Just like humans, birds of all kinds can experience stress and all sorts of little things can throw them off balance, whether that’s moving to a new house, aviary relocation within the home, bad weather outside, construction noises… birds really are very sensitive little beings and anything can trigger them, so it’s wise to make sure you know what signs to look out for.
How to tell if your bird is stressed
There are lots of symptoms to keep an eye open for that suggest your bird might be stressed, including feather picking where they start plucking out their own feathers, typically on the inner thigh, the chest and under the wing.
Also watch out for the appearance of stress bars, which are little lines that run crossways along the feather shaft, as well as loss of appetite, a change in vocalisation and repetitive behaviour. Aggression can also indicate stress, so watch out for anything like hissing, biting, screaming and lunging.
What to do if your bird is stressed out
Firstly, you need to work out whatever it is that’s causing this level of emotional distress in your bird. If it’s something like an unfamiliar object, a colour they don’t like or similar, simply removing it should address the problem.
However, if you can’t determine the cause of the issue, or if your bird’s behaviour starts to become increasingly problematic, speaking to a vet can be beneficial, as they’ll be able to help you devise a treatment plan and provide medication as necessary.
Whatever you don’t do, don’t shout at your bird. This will only serve to make it more stressed, frightened and agitated, exacerbating the situation exponentially.
Can feeding your bird reduce their stress levels?
Interestingly, you can potentially help keep stress at bay by feeding your bird high-quality bird food and engaging with them in this way.
Making sure that your birds follow a healthy well-balanced diet can make a huge difference to their general health, mental, physical and emotional.
If there are any nutritional imbalances or deficiencies, stress-related behaviours can quickly manifest, so if you’re worried about your pets make sure that you’re consistent with their feeding, giving them high-quality nutrition that’s tailored to their species and particular needs.
You can also use food as an enrichment exercise, helping to keep boredom at bay. Hand-feeding your birds will help you build up a sense of mutual trust, for example, or you could give them their food in a puzzle toy so they have to use their brains to work out how to get to the tasty treats. Mental stimulation in this way is sure to keep stress at bay!
And don’t forget that variety is the spice of life. You can also help your birds tackle stress successfully by ensuring that they get a wide range of different foods. Birds can eat a huge amount, so find out what they like, what will help them stay healthy – and then keep their food bowls well stocked!
