Plucked Parrots

[Rue]

I'm sure I'm not the only person with a plucked bird.

Nickel came to us with a plucking issue. She was 3 years old when we got her. And it looks like she'll continue to have an issue. I really don't like it, she looks awful...and I feel bad for her and frustrated because I can't figure out how to stop it.

Just thought I'd share a photo and see if anyone else would like to commiserate with photos of their pluckers!

[Rrrma]

Rosie was previously a plucker before I got her, after the death of her best friend at our house she started plucking. She is finally letting some come back, hopefully she will leave it alone to grow all the way back. She only plucks her neck, all the way around... I miss her beautiful violet collar!

[Kim S]

Fortunately I dont have one. But a friend of mine does. Her Goffin started plucking when he was about a year old. She got him a girlfriend in the hopes that it would stop his plucking.
He doesnt pluck all the way to the skin, just his 'real' feathers. All his down is still in place. So he doesnt look really naked, thank god.

I do however have some cockatiels who pluck their partner and their young. We call it disfunctional grooming, since they don't do it our of boredom or agression, but groom eachother too much.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

There were a pair of macaws at the store where we have found the cape that are in their "rescue"
collection. It's an interesting place, sort of a breeder with a storefront, a small boarding operation for birds bought there only and a small rescue going on. Anyway, we were told they were a breeding pair that pluck each other. Absolutely naked, the both of them, except wings and head.

I've read some pluckers have underlying nutritional and medical problems and some respond to more frequent bathing... I hope to never experience this myself.

[ptuga72]

This is my girl, Scarlet. This pic was taken about 2 months ago, she has since pulled the remaining and new feathers on her belly out. She may never grow them back under her wings or over her keel bone. We adopted her in March, she was a lot more naked then. If you are on the Second Chance Birds forum you can read Scarlet's adoption chronicle



She had just been sprayed down with her mister when I took this pic.

[pchela]

Rue- I'm sure you've tried everything but I just thought I'd share a couple of things that helped when I fostered a tail plucker just in case.

I put her in a considerably bigger cage, amped up the toys so she wouldn't get bored and started hiding her food so she'd have to forage. I also started adding EFS's to her diet... I used Safflower Seed Oil. Anyway, one or a combination of those things helped a lot. If you haven't tried all of them, might be worth a shot.

[el-parrot]

I have a plucked lovie, who is 15 years old. He plucked his tale and that isn't growing back anymore

[Rue]

Thanks for the pics and stories! It's so nice to know Nickel has good company!

Rue- I'm sure you've tried everything but I just thought I'd share a couple of things that helped when I fostered a tail plucker just in case.

I put her in a considerably bigger cage, amped up the toys so she wouldn't get bored and started hiding her food so she'd have to forage. I also started adding EFS's to her diet... I used Safflower Seed Oil. Anyway, one or a combination of those things helped a lot. If you haven't tried all of them, might be worth a shot.

Nickel came with a large cage...lots of toys...as much 'out' time as I can with her (she can be difficult...so some days it's harder to have her out enough)...but I haven't tried adding oil. I can do that! Thank you for the suggestion! I do hide treats and food and use puzzle toys...

I think her issues are purely psychological though...so mostly I've been trying to keep her amused...

[Rue]

ptuga: I'll look up Scarlet's story as soon as I can!

[TheNzJessie]

i dont have any plucked birds but the zoo i work at is a rescue zoo and to my knowlege has 4 plucked birds, theres robert the cockatoo, issac the kea and 2 sun conures

i have a picture of robert, (dont lecture me about him being outside without a harness hes not my bird, i have no say in it)