Highly intelligent parrots in captivity are frequently at risk of experiencing mental health problems, as highlighted by a recent study that connects their brain size to harmful behaviors like feather plucking, indicating unmet psychological needs.

According to the research, while all parrot species present their own challenges as pets, more intelligent species have specific welfare requirements that make adapting to captivity particularly difficult. The study indicates that parrots on a "crunchy" diet are especially prone to behavioral issues such as feather destruction, a sign of welfare concerns. These findings extend beyond parrots, potentially aiding in the understanding of mental health issues in other intelligent animals like whales, elephants, and great apes.

Why do certain animals struggle with mental health when kept in captivity? Behavioral biologist Georgia Mason, a professor at the University of Guelph, expresses her curiosity about why some species adapt well to human life while others do not. She points out that this has been a known issue since the earliest domestication attempts, noting, “It’s no accident that we don’t farm gazelles, for example.”

Recent advancements in statistical methods allow researchers to analyze why some species are naturally resilient in captivity while others face greater risks. These phylogenetic comparative methods (PCMs) leverage historical lineage relationships to test evolutionary theories.

Mason chose to focus on parrots due to their remarkable diversity, with at least 350 recognized species today, though some experts believe there are many more.

Mason shares her personal interest in this area, noting the increasing populations of ring-necked parakeets in the suburbs of London, which sparked her curiosity about their adaptability in captivity—though her assumptions were ultimately proven incorrect.

The study aims to uncover the environmental factors and husbandry practices that may place certain parrot species at a higher risk of developing mental health issues. Among the most common destructive behaviors in pet parrots is feather plucking. Previous studies show that 10–15% of pet parrots exhibit feather-damaging behavior, with African grey parrots experiencing rates as high as 40%, while Senegal parrots rarely show such tendencies.

Importantly, parrots remain undomesticated, despite many being tame enough to coexist with humans. The stark differences between their wild and captive living conditions lead to significant mismatches in social dynamics, foraging opportunities, and cognitive challenges.

The social complexity mismatch hypothesis suggests that many wild parrot species thrive in intricate social groups, while most pet parrots live in isolation, which can be particularly stressful for social species and contribute to mental health challenges.

Wild parrots typically spend 40–75% of their waking hours foraging, while captive parrots often have limited food variety, reducing their foraging time to less than an hour daily. Moreover, the diets provided to pet parrots often consist only of manufactured pellets, failing to fulfill their natural dietary needs.

The third mismatch is physical confinement in small cages, which restricts opportunities for exploration, decision-making, and problem-solving. This confinement has been shown to adversely affect the mental health of various intelligent species, including primates.

To investigate these mismatches, Mason collaborated with Heather McDonald and researchers from the University of Bristol and Utrecht University. They conducted a 15-month online survey involving nearly 1,400 pet parrots across 50 species, gathering data on abnormal behaviors like feather plucking and cage-biting, alongside their housing conditions and diets.

Due to the rarity of breeding in pet parrots, they referred to the Psittacine Captive Breeding Survey, which documented breeding success in over 31,000 captive parrots in 1991.

The analysis revealed two main risks to parrot welfare. Firstly, species that naturally consume a "crunchy" diet were more likely to exhibit feather-related destructive behaviors. This may stem from an innate need to manipulate hard foods or a deficiency of specific nutrients found in their natural diets.

Mason remarks, “We can’t determine the relative importance of these factors, but we recommend providing nuts, seeds, and whole fruits with tough skins and making processed foods challenging to access.”

Secondly, the study indicates that parrot species with larger brains are more prone to stereotypic behaviors, such as repetitive cage-biting and pacing. For example, cockatiels and Jandaya parakeets generally adapt well to captivity, while larger-brained species like Nanday parakeets and some cockatoos show more mental health issues.

Mason expressed surprise that the study linked higher intelligence with increased psychological challenges for parrots in captivity. She noted that intelligent parrots often thrive in urban settings, but this adaptability does not translate to captivity.

This suggests that high intelligence may complicate their adjustment to life with humans, despite benefiting free-flying populations in urban environments.

Another unexpected finding was that higher sociality did not correlate with greater welfare issues in captive parrots. Mason acknowledges that the measure of sociality used was too simplistic to capture the complexity of relationships among parrots, which may have been established when they were young.

The implications of these findings extend beyond captive parrots, raising ethical and conservation concerns, particularly since about half of the world’s 100 million parrots live in captivity.

While pet parrots are evolutionary "dead ends," Mason argues that they should be sourced from breeders rather than the wild. Optimizing welfare in breeding facilities could enhance success rates for captive breeding.

Mason and her team suggest enriching the lives of captive parrots through more complex environments and cognitive challenges. Recommendations include larger aviaries, puzzle toys, and a varied diet that mirrors their natural food sources.

For potential parrot owners, Mason emphasizes the importance of providing adequate stimulation and selecting species suited to their lifestyle.

In conclusion, enhancing the welfare of captive parrots is essential not just for their mental health but also for broader conservation efforts.

Source: Emma L. Mellor, Heather K. McDonald Kinkaid, Michael T. Mendl, Innes C. Cuthill, Yvonne R. A. van Zeeland, and Georgia J. Mason (2021). Nature calls: intelligence and natural foraging style predict poor welfare in captive parrots, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2882021195220211952 | doi: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1952

Originally published at Forbes.com on 18 October 2021.