Creative suggestions to stop over-preening?

I am reposting this from the eclectus forum...

As you all know, Roxy started plucking out of nowhere back in August. I took her to the vet and he saw that she was very hormonal (flacid cloaca), so he recommended a hormone shot, which he gave her, and it did nothing. The only thing I can say is that she went from plucking her chest bald to leaving her grey downy feathers. But every time a new colored pin feather shows up, she pulls it out. I cannot afford to give her continuous hormone shots.

She does not just sit there at one time and pull feathers out. She plucks each feather randomly throughout the day while she is preening, which is way too much. Even when she sits on my arm, she immediately starts preening and will occasionally pull a feather out. Roxy gets several hours of time out of her cage each day on a tree that has toys and a hanging box perch for her to climb on. I also interchange her toys all the time.

I have tried hiding treats in her toys or in rolled up newspaper, etc., which does work until she finds the treat and then she doesn't care about the toy anymore and goes right back to preening. Plus I have to be careful with paper items because it falls to the bottom of her cage and can cause her to nest and make her even MORE hormonal. I am looking for ideas to keep her focused for an extended period of time. The only thing at this point that does that is her food bowl.

Thanks in advance!

Does she pluck when she's wet? Maybe extra bathes could help.

What about teaching her some new behaviors? Things like turn around, retrieve, 'big eagle', drop an item into a container, etc.

Any way to provide her with natural, safe branches to chew?


Does she have any other foraging activities?

MonicaMc said:

Does she pluck when she's wet? Maybe extra bathes could help.

What about teaching her some new behaviors? Things like turn around, retrieve, 'big eagle', drop an item into a container, etc.

Any way to provide her with natural, safe branches to chew?


Does she have any other foraging activities?

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I have not noticed any difference from when she is wet or dry. I actually worry about bathing her sometimes because she shivers so much since she has no chest feathers. I usually let her bath herself in her water bowl. As far as foraging activities, I put treats all over her cage for her to find and I have a few smart toys where she has to figure them out. She is very smart so she figures it out in 5 minutes and then goes right back to sitting on her perch. She used to play a lot, but ever since she reached maturity she has not really been interested in any toys. She picks at them a bit each day but not enough to hold her attention.

What natural branches do you suggest?

BB Would over preen at times. I bought some untreated Sissal rope. Tied sections around his cage. About a 1/2 foot long. He started preening that. Worked like a charm for me. Just remember to replace it .

Hi have you thought about the pet calm plug-ins as this is something that has possibly helped my holiday charge (RB2) who suddenly decided last year that ripping his breast feathers out was the thing to do. No one thing is ever the sole answer to this problem I feel. Spraying with luke warm water was also done, a fine mist sprayer wouldnt soak her too much. I have to add that he is also blow dried with a non teflon dryer? The sissal suggested above is also a good one and any toys perhaps with tassles on. Oh by the way the RB2 loves leather strips knotted up so he can work on undoing them - any good. Thank goodness he has improved drastically although still has a little bald breast line. Have you heard of Sock Buddy? Good luck with this problem and hope it improves soon.

You may need to up her foraging activities by making them harder for her.


You say she picks at her toys? Then whenever you see her interact with her toys, accidentally or not, go over and reward her with a treat! Over time, you may get her interacting with her toys more frequently. Maybe she needs some new toys?


How often does she bathe?


Teaching her new behaviors may still be a great way to distract her and keep her from plucking if she's busy doing something else.



I would recommend any bird safe perches for her.

Bird; Birds: Safe, Toxic Trees, Woods. Safe Tree Wood. Parrots. Parrot cages.