The Parrot–Owner Relationship and Problem Behaviors in Parrots

Abstract

ABSTRACT While parrots are popular birds to keep as pets, little is known about the relationship between them and their owners and about the frequency of the problematic behaviors they display. The data for this study were collected using an anonymous questionnaire that consisted of three parts: basic questions about owners and their parrots; a “Parrot Owner Relationship Scale” (PORS), modified from the “Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale” (MDORS); and questions about the frequency of behavioral problems in the parrots. The questionnaire, shared on social media, yielded 354 respondents. A principal component analysis (PCA) of the PORS revealed a picture very similar to that previously found for dog owners. The components were “Owner interaction,” “Emotional closeness,” and “Perceived cost,” and they explained 42% of the total variance, with all three components exceeding Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.72. The PORS subscales were similar to those obtained from the MDORS, indicating that relationships between owners and their parrots can be described in similar terms to those used to describe the relationships between owners and their dogs. Answers related to behavioral problems were given on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1 = never and 5 = always. A low frequency of behavioral problems was reported (between 1.14 and 3.23), with the three most common being excessive vocalizations (3.23), fearful behavior (2.33), and the parrot stealing human food (2.34). A PCA revealed three components, “Aggression,” “Fear,” and “Non-social behavior,” that explained 45% of the variance. The Aggression component was associated with all aspects of the social relationship with the owner. Thus all three components that were used to quantify the relationship between an owner and their parrot had measurable associations with the parrot’s aggression.