Rachel Lees, RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior)Behavior problems are a common cause of relinquishment and euthanasia in most domesticated species, including parrots. When obtaining a new pet, clients have specific expectations and ideas about what normal behavior looks like for each species. Whether they have a dog, cat, bird, or guinea pig, these choices are most likely made from a positive experience the client had in the past.
But what happens when things do not go as planned? What if expectations are too high and the pet obtained is unable to live up to the client’s expectations? Biting, screaming, and feather picking are parrot behaviors that many new owners are not prepared for when they acquire their pet. In the avian world, euthanasia is much less likely as most veterinarians are hesitant to end a bird’s life due to the client’s convenience, but this makes it more likely that the bird will be rehomed multiple times.
What if we were able to prepare our avian clients for behavioral problems before they start? What if avian rescues could work to teach birds specific cued behaviors to help eliminate aggression in some of these pets?
Psittacine preparatory programs or avian prep programs can be life-changing for birds and a great resource for owners to understand normal bird behavior, create realistic long-term expectations, and work toward creating an environment that is mentally and behaviorally enriching. They also help teach cued foundation behaviors used to eliminate and replace unwanted behaviors (just as we do with dogs and cats). Avian prep programs can help to strengthen the human-animal bond, keep birds in a home long-term, and increase the bond between client, bird, and clinic. Bonus: offering such programs also increases revenue through fees and the sale of products and treats.
Creating the Course
Who will teach the courses? What are the most important topics to teach? What foundation behaviors are most important and why? These are all great questions and we will break them down below:
Educator/Instructor: An avian veterinarian or veterinary technician with a special interest in birds should instruct this course. The individual should be knowledgeable in avian communication, body language, forms of enrichment, and use of positive reinforcement for training. An exotic-animal trainer may be an ideal instructor if one is in your area. This trainer should use and recommend positive reinforcement. Avoid use of aversive training techniques, which can increase fear, stress, and anxiety in all species.
Curriculum Breakdown
I recommend creating a four-week course. The first two weeks can be taught virtually or in person without the client’s bird present. The goal in the first two weeks will be to review the basics of avian communication, enrichment and environmental set up, learning theory and use of positive reinforcement (with a marker), and answer client questions. The third and fourth classes will focus on teaching cued behaviors with the birds present in the hospital. (See the chart below)
To prevent potential disease transmission or other risks for birds brought to class, take the following measures:
- Waiver (indicating risk to client, bird, etc.)
- One owner per bird
- Clients should bring their own equipment and reinforcers (carriers, towels, etc.)
- Birds will need to have a current examination by a veterinarian, complete blood cell count, and Chlamydophila screening in the past year.
- Old World parrots such as African greys, lovebirds, and cockatiels must have a negative test for circovirus
- All unwanted behaviors (feather picking, etc) should have been medically worked up prior to working solely on behavior.
| Class |
Topic and Discussion Points |
| Class One (Humans Only) |
· Introduction and Client Problem Behavior Discussion (Why are they here and what are they seeing at home?)· Avian Communication
· Environmental Enrichment/Management |
| Class Two (Humans Only) |
· Environmental Enrichment/Management (cont.)· Learning Theory and Using Marker Training
· Marker Mechanics and Preparing for Birds in Class |
| Class Three (Humans and Birds) |
Break down into 5- to 10-minute training sessions with short breaks in between.· Name Orientation
· Target
· Step to Me
· Off
· Station Training |
| Class Four (Humans and Birds) |
Break down into 5- to 10-minute training sessions with short breaks in between.· Name Orientation
· Target
· Step to Me
· Off
· Station Training |
Foundation Behaviors to Teach
The following behaviors can be useful to have trained and generalized prior to problem behaviors starting. Response Substitution is a term used when we want to replace an unwanted behavior with a new behavior. Teaching and creating strong cued behaviors can help to eliminate and give alternative responses in situations involving attention-seeking or aggression.
Name Orientation: Teaching birds their name can help with obtaining their attention to interrupt unwanted behaviors and ask them to offer a different behavior.
Target Training: This behavior can be used to teach the bird to move from one place to another by teaching them to place their beak near the target.
Step to Me: Cue a bird to move to handler’s arm or hand to be transported from one place to another.
Off: Cue bird to move off of handler during periods where conflict may occur.
Station Training: Teach bird to go to a specific location on cue. This can be used as an alternative behavior.
Avian prep programs and training classes are currently scarce but ideally courses like this will become as routine as dog training classes. Pet birds deserve just as much of a chance to be successful in the home environment as dogs or cats. If you or others you know are teaching a course like this, please update us on the Fear Free for Professionals Facebook Group. We would love to see your photos and ideas for these courses as well as your feedback!
Resources
Luescher, Andrew. Manual of Parrot Behavior. Blackwell Publishing. 2006
Shaw, Julie K. and Martin, Debbie. Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2015.
This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.
Rachel Lees, an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, is a veterinary technician specialist in behavior, a KPA certified training partner, and veterinary behavior technician at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She loves helping people create and maintain a strong human-animal bond.
