Green Cheek Conure Chewing Feathers (with pictures)

[Frumpydumple]

Cookie is almost 4 years old and she has been chewing her feathers for at least a year, but now it is worse than ever. It got worse when I clipped her wings about 5 months ago. She chews her tail feathers, her flight feathers and a couple of feathers on her back are slightly chewed too. She doesn't pluck, she just chews. She gets a good diet of Harrisons pellets and fruit and vegetables. She has lots of toys and I am in the room with her almost constantly. I have also just started taking her outside with me, so she gets a lot of attention. I have also tried AviX Soother spray, but this doesn't seem to have made any difference. She has chewed her tail badly the last few days.

 

[Girl4Jesus83]

I wish I had some personal advice, but I've never had this problem. The only thing I can think is to make a toy out of her own feathers or find a toy with some on it. I've also heard of cockatoo owners making a toy out of a mop head and the 2 preens/multilates that instead of its' own feathers. Sounds like he is obssessed with the texture since he is clearly well taken care of. GL!

 

[MonicaMc]

Is there any possibility that she's chewing because of her clipped wings? Sometimes, having clipped wings irritate them because they can't fully preen out the feather like they should and clipped feathers can have sharp ends all of which can lead to a bird being bothered by the clip. This can then lead to over-preening as well as plucking.

 

[Frumpydumple]

She's been chewing them since before I clipped her.

 

[MonicaMc]

In that case... what about putting straw toys around her cage to play with, chew up and forage in? Straws 'kind of' resemble feathers because they are hollow like feathers.

Starburst Foraging


And now that I'm thinking a bit more, I have heard something about birds having a nutritional deficiency if they are chewing up feathers, however I do not know how accurate this information is.

 

[Frumpydumple]

She has loads of toys but she doesn't really play with anything apart from two of her foraging toys. She has a good diet, so I don't think she would have a deficiency, but maybe.

 

[MonicaMc]

If you stuck pieces of food and treats into the end of the straws, would she not play with the straws then?

 

[Frumpydumple]

She would do anything for seed, so yes, but she always goes back to chewing her feathers eventually.

 

[MonicaMc]

It might be a good idea to keep the straws stocked full of stuff for her then and see how it goes?

In the least it's worth a shot.


And you can also try natural safe branches with leaves on them. Stripping branches of bark and leaves can be quite satisfying!


Foraging for Parrots