GREY FISHER
Sleeping under newspaper is normal
 I have a 1-year-old African grey that recently went to a very good boarding place for birds for two weeks. When I picked her up she had picked out all the feathers under her wings and off her chest and feet. I couldn't believe this was the same bird I left there. We took her to the vet immediately and we have her on medicine that he prescribed.
Her feathers are starting to grow back now and she is just picking at them a little bit, but her personality is so different now. The vet says that parrots are neurotic and this sometimes happens. We hope we caught it fast before picking out her feathers becomes a bad habit. I think the problem was also that she was beginning her first molt and the stress of us being gone was a lot for her to handle.
My question is: she has taken to going under the newspaper on the bottom of her cage at night to sleep. Is this normal? She seems quite comfortable under there.
-- Katalin
 I'm glad to hear that your grey is recovering from her ordeal. Sending a bird to a boarding facility, no matter how good it is, can be very stressful to an animal that normally doesn't get out much. I always recommend having a friend, a family member, or a pet sitter come to your home to care for your bird in your absence instead. Being in a familiar environment really helps to reduce the stress of your absence.
By the way, although commonly made, your vet's quip about parrots being "neurotic" is not very helpful. If we're going to be able to help our birds become well-adjusted pets, we need to stay focused on specific behaviors, including their causes and consequences, and not just pass things off as a mental disorder.
Sleeping under the newspaper on the bottom of the cage is fairly common parrot behavior. Many birds like seeking out a tight, dark space in which to sleep, just as they would in the wild where they look for nesting cavities. I often give my bird cardboard boxes (with no tape, ink, staples or any other potentially toxic substances) to chew. However, before he reduces them to a pile of debris on the floor of his cage, he can usually be found nestled snugly inside.
Keep an eye on your bird's feather condition; frequent baths can help keep them in tip-top condition and divert his attention from plucking. And don't worry about your bird hanging out under the paper. It sounds like she's going to be just fine!
Grey Fisher is a trainer at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. Previously he was a trainer with Natural Encounters, Inc., a world-renowned organization that helps zoos all over the world train birds and many other types of animals using positive reinforcement.
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