early signs of plucking?

[Jobot]

I looked below my bird's cage today and noticed a bunch of feather fibers on the ground. Not like down feathers at all. My bird seems to be really rough on his feathers when he preens, sometimes tearing out pieces of feather. That's not normal, right?

 

[WendyN]

 

[Calpurnia]

By feather fibers do you mean feather sheaths? Or is he actually ripping off the barbs of his feathers (the pieces would be green)?

 

[Jobot]

They look like barbs. Blue, like his flights and some green. Some sections on his wings look a little scruffy.

 

[Calpurnia]

Then this is called barbering, when a bird just shreds their feathers. It could be happening for a variety of reasons. Though it's good to point out that barbering does not always mean your bird will then start fully plucking. We have a barbering bird that has never progressed to plucking as well as a plucking bird that also barbered all her remaining feathers to death. So it can go either way.

For now I would try to figure out why the barbering is happening. Could be anything from a simple desire to chew (in which you would want to provide lots and lots of shreddable toys), to over-aggressive preening (from stress? an unfortunate learned habit?), to allergies if his skin is feeling aggravated. I would try a vet visit to rule out anything internal then look to his environment. Hopefully some little changes will be all you need to clear things up!

 

[Jobot]

Thanks. I appreciate the help!

 

[WendyN]

Possible to post some photos?

 

[Jobot]

I'll try to get some photos later.

 

[Lodah]

Poor little fid... Hope he is ok!

 

[JLcribber]

How old is he?

 

[Jobot]

He's 8 mo, more or less. Just finished getting his adult plumage.

 

[Jobot]

So here's what he's leaving below his cage on the poop catcher I have below his door. Those aren't hairs, there. And I can't get a picture of his wings, but there are little chunks pulled out of some of his feathers. I also suspect he may be pulling out barbs from the tip of his clipped wing feathers. When he's next to my ear, it sounds like he's ripping stuff out of his feathers.

 

[WendyN]