My very happy Ducorps Too started plucking his feathers one day (to my horror!) and we couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. He wasn't bored or stressed and we checked for mites...

Eventually we found out what was wrong.
In winter it gets very cold here and we try to maintain the temperature in his room with a little wall heater during the night. But without us knowing, the heater was drying his skin out so badly that he was going crazy with the itching! Because of that he started pulling his feathers out where ever it was itchy!

SO - I just wanted to share with you this ingenious solution to keeping your little fluffly balls of joy warm when its cold:
A heated perch! How ingenious is it AND it saves a lot of electricity because we don't have the heater on anymore.

Here is a link to the heated perch we bought:

We also gave him some Feather Oil medicine and a little spray bottle of warm water and vit E oil helps to keep his skin moistened.

I hope to help everyone else avoid the mistake I made because it is heartbreaking watching your parrot in such discomfort!
(He's doing so much better now!)

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With Enough Training...Man Can Be Parrots Best Friend!

Me and Alex both freeze every night unless we have the heater on (he sleeps in my room. Spoilt little bugger) so we have a panel heater that is specifically made with no toxic compounds for use in children's rooms and around small animals. He showers with me every few days so we've never had a dry skin problem (My skin would dry out before his did anyway, I have terrible skin). yet anyway (touch wood!)

A heated perch sounds like a good alternative though in your situation. I'd be worried about Alex getting his beak on the cord though

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Be careful of his feet. This same perch caused pressure sores on my birds feet. She loved the perch so much,, My vet suggested wrapping the perch in vet tape so I did. It made no difference so I finally gave the heated perch away.

There was a suggestion to sand the perch down a little so that it wasn't completely smooth like it is - to give a more natural "wood" feel to it. I will keep an eye out for that! thanks for the heads up!

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With Enough Training...Man Can Be Parrots Best Friend!

Oh and PS - the cord is nicely tucked away outside of his reach otherwise that would be my main concern

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With Enough Training...Man Can Be Parrots Best Friend!

Sanding may be the way to work this our for your bird. The perch must feel so good to them, they do not want to get off!

Is a hot water bottle safe ??

I have a 6 week old Sun Conure and we are in winter at the moment ..... He/She is not in a cage but next to my bed .... I have a hot water bottle with 2 towels under it and 2 on top of it ..... Am i doing the right thing at the moment ??

When i get up in the morning he/she seems fine..

I guess the only thing I would worry about with a hot water bottle is that my parrot my bite through it or the towel might move and burn him.

But if it is working for you then you must be doing something right:

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With Enough Training...Man Can Be Parrots Best Friend!