Feather Plucking - Causes and Remedies

One very common and misunderstood problem among bird owners is feather picking or “plucking”. This can be a stressful and complex problem for both the bird and its owners. Once a bird begins to pluck its feathers it becomes a psychological habit for the bird. The bird will pull old feathers out as well as new ones creating bare patches on the body. So many different factors can contribute to a bird plucking off its own feathers, however, there are a few major points every owner should investigate when dealing with the problem of feather picking.

Because plucking can easily turn into a gruesome self-mutilation condition it is important to first rule out a medical cause and visit an avian veterinarian. An experienced avian veterinarian may determine that the bird has parasites, mites, or a bacterial infection. Some bacterial infections may be secondary to the cause of plucking and as a result of the irritation. Most often there is no obvious cause of plucking.

The next thing to examine is environmental factors. If your bird was young when it was purchased, you may need to reevaluate your bird’s needs and whether or not a larger cage is necessary. Because birds are very intelligent, their brains must constantly be stimulated or else they get bored. Introduce new toys to your bird and things for them to chew. It is common sense to make their lives as interesting and enjoyable as possible and it should be every bird owner’s goal to imitate their wild and exciting habitat as much as possible.

Nutrition is the next area to assess. Every species is different, but most birds come from exotic locations with a plethora of things to eat. Many birds do not receive the proper nutrition and develop plucking in captivity. Many bird owners feed seed diets that contain oily sunflower seeds and safflower seeds because they gobble them up. These seeds are too high in fat and do not contain enough vitamin A or protein. In time, these seeds dry out their skin making it itchy and flaky. Though their diet is hard to recreate in captivity, it is a pet owner’s responsibility to fulfill their dietary needs with fruits, vegetables, supplements, and a high quality seed mixture.

Psychological stress is another culprit. This can come from just about anywhere. It may be something as simple as another animal in the house or as complex as sexual frustration. The urge to bond with or court a mate at maturity can be extremely stressful for a bird that is alone. Because some species of large birds have very complex emotions, they may start to pluck when they feel ignored, need more attention, or bored. Just like children, large birds respond to tension in a household, moving to a new location, or the loss of a loved one. These changes and changes in routine can set off a desire to pluck. Whether it is a change in diet or moving to a new house, it is important to introduce these changes gradually as not to traumatize your pet.

Feather plucking is not a problem that should ever be ignored and is one that is commonly misinterpreted. Each bird is different and each species has different susceptibilities to feather plucking. It is extremely important to research this problem both before and after a bird develops the plucking habit in hopes of preventing and curing. Birds require a lot of meticulous care in all areas of their lives and are complex animals.