Not only do birds experience sadness, but chronic depression can also result in a host of additional issues like reduced immunological response, self-destructive behaviors, and more. Compare your bird's behavior to the points given here if you think it might be depressed. Depression-related symptoms could indicate the need to adjust your bird's habitat or the amount of time you spend with them.
1: Biting
While biting by birds is sometimes mistaken for aggressive behavior, it's actually a symptom of stress and worry for many humans. When threatened, birds will often attack or lunge to defend themselves; they may bite people, other birds, and the cage bars. A bird that unexpectedly starts biting frequently should undergo a thorough veterinary checkup to make sure there isn't an underlying medical issue causing this new behavior, as biting can also be a sign of pain and discomfort.
2: Speaking out
Normal parrots can produce loud sounds, depending on the species. But rapid increases in alarm cries, shrieking, or repeated chirping can all be signs of anxiety; also, screeching might be a sign of boredom or unhappiness. However, vocalizations can also be a sign of pain or distress, just as boring does. A veterinarian should examine any bird that starts screaming out of the blue or has any other abnormalities in its vocalizations to make sure there isn't a medical reason for it.
3: Diminished Voice
Reduced vocalization in birds can also be an indicator of underlying tension or unhappiness, much as screaming can. When birds suddenly stop talking, it could be a sign of stress, depression, boredom, or illness. If a bird suddenly becomes less talkative, it is important to inspect it right away to rule out any medical reasons for the behavior change.
4: Picking Feathers
Especially in larger species like African gray parrots, cockatoos, and Eclectus parrots, feather picking is a highly typical external sign of stress and boredom. However, smaller birds, such as lovebirds and Quaker parrots, also exhibit this. A loud noise and construction in the home, a change in routine, boredom, and metabolic stressors (medical or dietary) can all trigger a bird to start plucking. Even when the ailment is treated or the initial trigger is eliminated, they might still pick. A complete medical check, including blood testing, should be performed on feather-picking birds in order to rule out other possible causes of sickness.
5: Self-Injury
Some anxious birds will even chew on the skin and occasionally pierce deeper into their muscles and bones, resulting in serious damage, instead of only plucking at their feathers. In addition to needing to be inspected right away by a veterinarian, these birds also need to be put on anti-psychotic medication as well as fitted with a healing cone to keep them from hurting themselves while the vet investigates.
6: Stereotypical Actions
Stress can be shown in certain species, particularly cockatoos, by characteristic actions such as toe tapping, head swinging, pacing, or any other abnormal repetitive behavior. These are often self-stimulating behaviors that birds engage in when they're bored. Pet parents should be aware of these behaviors, even though they could be harmless in some situations. They can indicate that the bird is unhappy and should be stopped before they engage in more damaging behaviors like feather-picking or self-mutilation.
7: Diminished Hungry Feeling
Severe stress or depression in birds might cause them to eat a lot and lose weight. Birds whose appetites change should have a thorough examination by a veterinarian to ensure they aren't concealing an underlying ailment, since a diminished appetite may be an indication of a medical condition.
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