Aussie Finch Forum

Hi All,
An exciting new study has revealed that healthy parrots prefer working for their food to eating from a bowl. Parrots involved in feather-plucking, however, go right to their bowls and show no interest in solving problems that led to food rewards. I think this research is important to all who share their homes with parrots. Some progress was also made in developing a medication for birds that have begun to damage their plumage. I have dealt with feather-plucking even in well-run zoos; it’s a sad and frustrating condition, and I hope that this new work points the way to some solutions. Read article here http://bit.ly/1h147Xs
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Thanks, Frank
My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with http://bitly.com/LC8Lbp

I would agree that complete nutrition may not be enough if you don't work for it. The ancient Greeks espoused that the purpose of life was to work. In the fable of Sisyphus, his endless task was to roll a boulder uphill only to see it roll back down. To have succeeded may have ended his punishment for life but would to have left him without purpose. It's surprising that some promote moving parrots & finches onto crumbles rather than letting them eat seed - wastes nothing but their minds. The very act of foraging (finding, selecting, manipulating and dehulling seed) provides some stimulation and environmental enrichment in the simplified world of the aviary.

The ancient Greeks espoused that the purpose of life was to work.

As of now all Greeks are banned from my property!

As for the feather plucking. Social interaction plays a very large part in: to pluck or not to pluck.

cheers, case