Welfare and health of captive african grey parrots in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the living environment, feeding and health care of parrots kept as pets in homes within Kampala city, Uganda between January and May 2005. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to test the significance of housing attributes on the occurrence of feather loss and reported as adjusted odds ratios (AOR). A total of 148 parrots were studied in 97 homes, where 56 (38%) of the birds were in solitary confinement, while 82 (62%) were paired. All the parrots except a pair were apparently caught from the wild. Many (41%) cages were less than 1m2 in floor area while 44% of the cages had no perches. Most owners fed fresh unpelleted peanuts (91%), sugar cane (69%) and pepper (67%). Feather loss was the most prevalent condition observed with the risk of feather loss higher in birds kept solitary (AOR = 2.18: CI, 1.24, 3.98), those in small cages (AOR = 2.15: CI, 1.21, 2.47) and those in cages without perches (AOR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.13-3.47). We observed that more than 40% of grey parrots kept as pets in Uganda were not provided comfortable living cages and were all fed principally on unprocessed seeds and grains, posing risks of malnutrition.

Keywords: African grey parrots; pets; welfare; Uganda

Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 2 (3) 2006: pp. 139-143