Brown Headed Overpreening

Deueller · Nov 23, 2013

So I have a brown headed poicephalus that has been over preening and shredding her feathers. She's only 5 months old. We've been working on playing with toys because when I got her she was terrified. So all she did was preen and preen and now her belly isn't even green anymore.

Recently, I saw he start to notice her pull out a feather every time I came home and didn't go over and get her out of her cage.

She used to do the same when I would leave so I would treat her with half an almond.

Is there anything I can do? I feel lost.

SoCalWendy · Nov 23, 2013

I'd take her to the vet and get her checked out to rule out parasites. 5 months and pulling out feathers. How long have you had her? What conditions did she come from? What is her diet like? Sry so many questions.

GaryBV · Nov 23, 2013

One thing that might help is to get her some toys that she can 'preen' and peck at like the Wesco Kabob, and hang a millet holder up where she has to work to get at it and fill it with nutri-berries, avi-cakes, millet, and whatever else she loves. Does she like to tear up paper? Give her paper, she like to forage in boxes? put treats in small paper boxes and let her rip it up - get her to be busy and put that beak to use on other things than herself. It is possible it could be diet related also, like an allergy, or a deficiency, so as Wendy asked I'd like to know her diet as well.

SoCalWendy · Nov 23, 2013

GaryBV said:
One thing that might help is to get her some toys that she can 'preen' and peck at like the Wesco Kabob, and hang a millet holder up where she has to work to get at it and ifll it wish nutri-berries, avi-cakes, millet, and whatever else she loves. Does she like to tear up paper? Give her paper, she like to forage in boxes? put treats in small paper boxes and let her rip it up - get her to be busy and put that beak to use on other things than herself. It is possible it could be diet related also, like an allergy, or a deficiency, so as Wendy asked I'd like to know her diet as well.

Hahaha I have a basket that Rio is turning in to toothpicks. She is having a blast tearing it apart. She also likes to scare me half to death by hanging off the sides of it as it tips over. LOL

Deueller · Nov 24, 2013

I got her from a breeder near DC. She was timid and a little skittish at first but we became closely bonded within a week or two. She eats harrison and a natural fruit blend. Along with fresh veggies and fruits. After about a month or two having her, I left one day and came back about 2 hours later and she had shredded her chest feathers. Not pulled them but shredded the tops of them. She has so many foraging toys already. And she seems to pull at her feathers whenever she sees me leave the house. Im just scared she's "overly" bonded and won't tolerate any time by herself.

SoCalWendy · Nov 24, 2013

Deueller said:
I got her from a breeder near DC. She was timid and a little skittish at first but we became closely bonded within a week or two. She eats harrison and a natural fruit blend. Along with fresh veggies and fruits. After about a month or two having her, I left one day and came back about 2 hours later and she had shredded her chest feathers. Not pulled them but shredded the tops of them. She has so many foraging toys already. And she seems to pull at her feathers whenever she sees me leave the house. Im just scared she's "overly" bonded and won't tolerate any time by herself.

Wow, do you leave the radio or tv on for her? I do that with mine. Don't know if it helps, but I do it anyway. Maybe she has more going then just a separation problem. Can you post a picture? Who much time does she get outside of her cage each day? Is she clipped or can she fly?

Deueller · Nov 25, 2013

I have left the radio on when I leave most of the time, sometimes I forget. I am a college student, so she is out of her cage most of the day, talking 4+ hours. Minimum of 3. The aviary I bought her from clipped her, if I would have had a choice I would've said no. But she was like that before I even knew I was getting her.

This Was the day I got her. The only thing that has changed is that there is no green on her chest, She has shredded the top feathers. Also I noticed the other day she has pulled/shredded some of the feathers on her legs :\

MonicaMc · Nov 26, 2013

Toy like this might help.

Starburst Foraging

May also want to check out some ideas on this website

http://parrotenrichment.com/

Brown Headed Overpreening

Deueller

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SoCalWendy

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GaryBV

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SoCalWendy

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Deueller

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SoCalWendy

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Deueller

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MonicaMc

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Parrot ate tomato!

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