Why Won't She Stop...

Plucking. I own a 25 year old catelina macaw that had a bout of plucking in her teens before I bought her at 16 years old from a guy that owned and operated a fish and tackle store.

Until 2 years ago we lived at my mom's farm and all was good. I then sold her for 1 year to a wonderful woman that honored our contract and returned Sam to me, and I had to find a home that would accept birds so I had to place Sam in a temporary home for 2 months til we moved in Sept 2011. At the temporary home she plucked like crazy.

Her legs and a small area of her belly has always been without feathers from her overplucking in her teens. Now she's nearly bald across her back, under her wings, under her belly and spreading to her rump.

I have her on a consistant bird complete pellet that she's eatten happily for the last 9 years, fresh fruits as much as possible, nuts occasionally and tastes of most things I eat without sauce, salt, or sugar. Sam gets a half hour out of her cage with me every morning before work and another 2-3 hours before bed, she's cuddly, loving, and well balanced with me - has some aggression issues with strangers but she's a 1 person bird. Her cage is between a heat vent and a nice big window for sunshine and warmth, blinds open daily and night time routine intact with 8 solid hours of sleep.

Tonight she's sitting on my knee as I type this and she just pulled a bloodfeather from her belly/rump area. WHY WON'T SHE STOP?! I know she's been through alot of stress in the last couple years, but in the last 4 months I've made things as healthy and routine as possible so life is predictable and safe to her and I'm not sure what else to do...help?

I've never lived with a macaw, yet. I've never lived with a bird that plucks themselves. I do live with an umbrella cockatoo and I know these birds can be known for this. From what I know of parrots, which is limited to what I've read and what I've experienced from Amigo, is...these are such sensitive birds, (meaning parrots), that they can tell if you are in a bad mood before you even realize it. They know if you are an aggressive person the second you walk into their space, and they have a difficult time dealing with change. Poor things, I feel so sorry for birds that are bounced around. My advice would be, if you can't keep her with you, most always, try and find her a forever home.

She may never stop. I hope she does, but that was a lot of change in a short time. For some birds it can be a bad habit that is almost impossible to stop. If you haven't already, definatly take her to the vet and make sure there are no health issues. Go over your diet with her. I'd give it some more time for her to settle.

Also, you say her cage is next to a heat vent which could be really drying the air out. Check the normal humidity in your house, it may be too low. Adding a humidifier might help but it seems like most of her problems are emotional. 4 months isn't a lot of time, maybe once she realizes that she isn't going anywhere she will relax.

I hear you - I genuinely thought I'd found her forever home when I sold her. When I bought her back I decided I would keep her, but needed time to find a place that would allow her...I knew a temporary home would upset her and stress her out, but I had no other option

Now I intend to stay in the house I live in now for a year or two at least, before buying my own home. Point is she's stable now...is there anything you could suggest to help make her feel this too? I'm pretty sure she's acting out from all the moving around in the last 2 years, but want to see if there are any suggestions I can try.

Thank you for your comments and help Now that I think of it...I have a smidge too much stress on my plate right now and it sounds as if that might transfer to her somehow...I'll try to be more outwardly positive! Thanks!

I actually took Sam to the vet just before Christmas with concern for one of her eyes - she's been blind in her right eye for years and all of a sudden there was a spot. So I took her in and we tried 14 days of eye drop antiinflamitory and oral antibiotics but no change so I had an avian optimologist fly in from Saskatchewan to see her and he said it was an inflammation that didn't seem to bother her in the least but wants a follow up in 12-24 months to monitor a small catarac in her good eye. Tiny and doesn't affect her but he wants to monitor it. - Never thought of it but the vet visits alone are alot of stress on top of all the moving...I think more time being consistant with routine will help.

I know 4 months isn't long, but it really seemed like she was settling in fine. No honking or screaming, pleasant talking in the morning and dancing in the sun after baths...now randomly yanking feathers