FEATHER PLUCKING LOVEBIRD?

[lovechick]

The lovebird that I recently adopted from my friend plucks it's feathers. I bought this anti-plucking spray stuff but it doesn't seem to work..... I feel realy bad for this birdy cause he has no feathers on his back and bloody wound too, that he keeps picking on... and he is always shaking like he is cold or something... and do you know if his feathers will ever grow back? Please if you have any advice I would really appriciate it! Thank you!

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[kg988]

I had a finch that did that. We didn't know what to do. She kept on plucking them and wouldn't stop. Eventually she died. So if i were you i would take your bird to the vet. Or if there is a nest you should put more stuffing in it because the bird might be trying to fill its nest.

[tappajabba]

hi lovechick,
you say 'he' - is the bird a he?

If its a hen,and she is mature enough (10-12months ish!), she could be going through the nest building routine which involves the birds taking feathers and stripping branches and tucking them into their back below the wings and building and lining a nest.

I too found out a long time ago that the anti plucking sprays dont work and instead find that fresh water finely sprayed over the birds work just as well.

Have you checked the bird for mites?
Feather mites will show up on the inside of his wings as wee black lines or wee red mites (red mite!, if this is the case then get a reliable antimite spray ( these work)and spray the bird head to toe making sure his eyes are not affected with the spray.

or....
is he bored in the new cage?
have plenty of things in the cage without overcrowding the cage for him to occupy his mind.I found that they love stripping bark from branches and suitable woods to use are apple/fruit or willow. both types are beneficial in away to the birds health.
Fruit branches contains natural vitamins and willow contains a type of natural paracetemol and by using them you are ontributing to both his health and his mental activities.

Hope you find this of some use and appologise for it being so long winded...!!!



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Tappajabba....
helping to promote healthy pet keeping worldwide...

[Tweety]

tappajabba is right about the hen. If your bird is a female, and doesn't have any branches, twigs, etc, to build its nest, then it will start plucking its feathers.

How is your bird now? Is it still plucking its feathers?

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http://www.themelee.com/smilies/s/otn/love/bolletje.gif Tweety é Canary

[lovechick]

Yes, my birdie still plucks it's feathers and I have no idea if it's a girl or boy! http://petshub.com/ubb/redface.gif
I've tried everything sprays, collars, other medicine, but doesen't seem to work! http://petshub.com/ubb/frown.gif
I think it's stress or something cause i got this bird from my friend and they have a lot of little kids in their house and they were all touching and bothering poor bird! http://petshub.com/ubb/frown.gif
I hope he will stop doing it! Does anybody know if the plucked feathers will grow back someday? Thanx a lot! http://petshub.com/ubb/smile.gif
lovechick

[tappajabba]

hi lovechick,
you think it may be stress from the fact that the kids were annoying him....that was then now i assume there are no kids annoying him!!!
did you check for mites?
i would suggest an antimite spray anyway just to be on the safe side.
give him a good soaking from head to toe,be carefull round his eyes and let him dry off naturally so as to let him preen whats left of his feathers.

the feathers that are missing now will grow back in on his next moulting period.

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Tappajabba....
helping to promote healthy pet keeping worldwide...

[justyayaLT]

HI..
I'VE READ YOUR MESSAGE POSTS ABOUT YOUR LOVEBIRD..I NOTED THAT IT WAS QUITE SOMETIME AGO THAT YOU PUT THE MESSAGE ON HERE. I WAS HOPING YOU COULD TELL ME HOW YOUR BIRD MADE OUT? AND WHAT YOU DID?

I'M NEW TO THIS FORUM..AND ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY LOVEBIRD..KIKI. A PEACH FACE

WE'VE HAD KIKI FOR TWO YEARS..WE ALWAYS CALLED KIKI A GIRL..BUT NOW THINK I'TS A BOY CAUSE HE'S CONSTANTLY FOLDING THIS LITTLE BLANKET AND MATING WITH IT AND REGURGITATING ON IT..HE'S DONE IT FROM DAY ONE.

WELL NOW KIKI'S STARTED FEATHER PICKING UNDER HER LEFT WING..SO BAD..THAT IT'S BLEEDING...WE'RE AT WORK FOR ABOUT 9 HOUROR MORE ABOUT THREE DAYS A WEEK..BUT TRY TO VISIT FOR LUNCH AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE..AND LET HER OUT..SHE FLIES FREELY IN THREE ROOMS.. SHE HAS A NICE CAGE..WITH ALL THE AMENITIES...EVERY NIGHT SHE SLEEPS IN A TWEET TENT WHICH MY BOYFRIEND PUTS HER TO BED..AND SHE STAYS IN TILL THE MORNING WHEN HE TURNS IT AND SHE COMES OUT.

WE LOVE KIKI SO MUCH..AND ARE SO WORRIED..WE NEVER GOT HER A MATE..CAUSE WE GOT HER FROM SOMEONE WHO HAD HER ALONE FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS...IN A VERY SMALL CAGE WITH NOTHING BUT ONE PERCH AND SEED.. SHE WAS NIPPY AT FIRST BUT ADORES MY BOYFRIEND AND IS GOOD WITH ME..BUT WITH AN OCCASIONAL NIP...TO ME ONLY.

SO..THIS JSUT STARTED.. SHE STARTED WITH THE ANKLE..AND NOW THE FEATHERS..SO BAD...THAT EVEN DOES IT IN FRONT OF US SOMETIMES..WE'VE HAD TESTS DONE..MITE MEDICATION...TREATMENT...THEY SAID THERE ARE NONE..AND OTHER TESTS AS WELL.. WE STILL NEED TO DO A FEATHER PROFILE..BUT DON'T WANT THEM TO CAUSE HER TO BLEED ANY MORE RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE GONNA TRY A LOVEBIRD...FRIEND
IF KIKI IS A MALE..WHICH COULD BE..DOES THE SEX OF THE OTHER MATTER..DOES IT HAVE TO BE OPPOSITE? SHOULD WE GET A FEMALE TO BE SAFE...IF THEY DO BOND..AND HAVE EGGS..CAN WE REMOVE THEM? I KNOW WE SHOULD KEEP THEM SEPARATED AT FIRST ESPECIALLY A QUARANTINE TIME..FOR THE NEW ONE..BUT WE'RE AFRAID THAT KIKI WILL PLUCK HERSELF TO YOU KNOW WHAT!

WE TRY EVERYTHING...MISTING FEATHERS WITH WARM WATER..SHE BATHES...ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK..WE HAVE AN OTT LITE ABOVER HER CAGE. WE CHANGE TOYS...MOVE THINGS...NUTRITION SEEMS BETTTER THAN IT WAS..VET SAID SHE WAS 45 GRAMS AND THAT WAS GOOD..BUT ANOTHER VET TOLD ME THAT WAS LOW. WE FEED HER SEEDS MIXES WITH VEGGIES... AND FRESH COOKED VEGGIES..AND NUTRIBERRIES AND MILLET. SHE WON'T EAT FRUIT..THOUGH..LIKES PLAIN PASTA.. WE TRY PELLETS BUT THROWS THEM OUT...ARE THEY BEST?

I'M HOPING YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE TOO...COULD ANSWER SOME ?'S..MY PROBLEM IS THAT EVERY VET HAS CONFLICTING COMMENTS..SOME SAY GET A LOVEBIRD. OTHERS SAY DON'T . SHOULD YOU ONLY GET A LOVEBIRD..WHAT ABOUT JSUT ANOTHER BIRD IN ANOTHER CAGE..LIKE A PARAKEET OR SOMETHING?

THE VET HAD PUT AN ACRYLIC COLLAR ON..IT WAS ON FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. KIKI WAS SO UTTERLY DISTRESSED WE COULDN'T TAKE IT AND CUT IT OFF.. SHE COULD FUNCTION WITH IT ON..IT WAS TO CLUMSY..THEY EVEN TRIMMED IT. THEY SAY THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES..WE'RE LOOKING INTO.

SORRY TO DRAG ON..I JUST HAVE SO MANY ?'S.
THANKS.

[lovechick]

I'm sorry to hear that u have same problem. I'm still trying to solve mine. i think my lovebird has genetically behavioral issue. I've tried everything, really. we even bought another lovebird, but she attacks the male. She just sits in her little box and shreds papers.
I really dont know if I can help u much, your bird probably has behavioral issue too. Please i already made the mistake, DO NOT USE ANTI-Plucking sprays!! they will irritate bird more, and the plucking will become worse. Try asking your vet if they have this liquid bandage called "Facilitator", thats what i use for mine, and it seems to work, put very thin layer of it on the wound to heal.
one thing that i havent tried yet is Aloe Vera juice, I've read that its supposed to relieve itching and skin irritations. U have to mix 4 parts pure aloe vera juice and 1 part water put dip cootton ball in it and apply to skin once a day.
Other reasons for plucking;

~Low humidity..make sure your bird gets enough baths, u may use spray bottle
~Boredom, make sure u interact with your bird enough, maybe leaving tv or radio on when you leave the house will help. provide your bird with toys like branches, chewing toys that will take long to destroy, also a note from me, if u have female lovebird that shreds paper put a lot of newpaper and toilet paper rolls on the bottom of the cage.
~Picking can be due to physical or emotional trauma, this is one of the hardest things to cure, so u have to be patient and keep trying.

u can get another lovebird, its best to be the same age, but theres no reccomendation that they will get along.

please search on google for different websites they all have something on plucking. there are also toys for pluckers.
try website www.drsfostersmith.com they have few plucker toys and theres also a healing salve thats applied to damaged skin, i might buy that.

link to the salve:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=5&pCatId=9322
http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20030829075115/www.drsfostersmith.com/images/products/large/p_6568_20400D.jpg

plucker toy:
http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20030829075154/www.drsfostersmith.com/images/products/large/p_403563_20480D.jpg

hope this help. please let me know how it goes! thanks and good luck~