Combat Avian Stress – Holistically

By
Alicia McWatters, Ph.D, C.N.C.

Problems related to stress or anxiety in pet birds may manifest in psychological and behavioral ways or in physical symptoms, such as self-mutilation of feathers or infection. Stress can cause many ailments, as there is a link between emotional and physical illness. The symptoms of this imbalance are usually emotional at first (agitation) then may become physical (feather-picking) and may eventually lead to illness (bacterial, viral, or organ damage).

All birds carry yeast, bacterial and viral cells but, under healthy conditions, they remain in small numbers and harmless. However, at stressful times, when the immune system is weakened, these opportunistic microorganisms may proliferate and birds then become more vulnerable to the development of an infection. These microorganisms are the result of disease, NOT the cause of it.

When a bird experiences stress, either physically or emotionally, its metabolic response is to activate the sympathetic nervous system. This is a component of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for action during the fight-or-flight response.

Some of the physiological changes that take place are increased sugar and fats into the bloodstream, the production of more adrenaline, cortisol, and glucagon into the blood, a decrease in digestive function, increased blood pressure, heartbeat, breathing rate, muscle tension and, thus, the creation of more energy.

A captive environment usually offers a bird little physical outlet other than chewing (sometimes itself), eating, playing with toys, climbing, or flying about its cage. Consequently, the bird may react to stress by channeling the body’s response to physical distruction, such as feather picking itself or a cage mate, which can be difficult to eradicate once it becomes a normal psychological response.

Stress may also manifest inward to one of the organ systems, such as the nervous system, circulatory, or digestive system. Stress increases the metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. There is an increased excretion of amino acids, potassium, and phosphorus and a decreased storage of calcium.

Vitamin C and other important nutrients are also excreted at a faster rate. During stress, nutrients are depleted from the body rapidly and the immune system becomes depressed. In essence, when a bird is under stress, its whole body is affected.

Feeding your bird a proper diet is extremely important, because disorders that arise from stress are often the result of nutrient deficiencies; the body does not metabolize nutrients well at these times. Chronic stress can harm the nervous system, thereby causing digestive and intestinal upsets.

Stress also leads to hormonal imbalances---adrenal, pituitary, thyroid, thymus and others that further interfere with immune function. Respiratory infections, allergies, eating disorders, diarrhea, and skin and feather problems are a few of the outward symptoms of stress; therefore, additional supplements are useful.

When we talk about stress in birds, we must also invariably talk about the immune system. Immune deficiencies are one of the problems commonly found with breeding and pet birds, and stress often plays a major role in this disorder.

The immune system is essentially made up of white blood cells called B cells and T cells. B cells produce antibodies that aid in the attack against bacterial or viral infections. T cells are responsible for cellular immunity against a variety of illness and disease, such as fungi, parasites, and viruses.

When incorporating the proper foods, vitamins, minerals and specific medicinal herbs into our bird’s diet, we increase the activity and/or number of T and B cells that keep its body healthy and strong. By implementing the above items, along with a clean, comfortable environment, we greatly improve our bird’s constitution, help relieve stress and build better function of its immune system.

You should investigate and detect any subtle or not so subtle disturbances, changes, or threats in your bird’s environment that may cause stress. Think carefully about how you can improve or change any of the things you believe may be negatively affecting your bird’s life. Is your bird experiencing any of the following psychological or biological problems or adverse environmental conditions?

• new pet
• new family member
• guest in the home
• new cage
• incompatible cage mate
• rearrangement of furniture
• remodeling of your home
• new household items, (i.e., furniture, drapes/blinds, etc.)
• a nutritional deficiency/excess/imbalance
• digestive stress
• metabolic disorder
• infection/disease
• medication
• nervous system disorder
• genetic factors
• exposure to environmental toxins (i.e., pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and other air pollutants)
• ingestion of a toxic substance
• a food intolerance
• an allergy to a specific ingredient (i.e., chemical preservatives, sugar, artificial colorings/flavoring, etc.) -- any of these substances may cause hyperactivity
• water contaminants
• hygiene neglect (i.e., dirty cage, infrequent bathing)
• lack of exercise (a cage too small)
• sorrow from the loss of a loved one (owner/mate)
• social stress (i.e., insecurity from frequently absent owner, inconsistent attention from owner)

Other causes of stress are:

• an erratic feeding schedule
• loneliness
• fear
• excess noise
• over-stimulating environment
• insufficient rest
• insufficient or improper light
• travel
• cage relocation
• move to a new home
• seasonal changes -- temperature extremes, breeding tension (i.e., the inability to satisfy breeding urges, the raising and caring for young, chick or egg removal)
• boredom
• disturbance from rodents, insects, wild birds, or household pets
• a traumatic event (i.e., being mishandled, abused by a former owner, or groomed incorrectly by an inexperienced person)
• the maladjustment to captivity and the failure to domesticate

Any of these stress factors may be causing your bird’s uneasiness. Determining the cause requires your ongoing observation and keen insight in order to adjust the situation to alleviate the stress-causing factor(s) as soon as possible. In addition, knowing your bird’s history, such as its previous diet and care, is vital for properly understanding its current stress symptoms.

Remember, some stress-related cases are easier than others to correct. Begin with the generalities of the individual bird’s situation and then narrow them down to specifics.

For instance:

• When (time of day, before or after eating) and where (location) is your bird noticeably experiencing stress symptoms (i.e., feather chewing/picking)?
• Are you feeding a diet that is providing optimum health for your bird or is it only maintaining its health?
• Does the diet contain additives, which may be causing exciting effects?
• Is your bird uncomfortable with its environment in any way (i.e., location of cage, perches, food bowls)?
• Is there an object or toy within the cage that frightens your bird, or is there something outside its cage that may be causing its discontentment?

Remember, the main focus should be on the underlying cause of stress, instead of the stress symptoms. Our birds seem to be more prone to stress by nature with their sensitive, intelligent personalities and this requires that we take their emotional health, as well as their physical health into consideration. In this way, we are truly using a holistic approach for their health needs and are far more likely to succeed in providing them with a stress-free life.

Nature has provided us with many plants that can benefit the nervous system, boost immunity and reduce stress. There are herbs that can be successfully used for our birds to prevent the need for potentially toxic synthetic psychotropic drugs and other invasive means. Whether it is the nervous system or the immune system that becomes compromised, natural medicine has much to offer to aid in recovery from stress.

For chronic feather plucking caused by stress, the typical allopathic treatment is one that is suppressive, not curative. I would always rather see a natural remedy used for behavior modification, than a synthetic drug, which may be potentially damaging to the health of any pet.

There are many modalities that can be used to reduce stress in a bird. Herbs, used correctly, are one way to safely relieve stress. While herbs can moderate the intensity of it, they will rarely remove it. They may exert a calming and restful effect when dealing with stressful situations, but often require you also seek help from various caring professionals (i.e., veterinarian, nutritionist, or behaviorist) to help discover the root cause of the stress your bird is experiencing.

Using herbs wisely takes years of training and experience. If you do not have this training and experience, you should follow the guidance of a holistic healthcare provider before utilizing herbs for your birds.

If you desire holistic care and your bird is presently under the care of an allopathic veterinarian and has been receiving medicine of any type, this information must be released to your holistic healthcare provider. Your holistic healthcare provider will take this into consideration prior to the selection of a natural therapeutic program.

The detoxification of an allopathic drug is often begun immediately through diet, herbs and vitamin therapy. If your bird is being treated for a chronic disease your holistic healthcare provider may prescribe a remedy or treatment that will work positively in conjunction with this medicine and, if possible, will slowly wean your bird from the allopathic medicine to the use of a natural remedy and/or therapy.

The following herbs are used to calm birds and provide them some relief during times of stress, and they are easily incorporated into the diet. They are best known for their calmative properties and are also known as nervines.

• chamomile
• passion flower
• oat straw
• skullcap
• valerian
• kava kava
• lemon balm
• St. John’s wort
• Siberian ginseng

Oat straw, lemon balm, kava kava, and St. John’s wort are noted for their mild anti-depressive abilities.

The above listed herbs can be purchased in capsule form or liquid extract. These products have been standardized or quality controlled for optimum results. They may also be purchased fresh-dried, home-grown or mail ordered.

Herbal supplements are generally available in a combination of two or more herbs or sometimes as a single herb remedy. Certain herbs can be very helpful for advanced stress-related feather-picking, while other calmative herbs have been helpful for mildly stressed non-feather-picking birds. Treatment is generally given no longer than 2 weeks at a time.

Certain herbs, such as ginseng, are known as adaptogens. Adaptogens help a bird cope with stress and a changing environment in a positive way. Herbs that can strengthen and balance the function of the nervous system, hormonal system and consequently affect the immune system are also known as adaptogens.

An adaptogen enhances adrenal gland function, possibly pituitary gland function, relaxes or equalizes the nervous system, and improves the body’s reactions against a variety of stressors whether they are metabolic, physical or psychological in nature.

When using herbs, I determine whether the compound is to be used therapeutically or tonically. If an herb is to be used therapeutically (for acute illness/infection/stress) it is used for a short period of time (1 to 2 weeks) or five days on, five days off, etc. while reevaluating the bird’s overall health.

When an herbal formula is used as a tonic (for chronic illness/infection/stress) it can be used for a longer period of time for its mild effects and ongoing benefits. Dosages will vary from bird to bird and may be adjusted over time.

I sometimes offer my birds just a sprig or two of a particular herb fresh from our garden. Some herbs are sweet, others bitter. My parrots receive fresh herbs in their daily mash and this is readily consumed. Herbs are beneficial because they contain varying amounts of vitamins and minerals and provide nutritional support so vital in times of stress.

The Echinacea herb is highly regarded for its use as a natural antibiotic and immunity enhancer by its ability to increase the mobility of leukocytes (white blood cells). It is often helpful to use this herb during times of stress when the immune system has been weakened.

When helping a client, I may recommend an extract such as Echinacea, Echinacea and astragalus, Echinacea and vitamin C (alcohol-free) or a nutritional or homeopathic immune system remedy. When selecting a formula, I base my choice on a bird’s specific nutritional and health needs.

Another method of administering remedies, used for adult birds, is the "herbal mist" -- a very simple preparation of an herbal infusion or decoction with the herb(s) of choice. The liquid is poured into a clean mister bottle, and the bird is showered thoroughly.

An herbal mist, offered warm, acts as a nebulizer and a drink, soothing the mucous membranes, which provides improved respiratory function. A bird consumes some of the herb while preening itself. It is also a refreshing experience for a bird. Also, there are many herbal and medicinal sprays that can be used for skin irritation, itchiness and dryness.

An herbal infusion/decoction can be kept fresh in the refrigerator for 2-3 days and offered chilled in the warmer months.

Flower essences are another natural modality that can be useful in cases of stress and feather-picking. Flower essences are made from single wild flowers and tree blossoms. They work specifically on the emotions and have an emotional healing effect.

The adrenal glands are the most affected by stress and require that we offer higher levels of the following anti-stress foods/supplements to support their function. The vitamins and minerals that are effective in reducing stress in your bird are the B complex vitamins (particularly B5, the anti-stress vitamin and B6). Brewer’s yeast, seeds, legumes and grains are excellent B vitamin sources.

Vitamin C including bioflavonoids (citrus fruits, berries, melons, kale, collards, parsley, potatoes, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, peas), vitamin E (nuts, grains, seeds, wheat germ oil,) and essential fatty acids (seeds, nuts, grains, flax seed oil, and evening primrose oil) can help strengthen immunity.

Beta carotene (found in many vegetables and fruits) is beneficial because of its ability to strengthen the cell walls and protect the mucous membranes, thus helping your bird’s body resist infection at times of stress when resistance is lowered. This vitamin is particularly helpful to those birds that are prone to respiratory problems.

The amino acid useful during intense stress is tyrosine, while the amino acid tryptophan is known for its calming effect. Be sure quality protein foods such as seeds/nuts, grains/legumes/greens combined) are a part of your bird’s diet.

Foods, such as vegetables, legumes and grains are rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Maintaining proper levels of these minerals are very important during stressful times.

A calcium magnesium liquid, with natural vitamin D3 can be used for its calming effect on the nervous system, particularly during stress. An electrolyte solution, which contains several valuable minerals, can be added 50/50 to water. Stress uses up the minerals in your bird’s body and replenishing them is essential.

Recognizing and/or anticipating stressful situations in advance will certainly help to ease the times that are fraught with change, anxiety, fear, or even depression. If a period of stress is unquestionably about to occur, you can plan ahead by having the proper supplements on hand.