Providing life-changing care and environment for special needs avian species in Minnesota.
DID YOU KNOW? Regular cage cleaning is important to prevent respiratory infections in parrots - and their humans too. We recommend daily spot checks and regular deep cleans using a bird-safe disinfectant when cleaning cages, perches and toys to prevent the build-up of harmful toxins such as ammonia, bacteria and fungus in the environment. We clean cages daily and power wash them thoroughly when weather permits.
#MAARS #parrots #Sanctuary #cockatoos #nonprofit
To conclude this series: Parrots don’t leave their instincts behind in captivity.
They adapt, they cope, they learn—but they are still wild animals at their core.
What we’re seeing here isn’t “behavior” to fix.
It’s communication. It’s expression. It’s survival, shaped by an environment that wasn’t built for them.
Understanding that changes everything about how we care for them.
#MAARS #Parrots #Sanctuary #Cockatoos #Nonprofit
Selected References
* Athan, M., & Deter, D. (2015). The Parrot Who Owns Me.
* AVMA. (2020). Welfare Implications of Non-Domestic Species as Pets.
* Baratay, É., & Hardouin-Fugier, E. (2002). Zoo: A History of Zoological Gardens in the West.
* Bradshaw, G. (2014). Carnivore Minds (comparative captivity impacts).
* Engebretson, M. (2006). The welfare and suitability of parrots as companion animals. Animal Welfare, 15, 263–276.
* Larson, G., & Fuller, D. (2014). The evolution of animal domestication. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics.
* Mason, G., & Rushen, J. (2006). Stereotypic Animal Behaviour.
* Meehan, C., Millam, J., & Mench, J. (2003). Foraging opportunity and parrot welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
* Price, E. O. (1984; 2002). Behavioral aspects of animal domestication.
* Trut, L., Oskina, I., & Kharlamova, A. (2009). Animal domestication and stress biology.
* van Zeeland, Y. et al. (2009). Feather damaging behaviour in parrots.
* Zeder, M. (2012). The domestication of animals. Journal of Anthropological Research.
