6 Tips For Choosing A Bird Calming Supplement That Will Help Your Bird Feel Better

Revised 12/23/2023

Why do birds get anxious?

Pet birds tend to be anxious.  After all, as prey animals, they're instinctively fearful of unfamiliar things and new experiences. 

Other things can impact your bird's disposition, as well. Here are some environmental factors that can cause a bird to get anxious:

• Lack of mental stimulation. A bored bird is more apt to experience anxiety.
  
  
• A bird that isn't getting the recommended 10 to 12 hours of sleep each night can become anxious.
  
  
• Nutrition plays a huge role in mood management. For instance, an imbalance of calcium and magnesium can lead to a nervous disposition.
  
  
• A bird that doesn't know how to entertain itself in healthy ways can become down in the dumps and develop an anxious habit.
  
  
• Changes in their routine.

Birds, just like us, can grapple with anxiety triggered by physical issues. Take molting, for example – a perfectly normal process, yet it can bring enough discomfort to leave our feathered friends feeling on edge. Hormonal seasons can add an extra layer of stress, as some birds become more anxious during these periods. It's crucial to recognize that any time a bird is experiencing discomfort, pain, or its physical needs aren't adequately addressed, it can be a source of anxiety.

While it may be tempting to turn to bird calming supplements to alleviate anxiety symptoms, it's crucial to consider a more holistic approach to bird care. Instead of relying solely on bird supplements, take the time to assess and enhance your bird's living conditions. Ensure they have a stimulating environment with a variety of toys, provide regular interaction and mental stimulation, and maintain a consistent routine to foster a sense of security.

Understanding the environmental causes of bird anxiety empowers us to create a healthier and more harmonious living space for our feathered companions. By addressing these factors head-on, we can significantly reduce the need for bird calming supplements. Remember, your bird's well-being is closely tied to the care and attention you provide, so take the time to enrich their environment and strengthen the bond between you and your feathered friend.

How Do I Know If My Bird Has Anxiety?

Understanding and responding to your bird's anxiety starts with some introspection about its behavior. Birds, like us, have subtle ways of expressing anxiety that may be overlooked if we don't take the time to observe and reflect. Consider these gentle indicators that your bird might be facing stress, often hidden behind what may seem like simple behavior quirks.

Feather plucking or over-preening, for instance, is a behavior worth pondering. Take a moment to ask yourself: Is my bird engaging in more grooming than usual? Excessive feather plucking might be a silent plea for attention or a reaction to a change in their surroundings. Explore potential stressors such as alterations in routine, unexpected noise, or a need for increased mental stimulation.

Reflect on your bird's vocalization patterns. Are there noticeable changes in their squawks or chirps? Birds communicate through sound, and shifts in their vocal behavior can offer valuable insights into their emotional state. Some birds get more quiet while others start screaming at the top of their lungs. Ask yourself when these changes started; it could be a clue to the source of their anxiety.

Consider behavioral challenges not as defiance but as signals. Does your bird display aggression, excessive chewing, or destructive tendencies? Instead of frustration, approach these actions with empathy. They might be your bird's way of expressing unease. What changes in their environment or routine could be contributing to their stress?

Understanding and responding to your bird's emotional well-being is a journey of introspection that can deepen your bond with your feathered friend. Birds, like us, have subtle ways of expressing anxiety that may be overlooked if we don't take the time to observe and reflect. Consider these gentle indicators that your bird might be facing stress, often hidden behind what may seem like simple behavior quirks.

Feather plucking, for instance, is a behavior worth pondering. Take a moment to ask yourself: Is my bird engaging in more grooming than usual? Excessive feather plucking might be a silent plea for attention or a reaction to a change in their surroundings. Explore potential stressors such as alterations in routine, unexpected noise, or a need for increased mental stimulation.

Reflect on your bird's vocalization patterns. Are there noticeable changes in their squawks or chirps? Birds communicate through sound, and shifts in their vocal behavior can offer valuable insights into their emotional state. Ask yourself when these changes occur; it could be a clue to the source of their distress.

Consider behavioral challenges not as defiance but as signals. Does your bird display aggression? Is it more withdrawn than usual? Has it stopped playing and exploring? Instead of frustration, approach these behaviors with empathy. They might be your bird's way of expressing unease. 

Explore eating habits as a window into your bird's emotional world. Is there a shift in their appetite or eating routine? Changes in these patterns might be indicative of stress impacting their overall well-being. Dig deeper to uncover the emotional triggers behind these alterations.

In essence, recognizing signs of anxiety in your bird invites you to engage in a dialogue with their emotions. Ask yourself these questions, observe with empathy, and be open to adapting their environment to meet their emotional needs. This journey of introspection not only fosters a healthier, happier bird but also strengthens the unique connection you share with your avian companion.

What Does A Stressed Bird Look Like?

• Shivering and shaking: Observe if your bird displays these behaviors more frequently, as they may indicate nervousness or unease.

• Slicked-back feathers: Note instances where your bird tries to appear smaller. Consider triggers like changes in their environment or interactions.

• Flaring tail and eyes: Look for expressions of heightened arousal or anxiety in response to specific situations. Explore the context behind these reactions.

• Leaning away: Take note when your bird leans away from you, signaling a possible desire for distance. Reflect on recent interactions for contributing factors.

• Puffing up feathers: Monitor instances of your bird making itself look larger, a potential defensive response to stress or perceived threats. Investigate stressors in their environment or routine.

In decoding your bird's body language, these quick observations can be your guide to understanding their emotional state. Engage in this exploration to foster a deeper connection with your feathered companion and create a supportive environment for their well-being.

Can Birds Get PTSD or Separation Anxiety?

Understanding and addressing issues of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and separation anxiety in our feathered friends is crucial for providing compassionate care. Birds, as social flock animals, can experience trauma from various sources, impacting their emotional well-being. Improper weaning processes, sudden rehoming, changes within the family structure, and inadequate care can all contribute to these challenges.

Improper weaning, a critical developmental stage for young birds, can leave lasting emotional scars. Birds separated from their parents too early may struggle with trust issues and socialization. Additionally, sudden rehoming, while sometimes necessary, can be a traumatic experience, causing feelings of displacement and confusion. Changes within the family structure, such as new additions or departures, can also disrupt the established bonds, leading to stress and anxiety for our avian companions. Moreover, poor care, whether it be inadequate nutrition, unclean living conditions, or lack of mental stimulation, can contribute to long-term emotional distress in birds.

Separation anxiety is a real concern, particularly for birds unaccustomed to entertaining themselves or engaging in foraging activities. Birds are highly social creatures, and abrupt isolation can trigger anxiety. Those accustomed to constant interaction may struggle when left alone. It is essential to recognize the signs, which may include excessive vocalization, feather plucking, or destructive behavior. To mitigate separation anxiety, it's crucial to gradually acclimate birds to alone time, provide engaging toys and activities, and ensure their environment is enriched with mental stimulation. Establishing a routine and incorporating positive reinforcement during departures and returns can also help ease the transition. 

What Is The Best Bird Calming Supplement? 

When looking for bird calming supplement first try to gauge the intensity of your bird's anxiety. For instance, if your bird is anxious several times a week versus just a few days a year,  you understand the intensity is more severe. You can also rate the intensity of your bird's anxiety by how many issues trigger the anxiety or how much it disrupts their activities of daily living.

When you know the intensity of what you're dealing with then you'll recognize whether the medicine is combing your bird down or not.

Next, think about the "strength" of various bird calming supplements. Ideally, you would want to start with the most gentle products. If you don't get the results you want with a gentle supplement try something a little stronger. Intense cases may require a prescription medicine.

Medicinal herbs have been used for centuries and they are a big part of many integrative health practices. Herbs that support a balanced mood are called "adaptogen herbs."  Chamomile is probably the most well-known adaptogenic herb but there are a variety bird-safe, adaptogen herbs, as well. 

Try to match the bird calming supplement with the intensity of your bird's anxiety.

Gentle Calming:  Chamomile flowers and other adaptogen herbs are some of the most gentle bird calming supplements. They work best with low levels of anxiety or temporary anxiety-producing situations, like a bird that is molting, or when you have a houseful of company. Try Loose Chamomile to make tea or serve it in separate a dish.

Moderate Calming:   Stereotypical behaviors such as screaming or mild feather destructive behaviors respond well to daily doses of UnRuffledRx Parrot Calming Formula and UnRuffledRx SereniTea Bird Calming Tea.

The active ingredients in Parrot Calming Formula are two amino acids that support a calmer mood, L-Theanine and GABA.  It is thought that when the body doesn't have enough of these amino acids it affects mood. Keep in mind that amino acid support is not addictive and that there is no evidence of overdosing. I say that because the recommended dosage on the bottle is the place to start. But, you can increase the dosage a little bit, up to double see, if you don't see the results that you want.  remember, when you know how to measure how intense your bird's anxiety is, you'll also be able to tell when  you found the sweet spot of how much  medicine to give your bird.

The active ingredients in bird calming tea are several adaptogen herbs, like chamomile, lemon balm, lavender, and others. All of these herbs have healing properties but over and above that, they're very nutritious. One of the things we know about moderate and intense anxiety is that depression and anxiety can be traced back to nutritional deficits.

These gentle bird calming supplements are not addictive and won't make your bird act drugged up. They may not get to the root cause of what is causing your bird's mood disorder, and in my opinion, it is always best to combine bird calming supplementswith parrot Wellness practices and behavior modification.

Intense Calming:  Birds that intensively pluck or self-mutilate their bodies may require intensive, pharmaceuticals to cease self-injurious behaviors.  However, there is a significant amount of research that demonstrates how self-injurious behaviors cause changes in the brain chemistry making them very difficult habits to break.  We recommend combining a bird collar with bird calming supplements when a bird has obsessive feather destructive behavior. 

In conclusion, using a bird calming supplement can help your pet's mood.  Think about how your bird demonstrates that it's anxious and measurable terms such as how frequently it gets anxious and how many different things trigger anxiety.  When you know how severe your bird's anxiety is you’ll be able to tell whether the medicine is helping.

6 Tips For Supporting An Anxious Bird

1. Carefully observe your bird over a week or two to try to figure out what is causing it to be anxious.  Is the anxiety induced by environmental factors, physical factors, or past trauma?
   
   
2. Keep up with wellness checks to catch physical issues early when they are most treatable.
   
   
3. Remove the triggers that cause your bird to be anxious.
   
   
4. Explore physical factors related to your bird's anxiety.
   
   
5. Learn positive reinforcement to gradually teach your bird "natural parrot behaviors" that are known to reduce anxiety.
   
   
6. For general anxiety start with gentle adaptogen herbs and natural bird calming ingredients. For more intense forms of anxiety, consult with your avian vet.

Related Posts:

The Do's & Don'ts of Calming Anxious Birds

10 Tips For A Calm Bird Using Positive Reinforcement

References:

Merck Veterinary Manual. (n.d.). Psychotropic Medications Used for Feather Plucking in Pet Birds. Retrieved November 16, 2023, from https://www.merckvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/psychotropic-medications-used-for-feather-plucking-in-pet-birds 

Seibert, L. (2006). Feather-picking Disorder in Pet Birds. In A. Leuscher (Ed.), The Manual of Parrot Behavior (pp. 255-280). Blackwell Publishing. Ames, Iowa.

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 numerous 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.

TAGS: #BirdCalming #BirdCalmingSupplement #AnxiousBird

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