Advanced parrot welfare recognizes these highly intelligent birds as cognitively and socially complex animals with behavioral needs that are rarely met in typical companion settings.
Companion parrot welfare is one of the most challenging areas in exotic animal care because the cognitive and social complexity of parrots creates needs that are extremely difficult to meet in typical home settings. Parrots evolved for flight, foraging complexity, rich social lives and constant cognitive stimulation. The frustration of these motivations leads to feather destructive behavior, self-mutilation, excessive vocalization and aggression. Advanced welfare for companion parrots requires flight opportunities, foraging-based feeding, social contact with appropriate companions, and cognitive challenges commensurate with their intelligence. The welfare reality is that the vast majority of companion parrots live in conditions that do not meet their behavioral needs.