Thanks for the support everyone--even though I expected a setback, I didnt realize how disheartening it would be. I know I shouldnt take it personally, but it's hard not to. There were some smaller red feathers in the cage this morning, but not the mass annihilation that I saw yesterday. He seems happy--he beak grinds and is fairly social, even though I still cant touch him. He can touch me...but Im not allowed to pet (stinker!)
I had given him some shreddable packing paper tied to the cage but he was actually eating it, not just shredding it, so I took it away. He had a large shred toy in the cage but largely ignored it and has a hanging hemp mat with toys, including colored tissue gift packing in a paper tube...so plenty of things to pick at. I had a cotton rope and block toy in his cage for a few weeks that went untouched. Still learning toy preferences and not giving up--but have been focused mostly on his hormonal issues. Every time he's out of the cage (which is pretty much all the time if Im home) he heads to the "hump bunny". Then he'll feed the knob on the top of the cage, and then finally wander over to say hello. Not ideal, but it has helped with his frustrations and I credit it for helping with his feather regrowth. He gets outside (patio) time several mornings a week and was outside almost the entire day Saturday while i stripped down and cleaned the cages and perches. His cage is next to the window, so he has plenty of visual distractions during the day as well.
As far as stress goes, the only thing that i could think of that may have triggered it was that the dog has discovered that dropped food is a free snack, and while i was at work she pulled the paper liner out of his cage and shredded it, which means she was probably right next to his cage for a good while, and making noise. He is not fond of the dog (with good reason) though he doesnt cower when she is around---he's out of his cage climbing around knowing she's lying next to me so her being next to his cage hasnt really been an issue before now. Liesl's cage is about 3-4 feet from his, and they have come to accept each other and the animosity has abated and I can have them both out of their cages at the same time without problem, but they still arent allowed to be in contact. Last night I took Liesl upstairs with me to hang out and he was doing flock call almost the entire time--that was a first. I did rearrange his cage after cleaning but the new elements in it are all familiar to him ( I gave him things I know he likes, plus one new perch and one new wood toy). The perch/branch hasnt been a problem, he'prefers his ropes to it, but has been on it and chewed it some. The wood toy is ignored...so Liesl will get it soon. Ive already added a block toy he had shown some interest in back into the cage in case he wants to chew something. He really prefers being out of the cage, and while he's clipped it isnt a problem. I try to give them both as much out of cage time as possible along with one on one time with me.
Food wise he gets his veggie chop in the mornings along with either palm or coconut oil and a sprinkling of hemp/flax seed and whatever else I can find in the fridge. This morning it was mashed potatoes...that was a big hit. He tends to pick at the evening fruit--clearly a savory guy, so i throw in some harrisons pellets for carbs, or give him granola dust (the granola at the bottom of the jar that has no raisins, no one wants granola without raisins!)
I hope this addresses most of the questions and suggestions. Thanks again for your support! If you see anything Im not doing, or shouldnt be doing, feel free to point it out--after all, Im still new to this.