The Pet Behavior Clinic
Helping Pets and People Grow Together.

Feather plucking is a behavior problem in birds in which the bird or a cage mate removes or breaks off healthy feathers. Like nail biting or thumb sucking in people, feather plucking is made worse by anxiety. It's common for birds to pluck during their breeding season when they are under more stress. Some birds continue the behavior year round until it becomes a habit. In many cases, birds that have learned to pluck their feathers return to the activity whenever they are under stress. It's easy to “teach” birds to pluck feathers by fussing over them whenever you see the behavior. As a rule, only pay attention to the birds when they are playing appropriately.

There is no reason to be concerned if you see feathers on the floor if the bird's feathers are healthy. Feathers are normally replaced by new ones. Broken feathers are not always an indication of a problem, either. Broken feathers are shorter than the surrounding feathers but will remain in place until a new feather grows. Broken feathers are not always an indication of feather plucking, either. Birds can break their feathers accidentally on cage bars or toys. If there are several birds in one cage you may be able to tell whether the bird is doing the damage himself by the location of the missing plumage. A bird can not reach feathers on his own head and neck. Missing feathers in these areas indicate disease or another bird as the culprit. But if a bird has numerous broken feathers, broken as soon as they are replaced, exposed skin or deformed feathers, he needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Parasites and diseases can contribute to feather loss and plucking.  Some birds that damage their own feathers, cause skin cuts and bruises and permanently effect feather growth. 

In some cases, a better diet and more exercise makes a difference. Full spectrum lights or access to outdoor enclosures with natural light can help as well. Toys made of sissel, straw, cotton rope or fabric often give the bird chewing activity that replaces interest in his own feathers. If birds are plucking each other, separating them is necessary to stop the feather damage. However, this must be balanced with the loss of companionship. A compromise is to separate the birds when they are unsupervised and allow them time together each day on a bird play area. 

Regular access to water for bathing is critical to curing a feather plucking problem. Make arrangements for your bird to bathe regularly. You may want to try one of my favorite tools, Misty Mate. Provide a fine mist of water from above the bird until the bird is soaked through. This also should be offered a few days each week. If your bird does not enjoy bathing with a spray bottle, offer him a shallow tub, or take large birds into the shower with you.  If your water is chemically treated or contains large amounts of minerals, consider bathing him in distilled water for several weeks to see if it helps.

Copyright 1999 Pet Behavior Clinic, Inc.