Plucking Peach Front?

[Vampiric_Conure]

I've had plucked birbs before, but they were plucked by OTHER birds. This is the first time I've had a bird pluck himself. Charlie is a 22 year old Peach Front. I've put him in a large cage and have started spraying him again. I suspect he's plucking from boredom, as I've reduced my flock recently, but I'm not sure.

Any idea what I can do to help him out? My poor boy. :'(

 

[StormyPica]

I've had plucked birbs before, but they were plucked by OTHER birds. This is the first time I've had a bird pluck himself. Charlie is a 22 year old Peach Front. I've put him in a large cage and have started spraying him again. I suspect he's plucking from boredom, as I've reduced my flock recently, but I'm not sure.

Any idea what I can do to help him out? My poor boy. :'( View attachment 40471

Well, I don't want to be overly critical, but his diet doesn't look the best, and his cage looks dirty...

Take him to a vet if possible, try to keep him near sunlight (I can see he's in quite a dark area there, and constant darkness is really bad for parrots). You can try to bring him outside into the sun, sunlight is VERY healthy for them, and can reduce plucking!

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Well, I don't want to be overly critical, but his diet doesn't look the best, and his cage looks dirty...

Take him to a vet if possible, try to keep him near sunlight (I can see he's in quite a dark area there, and constant darkness is really bad for parrots). You can try to bring him outside into the sun, sunlight is VERY healthy for them, and can reduce plucking!

True, his cage isn't the cleanest - it's a large cage that's difficult to scrub. His diet is a mix of veggies, seed and pellets. And as for a dark space - Yeah, in the eve, the room gets rather dark even with a lamp! During the day, the room is quite bright. I'm gonna try cleaning his cage again. See if that improves things.

 

[Terry57]

A change like having a smaller flock could have brought on the plucking.
I would suggest adding new toys as a distraction, & the baths may also help.
Plucking can be such a difficult thing to get to the bottom of, and once they start it can be hard, if not impossible to stop them if it becomes a habit.
Is he in the same room with your cockatiel? If so, if their cages are placed where they can see each other that may help as well.

This thread may be of help as well:

Plucking: A Search For Answers

I have several pluckers, and I know how hard it is to see those feathers on the cage bottom. I hope that since Charlie just started plucking that you will be able to distract him enough with the toys and extra attention to keep it from becoming a habit.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

A change like having a smaller flock could have brought on the plucking.
I would suggest adding new toys as a distraction, & the baths may also help.
Plucking can be such a difficult thing to get to the bottom of, and once they start it can be hard, if not impossible to stop them if it becomes a habit.
Is he in the same room with your cockatiel? If so, if their cages are placed where they can see each other that may help as well.

This thread may be of help as well:

Plucking: A Search For Answers

I have several pluckers, and I know how hard it is to see those feathers on the cage bottom. I hope that since Charlie just started plucking that you will be able to distract him enough with the toys and extra attention to keep it from becoming a habit.

Thank you so much! Charlie can see my cockatiel, Redshift, from his cage. Their cages are beside each other. Will check out the thread you mentioned! Again, Thank you!

 

[Cottonoid]

I agree that the recent changes in your life could be what prompted Charlie to pluck.

Giving him lots of toys to chew or present or make noise with if he likes that can help give him an outlet. And lots and lots of reassurance from you that you and Redshift aren't going anywhere.

He's super cute with his fancy peach front

 

[BirdyBee]

Oh no! I hope everything is fine!

I agree, the sudden environmental changes may have caused it. A vet visit may still be a good idea if plucking doesn't settle.