Feather plucking is a parrot owner’s nightmare. There are simply so many possible causes of feather plucking. Physical causes of feather plucking are common, but there are just as many emotional causes of feather plucking. Perhaps that’s what eats at a parrot owner most—not the sight of their beloved parrot looking like a plucked chicken, but the suspicion that, as their parrot's guardian they have somehow failed to provide for their feathered pal’s emotional needs.
If you have a feather plucking parrot, stop feeling guilty right now. Parrots are complex, exotic birds, and second guessing their every need can be impossible. Even if you have made a mistake, feeling guilty won’t help your parrot. Transform that guilt into something more positive for both you and your feathered kid and you’ll both feel better.
Feather Plucking by Continent
First off, it’s important to understand that some pet parrots are more susceptible to feather plucking than others. The more intelligent parrots are more likely to feather pluck due to emotional distress or boredom. Old World parrots such as the eclectus, African Grey and Cockatoos are more likely, for some reason, to start feather plucking than their New World counterparts. It’s not that macaws don’t pluck, it’s just more common in the large Old World birds.
Stopping Feather Plucking
Whether the cause of feather plucking is physical or emotional, trying to break the plucking habit can leave owners of pet parrots pulling their own hair out (hey—they say people look like their pets . . .).
The most important thing to do is also the most difficult. When your parrot looks lovingly over at you, bends down and pulls out yet another feather, you must ignore it. No leaping to your feet, no rushing over to coo and cuddle, no yelling or any other response.
Pet parrots find our actions endlessly fascinating. A parrot is quick to make the connection between plucking out a feather and its human’s entertaining reaction. Even if feather plucking had a physical cause, pet parrots often continue to pluck after the physical cause is treated because we act so darn cute when the feathers come out (bear in mind that, to the parrot, yelling and stamping our feet is just as entertaining as cuddling and gasps of concern).
Instead, pay attention to the parrot when he or she isn’t plucking. Praise and reward your parrot for not plucking, and don’t react at all when a few more feathers float to the bottom of the cage.
Another tactic that can work, presuming that the parrot doesn’t have a physical reason for feather plucking, is to keep the bird busy. Very busy. Fill his cage with toys, the more the better. This runs contrary to the usual rule of not crowding pet parrots with toys, but these are desperate times. Provide chew toys, grooming toys, foraging toys—anything to keep his mind off feather plucking.
There’s the risk that too many toys may cause stress and result in more feather plucking, but if he’s already bald you might as well give it a try. Monitor pet parrots for signs of stress or displeasure if you try the toy crowding tactic, and remove toys if he seems unhappy.
Loving Plucked Parrots
It’s heartbreaking to watch a once beautiful parrot render herself naked, and owners of pet parrots are often willing to try anything to stop feather plucking. Some pet parrots pluck for no apparent reason however, so sometimes you have to look past the plucked chicken and see the beautiful parrot within. Feathers or not, the personality you fell in love with is still in there.
Resources
Hines, R. (2006). Feather Plucking in Parrots and How to Manage It.
Johnson, A. (1996). Feather Mutilation.
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