Small Project and Travel Awards
Stereotypic behaviour in parrots
UFAW part-funded a research project by MSc student Emma Mellor who explored risk factors for stereotypic behaviour in parrots, behaviour which may indicate compromised welfare. According to Emma, captive parrots may display a range of stereotypies such as wire chewing, route tracing, pacing, corner flipping, and feather damaging behaviour. She found that birds in full or partial contact with another bird, those in larger cages, and those with a wider captive diet were significantly less likely to exhibit whole body stereotypic behaviour. She questions the ethicality of housing parrots singly, as is common practice with pets and in laboratories.
