Psittacine Behavior

Lightfoot, Teresa L.; Nacewicz, Carina L.

doi:10.1016/b978-1-4160-0009-9.50009-8

Cited by 9 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Providing less than 12 hours of darkness per day may cause psychological stress from sleep deprivation and also may increase sexual activity, both of which may manifest as feather picking. 6,9 No differences in the odds of feather picking were found with any of these housing characteristics, but most study birds were housed alone and were not moved to a different location or cage at night.…”

Section: Environmental Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Cockatoos have been characterized as needing extensive interaction with their human owners 9 and being more predisposed to anxiety due to social deprivation, resulting in feather damaging behaviors (B. Speer, 2011, oral communication). A diagnosis of feather picking secondary to attention-seeking behavior or separation anxiety should be explored for these birds, along with other behavioral diagnoses.…”

Section: Bird Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although few etiologic or epidemiologic studies of feather picking in pet birds have been done, the disorder has been characterized based on possible medical 3 and nonmedical 4,5 etiologies. For nonmedical or behavioral feather picking, the differential diagnoses that have been considered include, but are not limited to, separation anxiety, 6 attention seeking, 7 compulsive disorder, 8 lack of mental stimulation, 9 displacement behavior secondary to stressors, 6,9 and prolonged reproductive behavior. 9 The diagnostic criteria for many of these disorders, in other species, can be found elsewhere.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nonmedical Factors Associated With Feather Picking in Pet Psittacine Birds

Gaskins¹,

Hungerford²

2014

Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery

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A nested case-control study was performed to determine nonmedical risk factors associated with feather picking in psittacine birds. Forty-two case birds, reported by their owners to pick their feathers, and 126 unaffected birds were compared. The odds of feather picking were higher in 2 species categories, African grey parrots (Psitticus erithacus, adjusted odds ratio [ORadj = 8.4, P < .001) and cockatoos (Cacatua species, ORadj = 12.7, P < .001). The odds of feather picking also were higher for birds that were out of their cages more than 8 hours per day (ORadj = 7.4, P < .001) and for birds that had been taken in by the owner as a "rescue" (ORadj = 4.7, P < .01). The odds of feather picking decreased by almost 90% (ORadj = 0.1, P < .005) for birds that interacted with people at least 4 hours a day. These findings identify characteristics that practitioners may want to include when asking bird owners about behavioral history and may be useful in focusing future research regarding this behavior.

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Section: Environmental Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Bird Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nonmedical Factors Associated With Feather Picking in Pet Psittacine Birds

Gaskins¹,

Hungerford²

2014

Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery

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“…30 Possible medical causes are bacterial or fungal dermatitis, trauma, endo-or ectoparasites, nutritional deficiencies, hepatopathies, endocrinopathies, viral infection, neoplasia, and heavy metal toxicosis. [30][31][32] Recent studies indicate that bacterial or fungal dermatitis may be unlikely causes for feather-damaging behavior. 4,33 Although rare, in cases of bacterial dermatitis and folliculitis associated with feather-damaging behavior, staphylococci are assumed to be the most likely infectious agents, 27,34 but it is not known whether staphylococci are commensal in parrots.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus–Associated Dermatitis in a Congo African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus)

Briscoe¹,

Morris²,

Rankin³

et al. 2008

Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery

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A 2-year-old DNA-sexed female Congo African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus) was evaluated for self-trauma of the feathers and skin of the tail base for a duration of more than 1 year. All rectrices and tail coverts were missing, the skin of the tail base was thickened and ulcerated, and the uropygial gland was swollen. Results of a complete blood cell count revealed relative monocytosis and basophilia. Survey radiographs showed truncation and lysis of the caudal vertebrae and pygostyle. Results of biopsy and bacterial culture of the tail base lesions revealed an ulcerative bacterial dermatitis positive for staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type IV (community-acquired) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The bird was treated with oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, meloxicam, fluoxetine, topical lidocaine gel, and hydrotherapy. One month later, tail feather regrowth was evident; however, follow-up over 2 years found continued self-trauma to the rectrices in spite of repeated skin biopsies negative for MRSA or other bacteria. It is unknown if the MRSA cultured from this bird was commensal or acquired from either the environment or humans to which the bird was exposed.

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“…The owner's response can influence behaviour, with punishment or distraction techniques reinforcing FDB, as the attention and reaction garnered may be perceived by the bird as positive (Lightfoot and Nacewicz 2006). …”

Section: History Takingmentioning

confidence: 99%