Lovebird plucking its feathers

[Ros1991]

Hi.. I actually had 2 lovebirds one yellow (Migi) and one green (Kiwi) .. But i have trouble keeping the birds. My father would always bring out the birds to roam outside of the house despite telling him repeatedly not to. recently Migi flew away before i could send it to the shop to trim its feathers (idk how to do so myself). Now Kiwi is plucking its feathers and im hesitant to buy another lovebird because eventually, my dad will surely let it out of it's cage freely. Kiwi is this species and im wondering how i could help him. I got Kiwi since it was young and he's very tame. He is also unable to fly as one of his wings didn't form properly...any advice? Coz i know he can bleed to death from all the self-plucking.

[ParrotsForLife]

Im not trying to be rude but your dad is very cruel doing that to the birds and you whats the fun in letting a captive bird fly away only to probably die if it does not survive if that was my Dad I wouldn't let him near the birds and if he let one of my birds go I wouldn't talk to him.

[Ros1991]

Yeah.. I argued with him countless times.. But it kinda didn't work.. That's why i don't dare to get another one knowing thay he'll let it fly away eventually.. Im trying to find a new owner for Kiwi.. But it's kinda hard to find a devoted pet owner.

[ParrotsForLife]

Yeah.. I argued with him countless times.. But it kinda didn't work.. That's why i don't dare to get another one knowing thay he'll let it fly away eventually.. Im trying to find a new owner for Kiwi.. But it's kinda hard to find a devoted pet owner.

Why exactly did he do it does he feel they have to be free or something?

[Wolf]

I am sorry for the loss of your bird and do not mean to add insult to injury, but how long has your bird been gone and roughly where do you live, I am only asking in case it has only been a couple of days and to find out if it is warm enough that the bird might have survived this long.
In a lot of ways I agree with Parrotsforlife on this, but I also know that you really can't control what your dad does. Maybe you could get some locks for the cage doors, I don't know if that would help you or not, you are the only one that can make that call.
For now Kiwi, correct me if I am using the wrong name, needs you to give him more attention as he is now all alone and you are the only flock member that he has left. I believe that grief from losing his mate is the primary cause for this plucking and that giving him more of your time is about the only thing that might help him through this. Also making sure that he has a varied diet with plenty of fresh produce, limited protein and a solar light schedule will help him to remain healthy.

Just noted that you are looking for a new home for your bird and < do agree with you that this is probably the best solution to this type of problem. I am so sorry for this happening to you. Wish that there was more I could do to help.

[Ros1991]

Hi Wolf. It has been 10 days since Kiwi's alone.. Im in Singapore. Appreciate your concern and advice.. But would it affect Kiwi if i return home and play with him in the evening? Coz i hv work in the day, I'll leave the hse at 7am and will only rch home abt 7pm..is it ok to play with him after sundown?

In the meantime.. I'll continue to try to find a new home for him.

[Ros1991]

ParrotsForLife: i hv no idea why he does it.. I wish i knew too. Yeah, maybe he thinks that the birds won't fly away just because it's tame.. That's my best bet.. Or he's just plain ignorant.

[Pajarita]

Hi Wolf. It has been 10 days since Kiwi's alone.. Im in Singapore. Appreciate your concern and advice.. But would it affect Kiwi if i return home and play with him in the evening? Coz i hv work in the day, I'll leave the hse at 7am and will only rch home abt 7pm..is it ok to play with him after sundown?

In the meantime.. I'll continue to try to find a new home for him.

Unfortunately, no, keeping him up after sundown would make him produce sexual hormones all year round which is terribly uncomfortable and painful to him. It's most likely another cause of his plucking as it's common for birds that are kept to a human light schedule to do this.

I am sure that your father did not mean for the bird to get lost and that he only wanted to give the bird a taste of freedom and some flight time -which is actually a very good thing for them.

Why don't you have a heart to heart talk with him and explain that you are terribly upset over the fact that your poor Migi is lost and, possibly, even dead; that you don't want to blame him because you know that he did not mean for this to happen but that poor Kiwi is so upset he is pulling his feathers out and that you would like another bird as a companion to him but that you need his promise that he won't be making the same mistake again? You can let them fly inside the house, you know? It doesn't have to be outdoors...

[Ros1991]

Hi Pajarita, thanks for the advice.. I did try to talk to my dad.. Told him he could let them fly around in the hse with the curtains down.. But i think he just doesn't care.. I wouldn't want to risk another lovebird getting hurt by buying a new friend for Kiwi.. Unfortunately, i think it would be best if i get Kiwi a new home.

Anyways, thanks everyone for the help! Thought i could save Kiwi, but it's kinda hard when im still staying with my dad.

[ParrotsForLife]

Hi Pajarita, thanks for the advice.. I did try to talk to my dad.. Told him he could let them fly around in the hse with the curtains down.. But i think he just doesn't care.. I wouldn't want to risk another lovebird getting hurt by buying a new friend for Kiwi.. Unfortunately, i think it would be best if i get Kiwi a new home.

Anyways, thanks everyone for the help! Thought i could save Kiwi, but it's kinda hard when im still staying with my dad.

To be honest with you im sure Kiwi loves you very much and you shouldn't have to get rid of him because of your dad but I see you cant give him much attention.I recently re homed my lovebird and he is so happy now.If you find a home you can tell them to update you on how he gets on.Pajarita all my birds do be awake after sundown all the time and Tiko has been for 7 years so any problems I have posted about Tiko here is that because of hormones? My birds except Tiko are in my bedroom where I am all the time and I dont turn the light off until around 9:00 pm and its winter so the sun goes down around 4:30 pm