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August 1998 Magazine
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Plucking seems to occur more often in Greys because they must be managed more carefully than other species. Internal conflicts involving environment, cage, diet, activities, bathing, discipline, training,
amusement produce internal disharmony and anxiety. The companion Grey may internalize these events and be unable to resolve them in a non-destructive manner. When something is amiss, they may express their discomfort or anxiety by feather plucking.
Greys need to be helped, more than other species, in developing their sense of self and self-confidence. They need to be encouraged to explore and to express their curiosity. They need to be exposed to change, movement, color and variety and to learn that these are not things to be feared. A good breeder will get a bird off to a good start. It is up to the new owner to continue to expose the bird to variety and change.
While much plucking is behavioral, a medical cause must first be ruled out. So a trip to an avian vet is the first step in the process. There is a listing of board certified avian vets at: http://www.birdsnways.com/articles/abvpvets.htm. While board certification provides no guarantee, it may reassure the owner that the vet has experience and knowledge of birds. Collaring or drugs in the absence of skin mutilation should be the last option - not the first.
Physiological feather chewing or plucking may be caused by: kernel peanuts, seeds or nuts (in the shell) contaminated with mycotoxins, low blood calcium, some bacterial/viral/fungal infections, allergic-type reaction to preservatives or artificial colors, heavy metal poisoning, internal or external parasites and dry itchy skin associated with molting or infrequent baths.
Some psychological reasons may be: decreased interaction with the bird's preferred person, decreased out-of-cage-time, lack of interesting/new/chewable toys, a too small cage, isolation, stress, lack of sleep and insecurity.
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Since the finite cause of plucking is very difficult to determine, these suggestions may or may not decrease or halt the plucking. The more quickly plucking is addressed, the better chance there is of stopping the behavior before it becomes a habit. A consultation with an experienced sympathetic avian behaviorist may address the behavioral aspect of plucking.
More articles on feather mutilation :
Feather Mutilation at: http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww4eii.htm
Aspergillosis URLs:
http://theaviary.com/s1295-60.shtml
The Complexities Of Feather Destructive Behavior at http://www.petbirdreport.com/complexities.shtml
Quaker Mutilation Syndrome (QMS) at http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww19eiv.htm
How to Manage Feather Picking at http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/featherpicking.htm
Feather Picking in Pet Birds at http://www.vetcity.com/feathpkg1.htm
http://theaviary.com/s1295-61.shtml
http://www.santaclarapethospital.com/avdizez.htm
http://www2.upatsix.com/spbe/manual/aspergillosis.html
http://netvet.wustl.edu/species/birds/aviandis.txt
http://fungus.utmb.edu/f-atlas/aspergil.htm
OTHER MYTHS ABOUT GREYS | |||
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Myth I - Greys Are Clumsy | Myth IV - Greys Need More Calcium | ||
Myth III - Greys Are One-Person Birds |
A pet bird ezine, pet bird e-zine, for pet parrots & exotic birds. Cockatoo parrot picture courtesy of Glasgow Enterprises
Articles on the care & breeding of pet birds, pet parrots & exotic birds
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