PTSD and the Parrot

[Wolf]

I was visiting one of the other parrot forums of which I am a member when I ran across the story of an Umbrella Cockatoo whose previous owner shot himself in an attempted suicide.
Although the parrot is well cared for and loved and has been for several years the bird shows many of the symptoms of PTSD the same as if he were a human. One of the other members posted a link related to PTSD and its effects on most of our birds that are in captivity that I really thought that we could all benefit from reading. So here is the link http://www.maars.org/news/announcements ... 8/ptsd.php
Please read and let me know your thoughts.

[liz]

With humans a person can adjust and seem to be okay. I controlled it for 40 years until something happened and it cam fludding back. Even with therapy this time I can't make it go away.

It would be the same with parrots. It would be harder with them. The human may not understand and think the bird went bad.

[Pajarita]

Needless to say, I agree 100% with the premise that captivity creates such emotional and physical stress in parrots that the effects linger for the rest of their lives.

And another two good ones on the same subject:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/be ... s-not-sing

http://www.upc-online.org/thinking/parr ... impact.pdf

[liz]

I get very emotional when I think of things the birds have gone through. I have heard all kinds of horror stories.

I recently saw a video on Facebook about an IRN. His owner gave him a toy Angry Bird. He knew the expression and asked the toy "what's wrong". They know and feel much more than they are given credit for.

I don't think Rambo remembers his bad times since he was very young. I really hope that Myrtle has forgotten.

[Wolf]

I certainly hope that they have forgotten, but it is not really a matter of whether they remember or not, it is a matter of the effects that these traumas have on them.

[liz]

I guess I have the lucky ones. Rambo was very young when he was stolen from a negligent human. He was loved and cared for like a child even though she did not feed him right. After 15 years a family situation made her want to put him up for sale. All I knew about him is that he thought he was a kid and I could not let a kid be sold so I took him from her. He in no way suffered from the change. Instead of being an only child he went to leader of the pack. So much so that when she came to visit, he hid. I had to search to find him hiding in a cardboard box sitting quietly. He gave me a look like "don't tell on me".

It was a lot different for Myrtle. She bonded to Rambo even if he did not want her. She depended on me but it took her 4 years to relax enough to present her head for scratches. I believe it was only because she came in season and needed physical contact. She is now so social that she will fly to anyone who comes in the house.

I have rattled on but I do agree that animals suffer PTSD. All of my critters are rescues and one in particular has flash backs. All I can do is hold him and talk to him when he is scared. I wish I knew what he went through so I could help him get over it.

[Pajarita]

Liz, you are missing the point. It's not that parrots suffer PTSD because of bad treatment, it's that they ALL suffer from it because they were born, raised and kept in captivity regardless of how well they are treated.