Question for Parents of Pluckers

[Lola B.]

Today while struggling through training (sigh) I noticed a few yellow feathers falling. I didn't actually *see* Delphi pull any out but I am concerned as many parrotlets are pluckers.

If you have a plucked P'let I was curious when you first noticed it-- was it around the age of sexual maturity? Are there times when it is worse or better than others?

Thanks.

[twotweets]

Midge seems to be a plucker during breeding season, not a lot of feathers, just enough to look scruffy. I make sure she has fresh bath water as she likes to wash three or four times a day. I keep lots of shredding toys in her cage, a peacock feather and move things around a lot to keep her from getting bored while I am at work. Having Soliel has not hepled her at all one way or the other. My daughter (she has three birds and works at a bird shop) says that making sure she gets plenty of sleep and less daylight this time of year will help, but I don't like covering her at night because I have no time with when I get home at 6:30 at night and need to cover her by 8:00.

[Lola B.]

I was concerned because before I rescued Delphi I was told he (then a "she") was molting and the feathers I saw fall were yellow.

It's not that a plucked bird doesn't appeal to me. Really, any and every bird does. I just worry that maybe training is stressing him out.

[chapala]

Training should be positive reinforcement based, so something your bird looks forward to. Positive training won't stress your bird - he'll be working for rewards. If you think he is stressed, back up a few steps in the training and let him become comfortable, then pick up a little more slowly. Their body language tells you a lot about how they're doing.

Re plucking, if you don't see any bare patches, it's probably a normal loss of feathers. They do have a lot of feathers to replace when molting, so you'll see a lot of feathers on the cage bottom at times. If no bare patches, I wouldn't worry about plucking.

[StephGee]

Herbie (so far) has plucked once. With his big spring molt this year (his first spring--he's only 11 months old now). He plucked one line from top of wing across his chest to the other top of his wing. He is now fully feathered again, even though he tends to overpreen a bit and bend some feathers weird.

If the feathers are just falling out, he's not plucking. You can tell when they are plucking, you would see it or come home to a bald spot and a bottom of the cage that looks like someone broke open a feather pillow. Trust me. It sounds from what you described that Delphi is in a normal molt.

[kiwismom]

Like Reta said, if there were only a few feathers, it's probably normal. Kiwi's plucked ever since he was 4 months old,,,, I just say "chews his feathers", he doesn't pluck them. He's never been able to fly since he was a baby. I feel bad but he's been to the vet several times and everything checks out, as well as on a good diet. Everything you think you should be doing. It's one of the most frustrating things but you still love the little bugger!!!!

[Lola B.]

Have you guys heard about having a plucker's beak "notched"? I read that the other day and I was pretty floored. I guess it doesn't interfere with eating but the bird cannot get a grip on a feather. I'd think that'd make them CRAZY.

[Jinx n Noodle]

I would imagine that if they can't grip their feathers to pluck, they probably couldn't preen very well not to mention play with toys comfortably...

[raiven]

Plus Sadie (and others) do not necessarily 'pluck' the feather. She chewed off her tail feathers. I do wish I could put a little sock on her though!

[jodeg]

My little Kiwi has been a HAPPY plucker for a year now. I've tried everything and she still plucks. She's checked out fine at the avian vet, and she's happy, playful and can fly beautifully.

I don't know much about this "notching" of the beak, but I think it would make her very unhappy and frustrated. Sounds too drastic to me - IMHO! I'd rather see her plucked and happy!

[Lola B.]

I mentioned it because I also found it curious. I wonder if they sedate them for that?

[Jinx n Noodle]

Unless a painful procedure, I doubt it. I get Lydia's beak trimmed all the time. They just hold her and trim with a dremmel.

[chapala]

Beaks do have nerve endings and if cut or broken too far up, will bleed. The beak also can become very sore if too much is trimmed off, or if the tip breaks off in a fall, and then the bird only can eat soft food for a week or so.

I have never heard of notching the beak to prevent plucking. Where did you read this information? It seems cruel to me since the beak is so important to parrots, in eating, preening, and playing. It also seems if they couldn't pull a feather, they also wouldn't be able to crack a seed. Plus the beak is continually growing, so it's something that would have to be done a few times a year, not very nice for the bird.

[Lola B.]

I PROMISE i don't make this crazy stuff up! LOL:)

http://www.avianweb.com/featherplucking.html

Temporary Fixes: Please note that the below will not RESOLVE the underlying problem, it will only stop your pet bird from being able to seek relief by pulling his or her feathers, or chewing on his or her skin. The below should only be implemented if the vet was unable to find an underlying condition, believes it to be behavioral and recommends it to hopefully break a bad habit.

Great success has been reached by a vet putting a little notch in the lower beak (mandible) which makes it difficult for the bird to grasp a feather, and yet doesn't impede eating. The beak will eventually grow back; the rule of thumb is that the deeper the notch the longer it works. This will only treat the symptom - and the cause of feather plucking still needs to be investigated, but this procedure will prevent permanent damage to the feather follicles and prevent further feather loss.

I am not being antagaonistic by posting the links and topics I do, I post them to facilitate conversation concerning these things.

(Just in case anyone was curious.)