- Joined
- 5/12/16
- Messages
- 169
Possible Reasons for plucking: Hormone and Separation Anxiety
Puck, my caique, started to pluck when she was 4 (in June 2010) , when I was away for about 10 days. At that time, I was married and my ex took care of the birds, so she was in the same house and one of her humans was there, but it was also the first time I was away that long (for her), and I believe she was having hormonal issues. When I returned, I could see she plucked around her neck, but it was not that bad.
I can’t remember all the details now, but I remember one day, I think, it was in July, after she went to bed, when my ex had a friend over and she screeched. I thought she was upset because they were making too much noise. Next morning, she plucked a lot of feathers!
I took her to an Avian Vet, and ruled out medical cause. At that time, I felt she had chemical imbalance. She would stare at her feather and pluck in front of me. She looked as if she was possessed. At night, she gave us hard time going to bed, as if she was afraid. She screeched or talked at night in darkness. In her regular cage, she would go around and around. I purchased her small night time cage (and she still uses it today).
I did not want put her I tried many different things. Herbal tea, aloe spray, etc, but they did not work.
Eventually I tried sweater. It did not work for her, since she was able to get to her feathers (it may work for those who plucks out of boredom /habit).
Then, she wore my homemade collar.
She wore it several months, even after her feathers grew back.
Today, she is fully feathered. When I have to be out of town for a few days, she snips her neck feathers. She plucked some when I was away about 10 days and she stayed at birdsitter’s house. She also snipped a little when she had eggs.
Puck, my caique, started to pluck when she was 4 (in June 2010) , when I was away for about 10 days. At that time, I was married and my ex took care of the birds, so she was in the same house and one of her humans was there, but it was also the first time I was away that long (for her), and I believe she was having hormonal issues. When I returned, I could see she plucked around her neck, but it was not that bad.
I can’t remember all the details now, but I remember one day, I think, it was in July, after she went to bed, when my ex had a friend over and she screeched. I thought she was upset because they were making too much noise. Next morning, she plucked a lot of feathers!
I took her to an Avian Vet, and ruled out medical cause. At that time, I felt she had chemical imbalance. She would stare at her feather and pluck in front of me. She looked as if she was possessed. At night, she gave us hard time going to bed, as if she was afraid. She screeched or talked at night in darkness. In her regular cage, she would go around and around. I purchased her small night time cage (and she still uses it today).
I did not want put her I tried many different things. Herbal tea, aloe spray, etc, but they did not work.
Eventually I tried sweater. It did not work for her, since she was able to get to her feathers (it may work for those who plucks out of boredom /habit).
Then, she wore my homemade collar.
She wore it several months, even after her feathers grew back.
Today, she is fully feathered. When I have to be out of town for a few days, she snips her neck feathers. She plucked some when I was away about 10 days and she stayed at birdsitter’s house. She also snipped a little when she had eggs.
