Have you ever walked out of the room for a few minutes and come back only to find that your bird has chewed, shredded, or destroyed something you didn’t expect them to? It seems no material is safe. Books, walls, furniture, and clothing are some of the most common victims of our parrot's powerful beaks. We know that birds love to chew and shred, but why do they do it - and how can we encourage this natural behavior without all the damage? Let’s learn a little about our destructive flock members and what motivates their crimes against our possessions.

Parrots Use Their Beaks to Interact With the World 

In the wild, parrots spend most of their day being quite active. This includes foraging in and exploring their environment. They can spend up to about eight hours a day foraging for food including using their beaks to break open the shells of nuts and thick-skinned fruit. Some will even use them to tear and strip bark to get access to insects. During nesting times, they also use their beaks to chew, break down, and burrow hollows in wood and create nesting materials out of wood in the form of flakes, chips, and dust. This helps to keep eggs and chicks cushioned and stable within the nest. 

But beaks can also be used to test and manipulate things around their environment. Parrots have nerve-rich papillae in their beaks to allow them to feel textures and handle objects with precision. This helps them with foraging, nesting, climbing, and judging the stability and usefulness of objects in their environment. So, a parrot uses their beak constantly throughout the day and it’s an important part of how they interact with the world. It is completely natural and necessary for parrots to use their beaks constantly. 

Parrots Will Always Chew - So What Do We Do?

With what we know about how important and natural it is for a parrot to use their beaks often, they should not be discouraged from chewing altogether. Not only would this attempt fail, it would also prevent them from expressing a very normal, healthy bird behavior. Instead, they should be encouraged to chew on appropriate materials. If a person provides their bird with enough enrichment and safe materials to chew and shred, they are more likely to protect the stuff in their homes that they don’t want destroyed. Some birds prefer certain kinds of wood, paper, and other materials. Giving them what they enjoy can keep them busy and happy. The good news is that there are sorts of safe kinds of materials that birds can sink their beaks into. Toys can be purchased or made from materials around the house and even perches and certain foods can give them something to chew on.

When it comes to parrots (and most animals - including humans) variety is the spice of life. Offering them a variety of different kinds of safe materials with different ways to engage with them will keep them busy. Parrots love to test our different textures against their beaks. Depending on the kind of wood, for example, they might spend a decent amount of time interacting and testing how it feels and can be manipulated. Try different kinds of toys and activities to see what your parrot likes best!

Parrots Want to "Chew" With You

Parrots tend to want to be involved in whatever we are doing. That’s part of being in a flock - and as the person who provides them with food and dictates many activities in their day, etc., a bird’s owner is likely seen as the most important member of their flock. If someone is typing on a keyboard or writing with a pencil, for example, their bird may decide that they want to also participate in the activity. This usually involves chewing on and possibly destroying that object. It’s not malicious, it’s just what birds do together. Being a part of a flock means working together to get food, preen each other, and assist in exploring through chewing and manipulating objects together. So, having lots of toys and opportunities to chew and shred alongside the humans in the house doing “human stuff” will help a parrot feel like they are involved while helping to prevent some destruction.

Something that you can do is have many places for a parrot to station around the house, focusing on areas where you will be. For example, by your desk, by your couch, etc. You can put some of their favorite chewing materials on that station for them to have something to do while you do your activities. It doesn't have to be expensive of complicated. Some people use baskets, clothes drying stands, or even just clamp a perch to the side of their desk. You can get creative and make it fun for your bird.

What's the most expensive thing your bird has destroyed? Rest assured, you're not alone. Perhaps every parrot owner has experienced losing something like a book, homework assignment, or even a piece of their wall. It's all about learning  how our birds express normal bird behavior and adjusting to those needs. Peace can be achieved through patience, education, and a little creativity and compromise on our part. 

References:

Baukhagen, HS Starenchak, and MD Engell. “Avian cognition and the implications for captive Parrot Welfare.” Animal Welfare, vol. 31, no. 2, May 2022, pp. 257–267, https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.31.2.009