Isolation ages parrots, too

[Kentuckienne]

Facebook post..

https://faunalytics.org/reference-item/not-alone-universal-dangers-social-isolation/

 

[Scott]

Great article, Karen! I have no doubt socialization is key to the longevity of our fids!

 

[YUMgrinder]

Do you think this means parrots that don't share their space with members of the same species get old fast too? What about my birds where they each have their own cage and are of different species but they do perch together when I am home and I allow them to interact with each other. Hmmmmmm

 

[SailBoat]

Do you think this means parrots that don't share their space with members of the same species get old fast too? What about my birds where they each have their own cage and are of different species but they do perch together when I am home and I allow them to interact with each other. Hmmmmmm

Great question!!

What the article is defining and what many of the members here have commented on over the many years of Parrot Forum is that our Parrots are highly social beings. They are hardwired, much as Humans to seek-out and be part of their family and larger group(s). Social interaction creates an active healthy want to be an active part of their group. Parrots bond with their family and mate. That bond provides meaning and stimulates the Brain. A stimulated Brain is an active Brain, which staves-off the effects of aging!

When Parrot are with Humans, they participate in same bonding and need to be part of this family! The Bonds are just as deep and the want to an active part of that family is just as strong.

When separated from social interactions, all that is stated above slows, as does the Brain. The seen effects are both mental and physical!


FYI: Thanks Karen, great article!

 

[Flboy]

Do you think this means parrots that don't share their space with members of the same species get old fast too? What about my birds where they each have their own cage and are of different species but they do perch together when I am home and I allow them to interact with each other. Hmmmmmm

Great question!!

What the article is defining and what many of the members here have commented on over the many years of Parrot Forum is that our Parrots are highly social beings. They are hardwired, much as Humans to seek-out and be part of their family and larger group(s). Social interaction creates an active healthy want to be an active part of their group. Parrots bond with their family and mate. That bond provides meaning and stimulates the Brain. A stimulated Brain is an active Brain, which staves-off the effects of aging!

When Parrot are with Humans, they participate in same bonding and need to be part of this family! The Bonds are just as deep and the want to an active part of that family is just as strong.

When separated from social interactions, all that is stated above slows, as does the Brain. The seen effects are both mental and physical!


FYI: Thanks Karen, great article!

This gives credence to this line of thought!
Loneliness impacts DNA repair: The long and the short of telomeres

 

[GaleriaGila]

This makes me feel awful about the years (decades) that the Rb had to be alone all day while I worked. Now that I am retired, I kiss his feathered butt to try to make it up. I still wonder if I made the right decision after having him through college... keeping him, I mean, but I did. Who imagined I really had to go to work after school???? Couldn't part with the little rooster, though.
Thanks, Ms. K.
Fascinating.

 

[Teddscau]

Do you think this means parrots that don't share their space with members of the same species get old fast too? What about my birds where they each have their own cage and are of different species but they do perch together when I am home and I allow them to interact with each other. Hmmmmmm

You raise a good point. Don't quote me on this since I know next to nothing about this topic, but I think as long as they get the same social satisfaction as they would from interacting with members of their own species, their telomeres should be fine. However, when housed separately, they should have their cages positioned in such a way that they can comfortably observe one another without becoming agitated due to lack of physical contact, and be allowed to spend time supervised together out of their cages (if it is safe).

 

[Kentuckienne]

What disturbs me most is that the study didn't say that the birds were kept in isolation - just that they were not kept with others of their kind. The report is lacking detail...were these beloved pets who got lots of human interaction? If so, it means the human company didn't have as much of an effect on telomeres as fellow parrot company. The birds were studied during vet visits, which means the owners cared enough to get care for them and they weren't being totally neglected. It may be that while parrots can provide a close substitute for human companions, maybe humans don't provide the same equivalence for parrots.

 

[SailBoat]

I saw that and elected to discount it based on the general weakness of the referencing. Junk Science has become so common that I tend to read them and seek-out the tiny pieces that are supported. To a degree dangerous.

As part of my response, I had failed to comment on those points as I was targeting the importance of the Parrot /Human need to interact and the positive benefits both ways. In addition, I tend to project from my interaction levels and the seen response and benefits.

If there is anyplace that we as Companion Parrot owners underestimate our Parrot's needs, it is the on-going communication between our Parrots and their Human Families! Parrots that are part of their family, located center of the activity and participate in that activity is my reference point.

 

[Kentuckienne]

This makes me feel awful about the years (decades) that the Rb had to be alone all day while I worked. Now that I am retired, I kiss his feathered butt to try to make it up. I still wonder if I made the right decision after having him through college... keeping him, I mean, but I did. Who imagined I really had to go to work after school???? Couldn't part with the little rooster, though.
Thanks, Ms. K.
Fascinating.

We never know. Say you re home a parrot, he gets over it and falls in love with the new parront, has a great year being spoiled rotten, then picks up an infection from a visitor and dies. There's no way to be sure what's right. Especially with an ornery bird like the RB, who might have bitten and chewed his way out of several homes...he seems to have done all right with you. Now, Rival might be willing to use the Wayback Machine to change decisions...but there's no backsies for any of us.

 

[Cardinal]

Sorry for reviving an old thread but this is really sad.

Very sad that a lot of Parrots are kept alone in Cages without any enrichment and social interaction.

Avin