird.  This does not always happen with same species birds as two birds of different species can sometimes revert to breeding mode and become wild, go through all the breeding motions but of course would not produce viable eggs.

(**Note when you adopt from PASO you are required to sign a no breeding contract)

 There is no way of knowing how your birds will react until you put two together and see how they interact.

 How to Introduce a New Bird to your Flock

 Whether you have a flock of 1 or 10 there are a few tips you can use to introduce a new bird into your environment.

 -         Make sure that when you introduce the birds, that it is done away from their cages and play areas and is done in a neutral area.    Preferably away from view of their cages.

-         Do not hold them and introduce them.  Use a chair or something and place each one on a separate chair so there is some distance between them.

-         Be prepared for anything.  Have a towel ready in case they try to attack one another so that you can separate them and keep them from harm. 

-         Have a carrier or cage handy and open to place at least one of the birds in if there is a  problem.

-         Spend time with the original bird first and reassure him about his new friend.

-         Watch for signs of aggression or fear. 

-         Keep their cages well apart from one another until you are confident that they will tolerate each other.

-         Continue to monitor any changes in behaviors.

-         NEVER put the birds in the same cage.  At some point if the birds are comfortable and seem to be getting along, they can play on the same cage, but should not be caged together or aggression and over bonding can take place.

  I order to lessen chances of over bonding and reverting to wild tendencies, bring in a different species of bird or a playmate of the same sex.  You will want to keep either only males or only females.  Later if you try to introduce an opposite sex bird (more so of the same species), you may run into troubles again as the two may fight for the love of the new bird.

 This is just the basic way of introducing a new bird.  There are other variables but these are the most common and should provide you with at least the basics of what can happen when you are considering introducing a new bird into your home.