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To understand the phenomena of feather picking in pet birds, one must realize that birds are emotional animals affected psychologically by both physical and mental stress. Identification of the feather picking bird is made by the presence of healthy head feathers with feather loss and/or mutilated feathers in body areas accessible to the bird's beak. Typical feather picking bites include the propatagium (wing web), inner thighs, and sternum. Diagnosis is based on detailed history and physical exam. Recommended laboratory tests include an exam of the droppings, blood profiles, radiographs, culture, and biopsy of affected skin areas.

If feather loss on the head is observed, the bird may be rubbing the feathers, another bird may be picking the feathers off, or a disease other than feather picking is the cause.
    
           
 


 


This female Eclectus has been feather picking off and on for years. Extensive testing has failed to determine a specific underlying cause. It is felt that many of these birds pluck feathers either as a result of a behavioral problem associated with being in a captive environment or from potential underlying allergies.

   
           
 

History

Dietary history is especially important - type of diet, amount, what is actually eaten, and how often. Also, duration of signs, initial appearance of lesions, progression of lesions, and previous treatment all are important in helping the veterinarian do their best in making recommendations to control this problem . Any environmental changes you can associate with the onset of the feather picking would also be helpful.

Feather picking is divided into behavioral and medical causes.

Behavioral Causes of Feather Picking

  1. Attention Getting Device: Birds competing with other birds or other objects in the house for owner's attention. If scolded by owner for picking, the bird gets the attention it wants and starts a vicious cycle.
  2. Boredom: In their natural environment birds have thousands of stimuli. As a household pet a bird may have little stimulation, especially during the day. This may lead to displacement behavior that includes feather picking. Lack of routine may contribute to picking. Some feather picking birds will stop picking when given stimulation or when rules or routines are established.
  3. Crowding: Overcrowding in a cage or aviary may stimulate feather picking.
  4. Dominance: Dominant birds may pick feathers of subordinates. Usually feathers are picked from the top of the head. Also, trauma to the skin may occur. Dominance can also cause self-feather picking as a displacement behavior.
  5. Environmental change: This may be an important cause of feather picking. Cause initiated by change in normal routine or environment such as a new house, new room, taking an object out of the room, new people or pets coming into the household.
  6. Exaggerated Change: Preening is a normal activity that involves cleaning and rearranging the feathers. Over preening can lead to feather picking.
  7. Nesting Bird Ready to Clutch: It is common in some species for birds to line the nest with feathers. This is normal and is seen only at nesting time. If this continues beyond breeding season and goes beyond breast, abdomen or leg regions then it's considered feather picking.
  8. Poor Wing Clip: Especially if the feather ends are sharp or uneven.
  9. Reproductive Frustrations: Especially during breeding season, feather picking may be caused by exaggerated or frustrated courtship rituals.
  10. Territorial: In multi-bird cage, territorial disputes may lead to feather picking secondary to displacement behavior.
  11. Trauma: Birds may pick excessively at the site of an injury.

Medical Causes of Feather Picking

  1. Allergies: This cause if controversial. It is recommended to keep birds away from cooking fumes and cigarette smoke.
  2. Feather Mites: This is rarely a cause of feather picking.
  3. Internal Parasites: Giardia can cause itching and feather picking especially in Cockatiels. Roundworms and Tapeworms are other possibilities.
  4. Environment: If the air is too dry, the feathers may become brittle and feather growth will be inhibited; this may lead to feather picking.
  5. Hypothyroidism: Rarely seen as a cause of feather picking but should be considered if the bird has thickened skin and feather loss.
  6. Internal Disease: Especially liver and pancreatic disease.
  7. Infectious Dermatitis, Folliculitis: Either bacterial or fungal skin infections may cause feather picking.
  8. Malnutrition: The predominant medical cause for feather picking, malnutrition, leads to alterations in skin and feathers, which can lead to picking. Adequate nutrition is necessary for the molting process. Chronic malnutrition especially vitamin A deficiency, will lead to scaly skin and dull ragged feathers.
  9. Neoplasia: Birds pick over skin tumors

The following are some suggestions for different ways to discourage feather picking:

  1. Make sure nutrition is adequate; studies have shown the best way to assure proper nutrition is to feed a pelleted diet. For birds who won't eat pellets, regular seed mixtures combined with treats, conditioning foods, fruits and vegetables would be appropriate. Vitamin supplements may also be helpful if supervised by a doctor. Note: Good sources of vitamin A include escarole, sweet potato, kale, broccoli florets, carrots, and squash.
  2. Treat infection or internal disease where appropriate (diagnose with lab work)
  3. Give bird a lot of attention-play with, talk to, hand feed, take from room to room, and so on.
  4. Leave TV or radio on when no one is home.
  5. Toys can be helpful. They must be safe, kept clean, and must not overcrowd the cage.
  6. Try moving the bird to another area of the house (always away from drafts). Try near a window so it can look out or put it in the family room where there is more activity.
  7. The cage should be of adequate size to allow the bird room for physical activity. Also, some advocate providing a place for the bird to hide and "get away from it all". A dark box attached to the cage would be adequate.
  8. Make sure the bird gets 8 - 12 hours of sleep in a dark area.
  9. Remove the feathers that fall to the bottom of the cage, so the bird cannot play with them.
  10. Spray the bird daily with lukewarm water in a misting bottle.
  11. Try using the branch of a hardwood tree as a perch.
  12. Avoid stressful situations, e.g., other pets that threaten the bird, humans who tease the bird, etc.
  13. Try playing a cd or tape of bird sounds. If this helps, you may want to acquire a companion bird.
  14. Medical therapy with anti-psychotic drugs or hormones to address birds' behavioral problems.