Plucking love bird. Help!! :(

I recently had a conversation with my vet about this but that being said I am definitely no expert on the subject as I don't have much experience with this. My lovebird Sam went through a brief plucking phase but stopped on his own after a little while....

But this is what my vet said: she said once you rule out any physical ailment or problem you have to start ruling out environmental factors and that could range from his diet to his sleeping arrangements/schedule to where his cage is placed in the house.... She said this can be really overwhelming and that it is important to carefully consider what could have initially triggered the picking and work your way from there as you start ruling out what may be causing this.... Again... I am no expert by any means but was given this info in a brief conversation with my avian vet. I hope it helps a bit good luck... I hope he gets better really soon

Ps. I see you are from Canada....if by some chance you happen to live in the Vancouver area there is a fantastic avian vet on West Broadway who has tonnes of experience with plucking...she is wonderful - Dr. MacDonald. If you happen to be in the Calgary area there is a great exotic pet vet who is very knowledgeable about birds at the Avenida Pet Clinic....

As vague as this info is I hope it is a jumping off point in helping you turn this around

Wolfiea1 said:

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he began plucking not long after I had to give him to her. I'm assuming it was from the stress of being in a new place and away from us so suddenly. I visited him frequently but it didn't seem to help at all. After we moved from where we were at the time I took him back right away. It's been about 5 years since I got him back and he hasn't stopped plucking at all. I'm assuming it's either become habit or he does it because it hurts to leave the feathers growing back in. He only plucks the top part of his left wing. I've seen people use collars before but I don't want him to freak out or hate me. He doesn't exactly like objects being put towards him, so he definitely wouldn't like the idea of a collar too much. But I was wondering if maybe I could put it on him just until his feathers grow back, and then take it off and see what happens? I've been looking for solutions forever, and I'm aware that it might be too late. But if there's ANYTHING I can do, it'd be really appreciated if someone could tell me. Thanks.

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I've got some ideas – do you have a cell phone camera?

Set it to the highest quality and photo the wing.

Then, do it again on video(assuming your phone can handle it) and make sure you get all the angles.

Upload it here or on someplace linked to here.

I don't buy into too late. Relax, it's localized. In fact, it's so localized I think I know what it is – I just need to see it and throw some magnification on it. And you, are probably going to want a avian vet to treat skin site if I'm right.(You should be doing once a year well birdie checkups anyway, even for the little guys-- so as long as you're going anyway bring it up)

The bright side is I don't think you have a bird with a behavioral disorder.

I do think there's something going on with the skin that was picked up at the relative's house. Like I said, I have to see it. Get it as well lit as the bird will tolerate and start taking pictures. Even if I'm wrong, somebody here should recognize it(or one of the ornithology labs I'm going to help you farm the pictures out to, if you're willing).