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Do Parrots Get Jealous?
Is your parrot biting everyone but you? Bird's get emotional when they think someone else is trying to win over their favorite person. They don’t want to share their "mate" and will act out to protect their bond.
Parrots see other people and pets as threats to their special relationship. They might lunge, scream, or bite anyone who gets too close to their chosen person. It's their way of saying, "This human is mine!"
But there’s hope. With consistent socialization and training, you can help your parrot feel more secure and less jealous. Yes, you can do something about it!
What Bird Emotions Looks Like
The Avian Welfare Coalition informs us that parrots can become jealous especially with visitors and other pets. An overly jealous parrot isn’t fun to be around. It will be important to learn how to socialize and train your parrot to accept other people and pets.
A jealous parrot may feel that another person or animal is vying for their preferred "mate's" attention. In order to thwart off the competition, the bird may engage in aggressive behavior toward the perceived threat. This can look like screaming at, chasing, lunging, or biting at the perceived threat. The perceived threat can be another family member or pet. It can also take the form of attacking company.
Let's unravel pet parrot jealousy. What often happens with pet parrots is that often, just one person in the family cares for the bird. This one person may feed the bird, pet it, love on it, and even carry it about on their shoulder. The pet bird attaches to that one person as though it were a mate. It's not the bird's fault. But as the bird matures, it begins to perceive this individual in a mate-like manner.
Warning Signs That Your Bird Is Jealous
Watch your parrot's body language to spot signs of jealous parrots and figure out what triggers their territorial and aggressive behavior. When your bird is standing tall, with pinned eyes and a flared tail, it's showing aggressive posturing. Some cockatoos might crouch on the perch and spread their wings to look bigger, while others strut around like they own the place!
When you see these signs of jealous parrots, it's a clear message that your bird is feeling jealous or threatened. They might start screaming, lunging, or even biting to keep the perceived threat away. Pay attention to what’s happening around them when they act this way – is there a new person or pet in the room?
Knowing these signals can help you manage their behavior better. By understanding when and why your parrot feels jealous, you can take steps to make them feel more secure. Remember, a happy parrot is a calm parrot!
Common Reasons for Jealousy
Some reasons for jealousy may be:
New pets in the home: Parrots can feel threatened by the presence of a new animal, thinking it might steal their attention. Visitors or strangers: New people in the house can make parrots feel insecure and protective of their chosen person. Lack of attention: Not spending enough time with your parrot can make them feel neglected and jealous. A new baby: The arrival of a new baby can shift attention away from the parrot, leading to jealousy. Teasing or mishandling: Children or other pets teasing or mishandling the parrot can cause stress and jealousy. Improper petting: Petting a parrot in a way that they perceive as sexual can make them view you as a mate, increasing jealousy. Changes in routine: Any sudden changes in their daily routine can make parrots feel insecure and jealous.Socialization to Prevent Jealousy
When you bring your new parrot home, involve the whole family in its care. Teach everyone the proper way to pet and handle the bird, and encourage them to engage with it by teaching behavioral skills and tricks.
Fostering a flock mentality at home is crucial. Ensure all family members interact with the bird from the start, offering treats and attention. Avoid the habit of having only one person take care of the parrot.
To prevent bird jealousy, make sure everyone in the household talks to and interacts with the bird, and understands how to pet it correctly. Incorrect petting can make the parrot see you as its mate, leading to various behavioral issues.
Minimize Hormonal Flare-Ups
Managing parrot hormones can be tricky, but with the right steps, you can make it easier. Most parrots only go into hormone season once or twice a year, which can make them more aggressive and stressed. To help, give your parrot a consistent daily routine, plenty of toys for mental stimulation, and a balanced diet.
Changing your parrot's environment can also help manage their hormones. Reducing the amount of daylight they get can mimic non-breeding seasons. Use blackout curtains or cover the cage to control light exposure. Move toys and perches around regularly to discourage nesting behavior. These small changes can make a big difference.
Training and social interactions are also important. Use positive reinforcement to teach good behaviors and redirect bad ones. Spend time training your parrot, teaching new tricks, and having different family members interact with them. This keeps your parrot's mind busy and reduces hormonal behavior. For more tips, check out The Ultimate Guide to Holistically Managing Bird Hormones.
Keeping Others Safe from a Jealous Parrot
Keeping others safe from a jealous parrot is important to ensure harmony in your home. Parrots can become territorial and may act aggressively towards other pets or people if they feel insecure or threatened. Recognizing the signs of jealousy and taking the right precautions can help prevent incidents and maintain a safe environment for everyone.
| Do This | Don't Do This |
|---|---|
| Supervise interactions between your parrot and other pets. | Leave your parrot unsupervised with other pets. |
| Provide a secure and separate space for your parrot, when company is over. | Allow pets or people to invade your parrot's space when it's agitated. |
| Teach children to interact gently and calmly with your parrot. | Let children make sudden movements or loud noises around your parrot. |
| Recognize and respect your parrot's body language and signals. | Ignore signs of aggression or distress from your parrot. |
| Encourage calm and positive interactions with family members. | Force interactions when your parrot is showing signs of jealousy. |
By following these guidelines, you can help your parrot feel more secure and reduce the chances of aggressive behavior. Always be mindful of your parrot's emotions and create a safe environment for both your bird and your household.
Managing Parrot Jealousy
Once you realize that your bird is jealous, it's time to nip these behaviors in the bud. Yes, jealous behavior can be modified, but YOU are the one that needs to change your ways. It is NEVER acceptable to punish a hormonal or jealous parrot, after all, it is simply being a parrot. Your parrot must feel safe, secure, healthy, and loved by all in order to modify its behavior. It also must have exercise and mental stimulation in the form of enriching bird toys.
First, figure out how and where to set boundaries with your bird. Concentrate on limiting the areas your bird can be when it is outside of the cage until it tolerates all members of the family equally. The most obvious place is on the bird stand or on a perch. But, you'll also want to start teaching your bird that it has perimeters of where it is allowed to be and how it is allowed to behave.
Once your bird has learned to control its jealousy, introduce family members or a pet. Since you've learned to read your bird’s body language, keep your eyes open to understand when your bird is becoming overwhelmed with jealousy. Stop training on a positive note rather than allowing your bird to become overwhelmed and territorial. Work up to introducing all family members and even strangers until your bird learns to tolerate others and gets the message that you are not its mate.
Helping Your Jealous Bird Adapt To a New Baby
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Set Up a Training Area:
- Choose a sheet or baby blanket based on the size of your parrot.
- Place it on your bed, floor, or sofa.
- Put some of your bird’s favorite toys on the blanket.
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Teach Your Bird to Stay on the Blanket:
- Encourage your bird to stay on the blanket using its toys.
- Use lots of praise and cheerful voice tones to make the experience positive.
- Eye contact and exaggerated praise work well, just like with young children.
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Involve the Whole Family:
- Make sure everyone in the family participates in the training.
- Consistency from everyone helps your parrot understand and feel secure.
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Introduce a Doll:
- Once your bird is comfortable on the blanket, place a doll on the blanket.
- Let your bird get used to the doll being there.
- Talk to the doll while your bird watches, increasing the interaction as your bird tolerates it.
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Use Clicker Training:
- Use clicker training to reward your bird for staying calm around the doll.
- Give your bird its favorite treats as a reward.
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Gradually Increase Interaction:
- Slowly start picking up the doll and playing with it while rewarding your bird for good behavior.
- Keep training sessions short and positive to avoid overwhelming your bird.
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Read Your Bird’s Body Language:
- Pay close attention to your bird’s body language to ensure it’s not getting too stressed.
- Stop the training session if your bird shows signs of jealousy or aggression.
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Always End on a Positive Note:
- Make sure to end each training session with positive reinforcement and praise.
- This helps your bird associate the training with good experiences.
By following these steps, you can help your jealous parrot adapt to the presence of a new baby, making the transition smoother for both your bird and your family.
In conclusion, jealousy in parrots is a common issue that many bird owners face, but understanding the signs and triggers can make a big difference. Parrots become jealous because of a deep need to protect their relationship with their chosen mate. It's important to remember that it's not that the bird is "bad," but rather it's a natural behavior driven by their instincts.
By learning to read your parrot's body language, providing consistent socialization, and using positive reinforcement, you can help your parrot feel secure and reduce their jealousy. Remember, a happy and well-adjusted parrot is one that feels loved and included by all family members.
With patience and the right techniques, you can create a harmonious environment where your parrot thrives, even with new pets or family members. Don't let jealousy strain your relationship with your feathered friend – take proactive steps to ensure your parrot feels like a valued member of the flock.
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on Jealous Parrots
Related Posts:
The Ultimate Guide to Holistically Managing Bird Hormones
Training Your Bird To Stay Put or Station
Feather Plucking Parrots And Feather Care
Parrot Training and Care Ebooks
African Grey Parrot Bird Toys
References:
https://be.chewy.com/jealousy-and-your-bird/
Kelly, D., Rae, J., & Menzel, K. (2007). The true nature of parrots. The Avian Welfare Coalition. https://www.avianwelfare.org/issues/articles/truenature2.htm
Rowe, M. (2019, March 27). Emotional like us: Parrots & jealousy. Lafeber. https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/emotional-like-us-parrots-jealousy/
Link to this blog
Burroughs, D. (2024, July 14). Do parrots get jealous? Understanding and managing parrot jealousy. BirdSupplies.com. https://birdsupplies.com/blogs/news/144105991-parrot-jealousy-unraveled
Diane Burroughs, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist trained in ABA therapy techniques. She specializes in avian anxiety disorders and is certified in Nutrition For Mental Health. Diane has written a number of bird behavior books and she offers behavior consultations. She's developed a range of UnRuffledRx Science-backed Parrot Wellness Supplies.
Diane's products have been featured in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery and at Exoticscon, a conference for exotic pet veterinarians. Her bird collars & supplements are stocked in avian vet clinics and bird stores throughout the US. With over 30 years in the field of behavior, Diane has created thousands of successful individualized behavior plans that help pets thrive.
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