Contrafreeloading Indicating the Behavioural Need to Forage in Healthy and Feather Damaging Grey Parrots

Contrafreeloading (CFL) is a concept that describes the preference of an animal to work for food even when identical freely available, and reflects intrinsic motivation engage in foraging-related activities. However, altered brain neurochemistry, which can be induced by chronic exposure suboptimal living environment, may affect this animals with abnormal repetitive behaviours (ARBs), including parrots feather damaging behaviour. To determine whether was case, we evaluated CFL activity healthy (n = 11) 10) Grey (Psittacus erithacus) offering them free choice obtain from bowl or foraging device. Differences were observed, displaying less (as indicated shorter times lower amounts consumed devices) compared conspecifics, indicating ‘motivation’ time allocation, underlying mechanism needs clarified further. Nevertheless, despite variable level, all birds displayed CFL, which, together seemingly positive correlation between plumage condition birds, suggests are intrinsically motivated forage highlights importance providing opportunities captive parrots.