Congratulations!!! Looking forward to "meeting" Lulu, so post LOTS of pics!
As for prevention of plucking, keeping your ekkie happy is one important aspect. But it's important to note that psychological/emotional state is not the only pathology of the behavior. Sometimes the cause is medical. Or it can begin with a medical cause, such as severe itchiness or nerve tingling that prompts the plucking, and then evolve into a habitual behavior that persists long after the medical cause has been neutralized.
So, to prevent plucking, or at least significantly reduce the chances of it, you should do several things. First, keep up with her regular checkups with a certified avian vet. And be sure to take her to said CAV at the first sign that anything is wrong.
Second, provide a proper diet. A varied fresh food diet of veggies, sprouts, fruits, oats, grains and legumes is best for them, as ekkies have proven sensitive to many different brands of pellets. (Reactions have been known to include the development of toe-tapping, wing-flipping, feather plucking and increased aggression.) Their diets should be heavy with Vitamins A and C. And you'll want to watch closely for any foods, or combination thereof, that cause an adverse reaction in them. (Jolly, for instance, reacts badly to having blueberries AND raspberries in the same chop. Just a particular sensitivity triggered by that combo. I don't know why, but it's enough that i know.) And legumes are important, but not in excess as too much protein can also trigger toe-tapping and wing-flipping.
And third, provide frequent baths/showers. And I'm talking soaked to the skin, here. Optimal would be every other day, but you should at least do this twice a week.
