Responses to Stress in Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) with and Without Feather Damaging Behavior

In various animal species (e.g. laying hens, pigs) a high correlation exists between a proactive coping style (i.e. response to stress) and the occurrence of behavioral problems (e.g. feather pecking, tail biting) (1-5). Based on analogies with feather pecking in laying hens, it is hypothesized that a similar correlation between feather damaging behavior (fDB) and proactive coping styles is present in parrots (6). findings of a pilot study, conducted under standardized conditions in a parrot refuge, support this hypothesis (unpublished observations). the current study was designed to determine whether the previously found correlation between fDB and type of coping style could also be demonstrated in a larger cohort of parrots.

Ninety-five privately owned grey parrots (with and without fDB) were subjected to three behavioral tests (i.e. open field test, novel object test and Manual restraint test, performed at the university clinic). in these tests both behavioral and neurophysiologi- cal parameters were analyzed to determine the birds’ coping styles.

In contrast to the previous pilot study, no significant differences were found between parrots with and without fDB. results may, however, have been influenced by various external factors (e.g. stress due to traveling or separation from the owner) that could have influenced the parrots’ responses in the tests performed at the clinic. it may be concluded that the current study design has limited applications in future research and adjustments have to be made to enable analysis of coping styles in privately owned parrots with and without fDB.