Over preening... driving me crazy!!!!

Hey guys... I know I have posted on this before... but it is just SOOO frustrating!!.. JellyBean is almost three (GCC) and in every respect he is healthy.. eats veg, harrisons pellets... flighted..gets loads of out of cage time he has a sleeping cage.. a UV lamp..he loves me and my partner!!

BUT, he still continues to overpreen his feathers.. not pluck them.. just chew the ends of until the are black and scraggly..Mostly the green ones on his back... less so the flight feathers and the ones under his wings, if that makes sense.

He has been to the vet and I have tried to get as much information on this as possible.. but I dont know how to stop it.. Sometimes when I am working or reading and he is preening - I can actually see him do it.. he preens his fluffys and then zips down the feather and has a nibble at the end!!!

Is there anything I can do???? Has anyone managed to solve this???

I would really appreciate help on this as he will be starting his molt soon and I would love to see him keep his lovely green feathers as they are when they first form...

Thanks everyone!!!!

Hmm, it sounds like care is not an issue. Maybe boredom? Try tempting him with other things - new toys, fresh stimulation. I hope he keeps his lovely feathers!

have you had blood work done up on him? it sounds like you take excellent care of him, so I would want to make sure there isn't a medical reason for it. Are you sure the cage he is in is made of a safe metal, if painted that too. Any other toxicity issues that might of been over looked in the house? Old paint that he might be chipping off somewhere in the home?

Good luck.

Thanks everyone... He is going to the vet in two weeks... so I will ask for fresh bloodwork just to be sure.. I do give him foraging toys anytime I am leaving the house.. but you are right it could easily be boredom...

His cage is new and a good brand - not painted! But, would you believe I have an old mirror that he loves to perch on - it is painted!!! - going to get rid of that this evening! I will search the house for toxic stuff...

My poor little baby... it really upsets me!

Thank you everyone for your suggestions!... most appreciated...

Hi Jellybean, you don't mention spraying or bathing? If you do could you up the frequency to see if it makes a difference? If he's not happy with how clean he is, he will pick n preen etc.

Some other ideas from my personal experience, may not be relevant but maybe will give you some different ideas.

Beau seems to have some sort of food sensitivity, or to preservative chemicals. I haven't pinned it down yet but he was an occasional plucker that just about completely stopped after I removed soy, corn and preservatives from his diet. He was on Harrison's too.

Antifreeze fumes caused him to pluck before, and also apple cider vinegar in his drinking water.

So hard to figure these things out. Stay strong and keep looking at what is around Jelly Bean - any scent in the air, mold, lights, food, water quality, humidity in the air, schedule.. but try not to let it drive you crazy. Your little boy sounds like he has a very happy life. Best to you both.

Thank you Plumsmum2005 - your point is really interesting as he is not a great bather! I do not spray him cos he never liked it! He does like the shower... so I will up the frequency and see what happens... maybe I will observe a decrease in preening.

Also, Piasa - I never thought it could be a food sensitivity - he does LOVE corn! I will start to play around with his food and see what happens!!

He is a very happy little birdy though! Such a bundle of character... would you believe last night I heard him talking in his sleep.. He was muttering away and I had a little peep at him under the covers!! Sound asleep... was truly funny!!!!

You guys are so helpful and encouraging! I AM going to solve this!!!