why does my parrot keep pulling feathers out?

Question

he eats seed and carrots and grapes and he is out of his cage more then he is in.

Answer 1

Stress and/or boredom. Try playing with him more and changing his toys.

Answer 2

Feather mutilation comes in several different patterns. Some birds bite their feathers off at skin level, leaving nothing but broken feather shafts and down feathers. Others actually pull feathers out intact until they're down to bare skin. My own experience indicates the type of feather mutilation often correlates to the initial problem. For instance, a bird that needs more moisture is likely to bite feathers off in an effort to relieve itchy skin, rather than pull feathers.

There are numerous reasons parrots pluck or bite their feathers. The first consideration should always be physiological. While many parrots pluck due to environmental or behavioral problems, a trip to a good avian veterinarian to rule out health problems is a must, before contacting myself or another behaviorist. If a veterinarian has seen the bird and determined it is healthy, the next step is to look toward environmental or behavioral causes for the feather plucking or biting.

What I do is slightly different than most behaviorists, in that I first ask the bird telepathically why it plucks. After the parrot tells me the root of its plucking behavior, I then suggest environmental or behavioral modification - based on the cause or causes of the problem. I have had very good results with this method, since I know the cause of the problem literally from the parrot's mouth.

Answer 3

Parrots can pull their feathers out for a style of diverse motives. stress would be a factor. Has there been a substantial substitute on your parrots existence? New living house? perhaps you probably did no longer get a clean living house, yet replaced the area of your parrots cage? Is there some thing that makes your chicken apprehensive? I actual have an african gray that actual chews (does not pluck) her feathers while she's apprehensive. style of like while human beings bite their fingernails throughout the time of an extreme soccer activity, or despite the case may well be. must be boredom. some parrots pluck feathers because of the fact they're bored. in the adventure that your chicken is caught in it somewhat is cage all day, attempt to get him some thing to do jointly as he's living house on my own. Get some toys for him to play with, or maybe positioned a television interior the room that he's in and enable him watch television all day. yet another excuse must be undesirable feather concern. there's a product stated as professional-Feta it somewhat is an incredible product. It takes a jointly as to start working, in spite of the undeniable fact that that's a liquid which you put in your birds water that facilitates advance feather concern. you could't be conscious it start to artwork until it molts its feathers returned, however the hot feathers will improve in stable and healthful, which in case you think of roughly it, better feathers will harm greater while he plucks them, which will in all probability discourage him from plucking. How many times do you bathe your chicken? that's advisable to bathe him a pair of times a week with basically a sprig bottle. No cleansing soap or something. basically a sprig bottle with heat water. additionally, that's advisable to take him to a vet and have the vet examine for mites. this may well be yet another excuse for plucking. do you be attentive to with regard to the background of your parrot? the place he got here from and what his mothers and dads have been like? Feather plucking is additionally hereditary. I had a quaker parrot that plucked his feathers for (possible) no reason in any respect. Then we found out that his mothers and dads have been feather pickers and he inherited that undesirable habit. It became impossible to interrupt the habit and he finally died formerly we've been able ultimate the priority. So there may well be various motives that your chicken plucks. the warm button is to confirm why he's plucking and attempt to ultimate it. stable success!

Answer 4

I have a friend whos parrot pull out all of her feathers. She was ill. But some birds do this with stress or illness but it is getting to be molting time for alot of birds too so this may be normal. Have your bird's over all health checked by a vet this will ease your mind

Answer 5

Sounds like a regular moult process ... birds have to take it slow, so a few feathers at a time.
You seem to be providing him with a balanced diet (with cold weather coming on, he might love a few chopped walnuts for the extra oil!).
He is out of his cage a lot, so I assume you play with him and keep him entertained.
How about baths? Does he have access to a bath; or at least, do you shower him every day with a plant mister? That is also important.
Unless he plucks himself bald in patches, don't worry about it!

Answer 6

He is becomeing bored or needs a change in diet cut down his intake of Sunflower seed and try a little soaked seed such as Hemp and Niger,soak over night in warm water drain rinse place in a warm place and let sprout feed this to him also try some Spinach leaves or Watercress (not mustard cress) from your local green grocer or supermarket

Answer 7

Ive heard that too many sunflower seeds can over heat your bird and they start pulling their feathers out, try and reduce the amount of seeds in his/hers food and see if this makes a difference

Answer 8

It could be stress, boredom or even mites...
First check him for mites...they make a bird itch, and that's why they pull the feathers...
Give him lots of toys, and things to chew on...is there something new in your home..
so many things can cause a bird to be stressed...You can get something for this, from the pet store...I have also seen females do this when they are moulting...
Good luck on your hunt...

Answer 9

Some birds do this with stress or illness but it is getting to be molting time for alot of birds too so this may be normal. Have your bird's over all health checked by a vet this will ease your mind.

Answer 10

Hi Jud,

Parrots are extremely intelligent birds and they need lots of stimulation. Perhaps your bird is bored.

Perhaps you need to spend a little more time with him.

Try some parrot training:

http://exoticpets.about.com/od/behavior/a/birdtraining.htm

best wishes
chirpy