My beautiful boy has started to pluck...

Jottlebot

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Aug 29, 2012
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I can't actually believe this is happening. I feel terrible and so worried. He did it once 2 Sundays ago and again yesterday and a small amount today. I spoke to a vet who asked about diet and pooh and honestly he seems perfectly fine apart from the plucking. We decided not to stress him with a visit unless there was a need to e.g. if it happened again. Well, it happened again.

We're going to a vet on Tuesday. We have to wait until then because I want to see the best specialist I can and that is their next appointment. I don't want to stress him with more than one visit so I've asked to see the most qualified avian vet there. He still seems well in every other way.

He seems to be biting the tops off the feathers he's plucking and then pulling them out so I find the tops of feathers and then V shaped feathers with the tops missing. He's focused on his abdomen between his legs and one wing so far. Only small feathers and down, no bald patches yet, but it's not moulting. He still has V shaped feathers in the areas that he's bitten the tops off but not pulled out.

He is hormonal and has been "feeding" various toys for quite a few weeks now and trying to get close to my face very recently, which is new, he isn't at all cuddly. I think he is starting to moult too because I've found 4 larger feathers that appear to be normally moulted (with the little dents in the end and no damage to the shafts).

He is on Harrison's, has fresh chop (but is it enough/too much?) too and nuts (am I feeding too many, should I use something else, should he have some in his usual diet!?) for training treats. We let him out every day (for too long, not long enough, at the wrong time, is he not stimulated enough or is it too much!?) and he has an outside aviary he goes in when it's warm enough. He's even had a bit of winter sun this year (was it too cold for him, should I have let him out more!?). The room he is in is warm, but it has a log burner and the air is dry (does it fluctuate too much or get too warm, is it too dry?). I'm misting him every day at the moment (but does this encourage him to preen and then pluck!?). He has lots of toys that I change pretty much every 10 days to 2 weeks and recycle the bits of destroyed ones for foot toys or new toys to chew up. He is being put to bed at 9.30 and woken up at about 10. 30 to 11.30 in the morning... I'm doing everything I can that I think is right and there are still just soooooo many questions.

There are so many environmental things we've thought it could be. There are just so many "could it be..." things.

I hope there is nothing wrong with him physically, but then is it worse that it's a sign of him being so unhappy with his environment that he's harming himself!? The thought of that just absolutely breaks my heart.

I feel like a failure and worse I feel that all of a sudden my healthy, robust little man's life is so fragile I dread uncovering the cage every morning. The thought of being without him is like someone turned the light off in my life. I barely know what to do with myself.
 

LaManuka

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I’m so sorry you are going through this! It sounds to me like you’re doing all the right things but sometimes they’ll pluck anyway and it certainly would break my heart too if any of mine started. I hope your vet is able to offer you some help!
 

GaleriaGila

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I know what it means to place so much pride and love and comfort in your darling's wellbeing. We're here for you.
 

Laurasea

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An assessment of cage, surrounding's, mental and physical stimulation. Provide multiple easily to destroy iteams a day. Vet check.
Many captive bred parrots develop feather destructive behavior, often linked to weaning and early development.. even when placed in the best homes.
This article is great, tho I'm not a fan of clicker training, I still shape behavior by using treats and saying good bird as link instead if clicking.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/
 

herbwx

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I don't have an answer for you, but just want to let you know your angst is shared by many owners -- feather-picking (FP) is pretty common in some breeds. Altho I've never observed this behavior in any of the many parakeets I've had.

I've had my re-homed green Pacific parrotlet for 9 years and he started picking during the second year. There are tons of online info about FP. Of course, a doctor's eval is always recommended. Reasons for this behavior can be almost anything: sexual frustration, change of environment, boredom, medical condition, FP as a self-soothing behavior, dryness in air, diet .... etc.

One interesting point I've read is that birds in the wild don't have time to feather-pick because they are searching for food, protection, etc. The pet bird doesn't have to do this, so more free time on their "hands"/claws. One piece of advice I got was that since parrots are shredders, provide lots of shredding toys and safe (no ink!) paper or cardboard for them to play with, to keep them busy. Over the years, my Pacific parrotlet has certainly cut down on FP, bare spots have filled in nicely and some of his plumage has returned, but there are days when he goes nuts FP and he goes back from green to gray on his belly.

I take solace in the idea that birds don't really care that much what their bird-friend may look like, it is more of an owner hang-up since one reason humans like certain tweets is because of their magnificent plumage/colors. In the end, I never found the magic bullet to totally stop the FP, but my tweet is otherwise healthy, happy and as I noted he looks much better now than in the past -- but he hardly looks perfect. I don't buy store-bought toys anymore. I give him toilet paper rolls, crumpled up or strips of white paper; a small, bird-sized cardboard packing box (which doubles as a nest; he loves it! and chews it!); plus pine cones that have been washed/cleaned and baked (to kill anything) stuffed with peanut butter, nuts, seeds, raisins, etc, for him to forage through (and hopefully keep him busy, instead of plucking more).

So as others may advise, if you get at your wit's end .... start with a medical assessment and then take it from there.
 
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wrench13

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Herb raises a good point, about parrots in the wild do not have time for feather plucking. Try to introduce ways in which he will have to forage for his food. Make him spend his time foraging for most of his food, and he will not have time for feather picking. I saw a 'toy' a few days ago that was 2 flat sheets of natural tanned leather, with size appropriate holes cut into the sheets, and then they are sewed together ( open at the top. Food is stuffed into the resulting 'pouch' and the parrot has to winnow and work the food out of the holes. It looked difficult, but hey in the wild keeping oneself fed is a full time job. I wish I remembered the maker or the website, but you could try making one of these yourself.
 

Scott

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SilverSage

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I’m glad you are going to a vet! MOST NEW PLUCKING HAS A VETERINARY CAUSE so please get gram stains and blood work!

My girl Nohea started plucking and all she needed was a $12 bottle of antibiotics.

Also are you sure he is a he? That plucking patterns sounds like a broody hen. Could still be a boy it just made me wonder.

If you are on harissons high potency STOP. Get a low energy formula. Cut all fruit from the chop, all seeds, and most nuts. Keep up the sunshine and baths!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
Jottlebot

Jottlebot

Member
Aug 29, 2012
507
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Shropshire, UK
Parrots
Orange-winged Amazon - RIP Charlie,
Spock - Common Mynah,
McCoy - Alexandrine
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Thank you everyone for your kind words, support and help.

As far as I'm aware plucking is not normal in Alexandrines at all.

He is on Harrisons high potency! I'll get adult instead ASAP. He doesn't have nuts or seeds in his daily diet, but has them daily as treats. Probably the equivalent of about 4 almonds, maybe a bit more actually if I'm honest. No fruit for a while, although I was putting it in his chop around Christmas time. He's definitely a male, he has his ring.

I know one other male Alexandrine who does pluck like a female would, I contacted the owner for some advice. Her boy does it every year! It did start like that, but it's got a little higher up onto his chest since then :( and also on one of his shoulders.

I've started putting his pellets in a foraging toy now so thank you for that tip. Also all the links to other information, it's really appreciated.

He does have plenty of toys to destroy, but what I'm now doing is changing them every week even if they're not completely in pieces, or I'm joining 2 together so there's something new.

We've been thinking about the environment and it does seem that quite a few things changed in the few days before it started. I'll get the results from the vet and then start exploring each one if I need to. He's always been so unphased by everything in the past though.

He hasn't done it again this weekend while I've been home from work. I haven't been with him all the time though so I don't think that's it. He does seem to be preening a lot, but then again I've developed a sense that's triggered every time a feather moves so I might just be thinking that.

He's a little wary of his travel cage so I'm glad to have had a few days for him to get used to going into it again. At least that won't be a stress.

I'm now worrying that the vet won't want to take blood and might just want to wait and see. They didn't take blood at his check up last year, just a physical exam and clean bill of health. I'll insist if I have to though.

Again, thank you all for your help x
 
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Jottlebot

Jottlebot

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Aug 29, 2012
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Shropshire, UK
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Orange-winged Amazon - RIP Charlie,
Spock - Common Mynah,
McCoy - Alexandrine
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Well, we went to the vet this evening. McCoy was apparently well behaved, although I heard him shouting while I was in the waiting room!

The vet examined him and has taken blood and is checking for everything she can think of. She spent nearly an hour with me and him.

She doesn't think the bloods will show anything and thinks it is most likely to be hormone related because of his age, although she did say it's more common in hand-reared birds because they get confused when puberty hits and don't know what to do with themselves! She said they can give hormone reducing medication and that's what she would suggest to see if it stops the behaviour and then next year just be prepared that he might do it again, which I can live with if I know he is not ill. It's still not nice to think he's so frustrated though.

I'm going to reduce the high energy foods as had been suggested. He isn't touchable so I know I'm not stimulating him, but I will stop him landing on my head and preening my hair.

I'll get the results from the tests tomorrow hopefully.
 
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Jottlebot

Jottlebot

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Aug 29, 2012
507
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Shropshire, UK
Parrots
Orange-winged Amazon - RIP Charlie,
Spock - Common Mynah,
McCoy - Alexandrine
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Results all came back normal. His blood levels etc all look good :)

Such a relief!

The decision then is that he is going through puberty and he's struggling to deal with his hormones. I could give him an injection to reduce his testosterone production, but this would only work for a few weeks and really just confirm the diagnosis.

With what is going on in the world at the moment I've decided not to do this. I'll tackle it via routine, distraction, sleep and diet. It's pretty minimal now and I don't mind a scruffy boy as long as he is healthy.

Thank you for your help :)
 

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