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Regardless of
the fact your baby parrot may have been born in captivity, parrots are
still instinctually hardwired to survive in the wild. Unlike dogs
and cats who have been selectively bred and domesticated over several
millennia, parrots have only been bred domestically for a
few generations and therefore they are not that different (physically or
psychologically) from their wild counterparts.
Because parrots are driven by their instinctual needs they may behave in
ways that sometimes makes life frustrating and difficult for both the bird
and their caregivers.
Instinct is the innate
disposition of an animal to perform a behavior in response to specific
external stimuli. Instinctual behavior is an inherited
mechanism that promotes the survival of an animal or species.
Instincts are preprogrammed and the actions performed are not dependent
on prior experience. The good news is that the more intelligent
the animal, the more adaptable and flexible the behavior.
A parrot's above average intelligence makes it possible for these
essentially "wild" animals to learn new behaviors and to adapt to our environment given
the proper guidance, socialization and enrichments.
Difficulties most often arise in a
parrot's household when it's human family doesn't understand what it's
like to be an essentially wild being living in a domestic environment.
Some bird owner's become frustrated when birds fail to adhere to our
common rules of etiquette or practice the subtleties of living in a
civilized society. For example:
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Chewing our most prized possessions
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Waking the household by screaming in the early
morning
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Redecorating our floors and walls with wasted
food
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Turning into "beaks of death" when we
dare to touch their food bowls
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Attacking anyone who comes near their
"special" person
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Getting a little too "amorous" with their
favorite toy or special person
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Attempting to exit through the nearest wall
when something as innocuous as a balloon floats by
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