Effects of rearing methods on feather-damaging behavior and corticosterone metabolite excretion in the peach-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis Vieillot)

Evaluation of welfare indicators for companion parrots: a Delphi consultation survey

“…We presented participants with factors that may impact companion parrot welfare, according to common knowledge or previous experimental studies. Participants concurred with most of these statements that are supported by scientific evidence, reaching consensus for 11 out of 17 statements, thereby further validating the impact of diet 6,59,60 , hand-rearing 59,[61][62][63] , of being wild-caught 59,64 and acquisition before weaning 59,61 on parrot welfare. Several of these factors, particularly those related to acquisition or rearing, are difficult or even impossible to alter, but could nevertheless still guide a prospective parrot's owner in choosing the right companion parrot, thus reducing the risks of experiencing poor welfare.…”

“…relative small brain size, foraging style that does not required extensive food handling) that were found to be linked to a lower likelihood to develop feather damaging behaviour and stereotypies when kept as companion animals 65 . Nevertheless, even if these seven species are perceived as more suitable companions, all of them, budgerigars 80,81,86,87 , cockatiels [88][89][90][91] , conures 67 , lovebirds 63,67 , pacific parrotlets (Forpus coelestis) 67 and monk parakeets 6 , can show signs of poor welfare when kept in inappropriate conditions. As the results regarding specific species' suitability as a companion animal were not processed in multiple rounds, further research should be performed to validate these findings, and evaluate in further detail whether and which biological characteristics would render a species more or less adaptable to the domestic environment.…”

What We (Don’t) Know about Parrot Welfare: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Rearing methods also emerged as a crucial risk (developmental) factor that may impact parrots’ quality of life and welfare. Neonatal handling of parent-reared chicks resulted in reduced aggressiveness and fear-related and feather damaging behaviours in later life (68, 111), whereas hand-rearing was linked to these problematic behaviours (80, 81, 112). However, given that hand-rearing might induce irreversible changes, the results observed from the studies should be used with informative and preventive purpose, as these cannot be changed after weaning.…”