Ask Lafeber

Question

When did birds first get recognized for their potential to provide emotional support?

Hi,

While some pet birds seem to provide emotional support for their owner, I’m not aware that they are specifically recognized for this. They are a wild, exotics species and as they get older, their behavior can continue to change based on hormones and maturity. I would not consider parrots in general as a good animal to get for emotional support on a clinical level. With a parrot, they can be your best friend one day and attack you the next. Their behavior is driven by instinct and this can be unpredictable.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda