What a helpless feeling: watching your beloved bird pick out its beautiful feathers. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why a bird plucks; but, it is safe to say that the habit affects a number of species. With a little thought and help from your avian veterinarian, there are a few ways you can rule out possible causes. Getting to the root of the problem is the best method of treatment.
Normally, birds pluck feathers in two ways. They either pull the feather out entirely, or they break the feather off at the shaft. Sometimes just the way your bird plucks can tell about the cause. For instance, if your bird is experiencing itchy skin, then she may break the feathers off in an effort to get closer to the skin.
Since it is often difficult to figure out why your bird is plucking, it is best to start with the help of an avian veterinarian. Take your bird in for a visit to make sure there are no physiological problems. The vet can examine your bird, taking past records and current health into account. If a health problem is identified, then your vet can recommend and prescribe methods of treatment. Your vet can also examine your bird’s diet. Sometimes, a poor diet can lead to plucking. Even if an underlying health problem is not identified, your veterinarian can still provide insight to the plucking. Remember, this is a fairly common problem with birds, so your vet has probably dealt with it numerous times.
If there are no health concerns, then you need to focus on ruling out other possibilities. Birds are smart creatures that require constant mental stimulation. Are you providing your pet enough attention? Your bird does not fully benefit from perching on your shoulder; instead, you should be spending one-on-one time with your bird. The lack of stimulation and interaction with you may be leading your bird to the destructive behavior. Start spending more time with your bird to see if the plucking lessens.
Has anything changed in your bird’s environment? Even the smallest alteration can affect your bird. If you have relocated your bird’s cage to a new area, then consider moving the cage back to its original location. If your bird was accustomed to being in the center of all the commotion, then taking her away and isolating her may have played a big role; the same is true in reverse. What about in the rest of your home; has anything changed? A family member leaving the home or moving into the home, remodeling on a home, or bringing a new pet into a home have all been known as feather plucking causes.
On the same note as your bird’s environment, you need to consider if she is comfortable. Many of the birds we call pets come from wet habitats. If your bird is not getting enough moisture, then her skin could be drying out. As mentioned before, birds have been known to pluck or chew to relieve dry skin. Consider taking your bird into your bathroom while you are showering. The warmth and steam from the shower will feel good on her feathers.
Many of birds have been known to pick out of attention. Similar to interaction, a bird simply needs your one-on-one attention. Once your bird discovers that feather plucking gets her the attention she craves, she will continue to pluck. This is often obvious if she only plucks while you are around. To deter this behavior, completely ignore her when she is pulling. It may be hard, but even acknowledging her actions can add to the plucking. Walk out of the room, and don’t show any emotions. You should start rewarding your bird for her good behaviors (such as repeating a phrase) to show her how to get attention.
Nobody likes to see their beloved pets pulling out feathers. There are many reasons a bird may pluck, and it’s up to your to find the underlying cause. Before you begin your investigation, you should start by taking your pet to your avian veterinarian to rule out any health causes. If no causes are identified, then start paying close attention to your bird and her environment. Perhaps a little more interaction or a move of her cage could stop the problem.
Article provided by Jessica Taylor and Pet-Super-Store an online pet site featuring dog training collars from PetSafe and Dogtra.