Adopting a rehomed adult parrot: what behaviour issues should you expect?
An adult parrot taken in after being rehomed very often comes with at least one already-established behaviour problem — excessive screaming, aggression toward certain people, or feather plucking — and it's better to prepare for this before adopting than to discover the problem once the bird is already settled in.
Which behaviour problems are most common in a rehomed parrot?
A survey by Leigh-Anne Gaskins and Lorenzo Bergman, published in 2011 in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, questioned both avian vets and parrot owners about the most commonly reported behaviour problems: excessive vocalising, aggression and feather plucking stand out as the most frequently reported issues, often linked to a lack of socialisation or repeated changes of home (study on Google Scholar).
Why does a rehomed bird often carry several of these issues at once?
- Repeated changes of home: each new move disrupts the bird's bearings and delays its adjustment.
- Underestimated lifespan: a large parrot can live for decades, a lifespan often underestimated at the time of the original purchase, a common cause of rehoming.
- Lack of early socialisation: a bird that wasn't handled much as a youngster more easily develops wariness of certain shapes or movements.
- Unknown history: a new adopter often has no idea what originally caused an established behaviour, which complicates diagnosis.
How do you support an adult bird through the first few weeks?
Let the bird take in its new surroundings at its own pace, without trying to handle it from day one, a principle already covered in our article on taming a new bird: the step-by-step method. Keep feeding routines and the cage's location as stable as possible once chosen, rather than reorganising everything in the first few weeks.
When should you call in an avian behaviourist?
Plucking that gets worse, aggression that doesn't ease after several months of calm adjustment, or screaming that persists despite a stable routine call for the opinion of a vet specialised in avian behaviour, rather than trying more approaches without a clear framework. All our behaviour and care guidance is gathered in the bird care and grooming section, and criteria for choosing where to adopt in breeder, pet store or rescue: where to get a bird.
Frequently asked questions
Can a rehomed adult parrot still bond with a new owner?
Yes, in most cases, as long as you give it the time it needs and don't force contact before it seeks it out itself.
Should you change a rehomed bird's diet right away?
No, it's best to first keep its usual diet if it's known, then gradually shift the diet once the bird is well settled and relaxed.
Does feather plucking always stop once the bird settles in?
Not always: some long-established cases need specialised veterinary follow-up and don't resolve through a change of home alone.
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Birds universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.