Plucking vs. barbering

Taprock

Member
Oct 22, 2015
279
2
Northern l.p. Michigan
Parrots
Buzz - CAG,
Ziggy - Nanday/Sun Conure,
Jasper - Goffin
Loki - Starling
Gloria - Foster CAG
Our CAG came to us a plucker. He does his chest not totally bare but sparse and his neck crop area bare. He had his first AV visit with us. They did a gram stain and exam and believed it to be behavioral. Since then he has just noted that it has continued.

Two years have passed and not much has changed until the last month. Buzz has started barbering on his shoulders, one side a bit more. I’m concerned. I really want it to stop but I’d be happy at this point if it doesn’t escalate. My questions:

Is barbering a degree of plucking, like a normal progression or different?

I had read barbering was usually more behavioral but questioned the truth of it.

Should we be headed back to the vet for a visit? He was last there in July. Are there specific physical things he should be tested for?
 

chris-md

Well-known member
Feb 6, 2010
4,349
2,119
Maryland - USA
Parrots
Parker - male Eclectus

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
Barbering is akin to plucking but different. With barbering you simply CHEW the feather off. Often, full barbering will usually resolut in a down covered body. Plucking is what should usually give you the bald look.

Whether barbering is a lighter degree of plucking, who knows. But I would personally say they largely have mainly the same origins. One can’t really be separated from the other as far as root causes.
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,646
10,008
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
So well stated Chris!

This time of year is problematic for Parrots as the common dryness of the air in the Great White North is so very low. It become important for our Parrots to have the same level of comfortable humidity in the air as for the rest of us.

Our DYH Amazon is a plucker and we find that when not bothered by dry skin, his plucking is not as serve. We target 45% humidity at 70 degrees F. Also, we greatly reduce bathing this time of year, letting him elect when he wants to bath. This also goes along ways to reducing problems with dry skin.

We also use a Topical Product: SOOTHER Topical Spray, which is available at your Avian Vet or online. Take great care in not over-using any Topical Products. We 'fine mist' once to twice a day in the effected areas. Do Not Heavily Mist! This product will develop a build-up if over-used!

In working with our CAV, we have found a comfortable, yet slightest rounding of our Amazon's upper Beak. This process should never be preformed by a none professional, or at the very least, someone who has been properly schooled by a CAV. Remove too much and the Parrot can have problems with eating (never a good thing). Not removing enough, and little good comes of the work. At present, we are grooming every 60 days. We have gone from a bare skinned rump to at least a bunny butt having a white /gray rump! But it has taken a year to find that sweet spot.

There are NO assurances that any process will work with all Parrots. It's finding that single or combination that comforts your Parrot.

Love them dearly! As owners and professionals, we just do not know the answer, only the continued search to find methods of bring them comfort.
 
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