Tail feather plucked

Peppagirl

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Hi Everyone, I'm quite frustrated right now, this is Peppas second tail that she has chewed off (I assume) the first one was 2 weeks ago and this one tonight.....
 
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Keatz

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Oscar (eclectus)
Basil (Amazon)
Hi. How old is Peppa? Her tail chewing could just be a youthful thing. It is common for young eclectus to over preen and chew their feathers. Of course, there could be other reasons. For instance, does her tail press against anything when she sits on her perch? It could be annoying her.
Molting can also cause eclectus to chew feathers, as they become deprived of protein and their feathers are a good source of it. Is there any sign that she's been eating the snipped feathers?
When I got my eclectus, he chewed his original tail off. He grew another one, and even though he hasn't chewed it off, he has, over time, over preened and chewed the ends of it. My vet thought his chewing could be related to too much fat in his diet. I took him off seed entirely, and since being on his diet, he seems to have disengaged in over preening.
Obviously, there can be myriad reasons why eclectus chew or snip their feathers off. If Peppa's on a healthy diet and you've ruled out other reasons why she might do it, I would put it down to youthfulness. I think that young parrots are a bit like puppies in that they do not realise how hard their bite is, and over time Peppa might learn to be more gentle on her feathers.
 
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Peppagirl

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Hi. How old is Peppa? Her tail chewing could just be a youthful thing. It is common for young eclectus to over preen and chew their feathers. Of course, there could be other reasons. For instance, does her tail press against anything when she sits on her perch? It could be annoying her.
Molting can also cause eclectus to chew feathers, as they become deprived of protein and their feathers are a good source of it. Is there any sign that she's been eating the snipped feathers?
When I got my eclectus, he chewed his original tail off. He grew another one, and even though he hasn't chewed it off, he has, over time, over preened and chewed the ends of it. My vet thought his chewing could be related to too much fat in his diet. I took him off seed entirely, and since being on his diet, he seems to have disengaged in over preening.
Obviously, there can be myriad reasons why eclectus chew or snip their feathers off. If Peppa's on a healthy diet and you've ruled out other reasons why she might do it, I would put it down to youthfulness. I think that young parrots are a bit like puppies in that they do not realise how hard their bite is, and over time Peppa might learn to be more gentle on her feathers.
Firstly thanks for your reply Keatz, Peppa is 12months old. When I first got her she chewed both tail feathers and it seemed to take months for her new tail feathers to come through, I was so excited when I saw them come through, then 2 weeks ago she chewed one off, the ends didn't look chewed, but this time with her other tail feather it looks like she chewed the ends. Her diet is good, in the morning she has her passionfruit, Lychees, Kiwifuit, and Mango. Through the day she has a whole carrot and corn on the cob not cooked for her to chew on, she tends to have a little bit, but I end up throwing the bulk of it out. For dinner she has sweet potato, pumpkin, brown rice cooked with raw brocili, kale, cauliflower blended, sometimes I put cooked vegetable pasta with it. I have also given her the past few weeks some boiled egg and cooked chicken with she loves, I thought that would help with her feathers. I have just noticed that she has chewed her wing feathers and I think also her flight feathers but she won't keep still for me to have a proper look. I don't know what else to do. I have also weighed her and she still only weighs 315 grams. I'm getting quite frustrated because I think her diet is good, I'm home with her all day so she mostly out of her cage except when I'm out. If I'm outside she's with me, if I'm upstairs she's with me, she even showers with me every 2nd day. I have watched her preen herself and she doesn't look gentle at all. I checked to see if there are chunks missing thinking she is plucking but they only look chewed.
 

chris-md

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I just saw this and wanted to commiserate (i know it's a few months old). Parkers always been a chewer but I yesterday noticed he HAS NO TAIL FEATHERS. Its the weirdest sight looking at him when his splits his wings open so you can see back there, but he has chewed all his tail feathers off. But he has flown recently. It's so strange what they can do even with significant feather loss.

I have almost given up on his chewing, dismissing it as part of who he is, and not really upset when I see him chewing feathers, but for me this is a new low that tugs at the heart strings.
 
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jess.reco

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The other reason could be is because shes bored. I give my girl branches to shred to keep off the idea of over preening.
Awesome diet btw :)
 
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Peppagirl

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I just saw this and wanted to commiserate (i know it's a few months old). Parkers always been a chewer but I yesterday noticed he HAS NO TAIL FEATHERS. Its the weirdest sight looking at him when his splits his wings open so you can see back there, but he has chewed all his tail feathers off. But he has flown recently. It's so strange what they can do even with significant feather loss.

I have almost given up on his chewing, dismissing it as part of who he is, and not really upset when I see him chewing feathers, but for me this is a new low that tugs at the heart strings.
Hi Chris,

It's very disheartening when they are chewing or plucking, especially when we have tried everything to eliminate the issue. Thank goodness all of Peppas feathers have grown and look beautiful. So far so good. I feel for you as I was so stressed everytime I saw her chewing. Hopefully she has grown out of chewing or maybe she was just moulting. To this day I still don't know. Good luck with your little man x
 
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Peppagirl

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The other reason could be is because shes bored. I give my girl branches to shred to keep off the idea of over preening.
Awesome diet btw :)
Thank goodness all her tail feathers have grown now and look beautiful. So far so good. I try so hard with her diet so hearing that I'm doing a good job makes me feel better.
 

chris-md

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Your gal molted this spring? Im starting to get a complex! Parker has show zero signs of molting.
 
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Peppagirl

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Your gal molted this spring? Im starting to get a complex! Parker has show zero signs of molting.
She's had her new feathers for about 6 weeks now. So I'm hoping they are here to stay. Peppa had no tail feathers at all for months. We are heading into winter here in Australia, wish it was spring, although it still feels like spring.
 
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Peppagirl

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Im in Aus too :) its starting to feel like winter in nsw!!!

I hope you and Chris find out the reason why your feathered babies are plucking :(
I'm in Sydney. A bit chillier today. Peppa is great now, feathers look amazing!! Maybe she was over pruning. Hopefully it's all sorted.
 

Anansi

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I'd missed this thread the first time around, but I'm glad to hear there has been such improvement with Peppa's feathers. Yeah, the young ones can be brutal with their tail feathers.
 
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Peppagirl

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I'd missed this thread the first time around, but I'm glad to hear there has been such improvement with Peppa's feathers. Yeah, the young ones can be brutal with their tail feathers.
Haha!! She doesn't look short and stubby anymore ;)
 

jess.reco

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Im in Aus too :) its starting to feel like winter in nsw!!!

I hope you and Chris find out the reason why your feathered babies are plucking :(
I'm in Sydney. A bit chillier today. Peppa is great now, feathers look amazing!! Maybe she was over pruning. Hopefully it's all sorted.



I'm an hour out of Sydney. It is freezing today!!!

Well it she keeps over pruning try branches. Trust me it does help!
 
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Peppagirl

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Yes a bit cold today, I have the gas heater on this morning. Peppa seems to have stopped the tail chewing as she has all of her tail feathers. I have given her branches to chew on and she loves it.
 

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