Feather Picking :(

[DustyDusky]

So heres the story... About a month and a half ago I noticed Dusty was picking at the feathers around his neck. He actually picked a ring around his neck. Well after consulting with the vet, we concluded it was due to boredom (I couldnt afford to get him new toys so his toys weren't getting switched around in his cage). My boyfriend helped me out big time with that, and bought Dusty a bunch of new toys for Christmas. It was really Sweet and Dusty clearly enjoyed it. He for the most part quit picking his feathers. Well I went back up to school about three weeks ago now and in the time I have been gone Dusty has picked most of the feathers from his chest and back. He has patches of baldness all over him.

This one I think I have figured out but I'm not sure and could take some advice or suggestions.

Dusty's cage is located in the living room of my house. My parents take care of him while i am away at school. Under the room that he is in is our woodstove which has been providing nice heat into the downstairs of the house. An unfortunate side effect of the woodstove is it draws the moisture out of the air. Being that it has been a bitter cold winter where I live my parents also started using a space heater of sorts. This heater is kept in the dining room area which is just an extension of the living room. I believe that both sources of heat in the house are taking to much moisture out of the air for Dusty. I know when I am home my skin gets really dry and itchy.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can prevent Dusty from picking his feathers? I am currently away at school so my parents are taking care of him.

 

[suebee]

as for drynes in air i normally leave a wet towel over radiator etc to put moisture back in?

but try keeping her entertained by putting diff toys in her cage, tie bits of fruit/veg around her cage so she has to look for it, when i say diff toys i mean rotate them, or re use them if you can, i recently found out my nut, likes corn on cob!! i string that about her cage an she just loves to shred the whole thing, which is keeping her busy when we are out, she's not much into toys as such, but she does like to shred things, so even a cob without the corn will do as a chew toy??

ask your parents to sit in the room with her etc leave the telly on low? i leave telly on music chanel for nut, when we are out

but have a visit to the vets just to make sure it is bordom thats causing the plucking

 

[Spiritbird]

How about a humidifier?

 

[DustyDusky]

My dad bought a humidifier yesterday so we are going to see how that works. As for the Vet. I have taken him to her not to long ago. She thinks it has to do with the dry air. I have been rotating toys in his cage and giving him fresh foods to look around for.

 

[suebee]

try bathing him in water with glycerine, as in a tiny amount of glycerine, there was a post by von about it helping, but i cant remember full members tag

but use the glycerine used for baking! as some of the ones in chemist here have alcohol or ethanol in it, these are the cosmetic items with glycerine
think it was a teaspoon to a water bottle