Comportamentos anormais de psitacídeos: Como evitá-los?

Abstract

To ensure well-being in captivity, it is essential to understand how psittacines behave naturally, as many behavioral changes arise when their basic needs are not met. Because they are active and intelligent birds, any lack of stimulation can result in stress and frustration. This is the theme of the sixth episode of the Psitaflix series, a set of videos produced by the extension project "Knowing, respecting and producing birds: didactic and alternative models in the teaching and learning process," developed by undergraduate, graduate, and faculty students from the Laboratory for the Breeding and Incubation of Wild and Exotic Animals (LACRIAS) at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). The video explains that behaviors such as feather plucking, repetitive pacing, incessant screaming, or self-mutilation are signs of compromised well-being, since in nature these birds spend the day flying, exploring, and foraging. To avoid these problems, the use of environmental enrichment is highlighted, making the environment more stimulating through toys, varied perches, food challenges, sensory stimuli, social interaction, and cognitive activities. The goal is to make the routine in captivity more similar to what the bird would do in the wild, allowing it to express natural behaviors and reduce abnormal attitudes. Providing these stimuli is not a luxury, but a necessity to guarantee a dignified, active, and healthy life for any psittacine under human care.