my flock!

[GMV]

There is always a reason if a bird is plucking, but we have to discover it, if we hope to stop the plucking. And the reason always related to the birds living conditions, as birds in the wild do not pluck

Yes than you for your correction I meant sometimes they pluck for reasons unknown

[Pajarita]

Well, the reason is not really unknown because once you eliminate a physical problem, it's always an emotional one and that means husbandry.

[GMV]

Well, the reason is not really unknown because once you eliminate a physical problem, it's always an emotional one and that means husbandry.

Sometimes it is very hard to eliminate a physical problem, and i would bet sometimes birds just have OCD for that sort of thing.

[Wolf]

I really doubt that.

[NICrosis]

I'm inclined to believe wolf here. Birds don't pluck in the wild.

On an unrelated note: They also don't hump my cats in the wild either.

[GMV]

that was kind of a guess. You're right that would not benefit them evolution-wise.
Finding a reason can still be hard though.

[Pajarita]

Actually, there have been a few reports of birds plucking in the wild but it has always been because of an easily identified physical issue while, in captivity, 99.99% of the time is inadequate care. Mind you, not that the owners don't try because they do! But it's impossible to give them a good life when kept as human pets and, due to the lack of natural selection, captive-bred parrots are genetically inferior to their wild counterparts which means not only a weaker bird both physically but also emotionally. Plucking is actually more related to human self-mutilation and PTSD than to OCD.

[GMV]

Actually, there have been a few reports of birds plucking in the wild but it has always been because of an easily identified physical issue while, in captivity, 99.99% of the time is inadequate care. Mind you, not that the owners don't try because they do! But it's impossible to give them a good life when kept as human pets and, due to the lack of natural selection, captive-bred parrots are genetically inferior to their wild counterparts which means not only a weaker bird both physically but also emotionally. Plucking is actually more related to human self-mutilation and PTSD than to OCD.

Birds in the wild might pluck because they were bullied by their flock or something, i would guess.

[Wolf]

much more likely to be from parasites or illness.

[GMV]

But do you think it is possible to be from the other birds?