Parrots are highly intelligent, long-lived birds whose behavioral needs are rarely met in captivity. Feather plucking, screaming, and aggression signal chronic welfare problems in many pet parrots.
Parrots placed in undersized cages with insufficient social contact and mental stimulation develop serious behavioral and psychological problems. Feather plucking, stereotypic rocking, and aggression are signs of welfare compromise that commonly develop when parrot needs go unmet. The mismatch between what parrots need and what most households can provide makes them among the most difficult companion animals to keep well.