McCaw preening feathers around neck of Sun Conure

sclements2003 · Apr 1, 2016

We have a Hahns McCaw we have had for 9 years in with a Sun Conure. They have been together for 5 years and have gotten along fine. About 3 months ago, we noticed the mccaw getting friendly with the conure and sitting really close together on the perch. They mccaw would what looked like pet the conure with her beak and the would both just sit. However, lately the mccaw is pulling the feathers off the conure. It started with just below the head area and is now progressing down the neck and starting to the top of the breast area. Any idea what is causing the mccaw to do this? She's not mean about it and the conure just sits and lets it happen. :orange:

Birdman666 · Apr 1, 2016

sclements2003 said:
We have a Hahns McCaw we have had for 9 years in with a Sun Conure. They have been together for 5 years and have gotten along fine. About 3 months ago, we noticed the mccaw getting friendly with the conure and sitting really close together on the perch. They mccaw would what looked like pet the conure with her beak and the would both just sit. However, lately the mccaw is pulling the feathers off the conure. It started with just below the head area and is now progressing down the neck and starting to the top of the breast area. Any idea what is causing the mccaw to do this? She's not mean about it and the conure just sits and lets it happen.

BETTER MY HEAD FEATHERS THAN MY HEAD.

That's overpreening. Get your sun conure out of there before the feather follicles become permanently damaged. Time to separate them.

Do not wait on this!

If they scream, follow the screaming protocols, but you cannot allow this to continue. Your sun will be injured!

sclements2003 · Apr 1, 2016

Will do. Any idea why they are doing this now?

Birdman666 · Apr 1, 2016

Overpreening is usually a "boredom" thing.

It becomes a habit, like biting your nails. Once it starts, it's one of the hardest things there is to stop. If it continues, and the feather follicles become damaged, your conure will be bald in all the places the other bird plucked him...

So stop this one now!

And keep a close eye on your hahns to make sure he doesn't start plucking himself once they are separated.

You probably want to either buy or make a few new preening toys.

Forraging toys and things to shred, things to keep your hahns busy, will also usually help. (Maybe something like a cardboard box to chew up?)

But you definitely need to separate them.

sclements2003 · Apr 1, 2016

Thank you!

Christinenc2000 · Apr 1, 2016

I would tie Sisal Rope in the cage . My Macaw would preen that at one time. Also tied knots in it . Kinda cheap preening toy

McCaw preening feathers around neck of Sun Conure

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