Medical issues such as disease,
parasites, hormonal changes,
poor nutrition, or allergies can all
contribute to picking problems,
so your first stop should be
your veterinarian. Beyond that,
several non-medical situations
can also cause feather picking:
 Anxiety related to:
 Changes in the environment –
either real or perceived by the bird
Any household stress
Change in or lack of attention
Boredom
Inadequate early care
(from previous owners)
To work toward a solution, try any
of the following ideas to enhance
your bird's quality of life:
Encourage independent
play with foraging toys to occupy your bird's time
and give him a challenge.
Eliminate anything your bird may
be afraid of such as a menacing
lamp, views of perceived predators
like outside birds, and other frights. |
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Remove toxins (i.e. cigarettes, candles,
and Teflon pans) from your bird's
environment.
Frequently clean your bird's cage and
accessories to minimize allergens. Be
sure to use bird-safe cleaners.
Keep your bird's skin hydrated with
proper indoor humidity or regular use of
a mister.
Spend time with your bird each
day, so he will not have to resort to
attention-seeking behaviors; if he plucks
for attention, leave the room, then
come back and offer a reward when he
exhibits positive behavior.
Make life happier: increase cage
size, change toys frequently, and set
up playstands in a variety
of places.
If feather picking behavior does not
have a medical cause as diagnosed
by your veterinarian, work with your
veterinarian or animal behaviorist to
identify other possible causes. Then,
institute a plan that may include any of
the above changes to take your bird from
an obsessive picker to a calm, happy
companion.
Learn more about bird stress: Bird Stress Checklist » |
