Freddie started pulling feathers

[Sj25]

I am so sad. All was going well until i got home today and i saw Freddie missing a ton of feathers on his/her chest.
I feel really bad about it. Like a terrible Birdie Boss... I wonder if Freddie feels neglected/bored or something


I went to sit and play but even then there is feather pulling. He does not seen itchy. And the pulling (or breaking?) doest not seem to hurt.
I washed his chest with water today but did not help. So going to the vet tomorrow.

Has anyone had this before? I didnt change anything in my routine. Still loving the grapes and not so very much loving Harrisons but eating his bowl.

 

[expressmailtome]

Bump.

 

[sunnysmom]

Sorry to hear that. A vet check is the best place to start.

 

[Sj25]

Vet thought it was stress...
I am not sure if the stress from 3 weeks ago (when he was at my parents) could led to feather breaking now.
Vet gave Freddie some medicine against itching

 

[Sj25]

Also the vet said its not pulling but breaking

 

[sunnysmom]

Has he done this before? Does he have preening toys? I'm glad health-wise, he is okay.

 

[Sj25]

Has he done this before? Does he have preening toys? I'm glad health-wise, he is okay.

No never. No obsessive preening either. Not sure what preening toys are.

I am so scared to leave the house now. I feel like i need to watch freddie all day to stop the pulling/breaking

 

[JLcribber]

I am not sure if the stress from 3 weeks ago (when he was at my parents) could led to feather breaking now.

That is very possible. How much time does Freddie spend alone/locked up? What kind of flight environment does he have?

 

[MNR]

How old is he?

I have an almost ex-plucker caique. She plucked a lot when she was around 4 years old. I think it was hormone. She is fully feathered now but still plucks when I have to be out of town.

Pictures - Almost Ex-plucker’s story | Avian Avenue Parrot Forum

 

[orphansparrow]

@Sj25

I would look up "preening toys" and "shredding toys" on amazon or an online parrot store, and order a wide variety. They are toys that are often made up of palm leaves or raffia, etc.

Duckie loves the rafia and palm leaf ones, like this:
Amazon.com : Bonka Bird Toys 2006 Raffia Bush Bird Toy parrot cage toys cages shred cockatiel african grey : Pet Supplies

Or like this:
Amazon.com : Bonka Bird Toys Mini Taco 1359 Foraging Bird Toy Parrot Cages Cockatiel Parakeet Conure Lovebird Toys : Pet Supplies


the meantime, give him new things to pick at, and to tear up. You can use coffee filters, or muffin papers, toilet paper rolls, etc. Stick them through his bars, or stuff treats in them for him to get.

I would also look up foraging, and make him forage for his food, instead of putting it in a bowl. This will take up a lot of his time, and he'll have less inclination to pluck - hopefully.

One easy way I do it, is I line Duckie's cage with newspaper, sprinkle it with her pellets and some treats like nuts, and then cover it with shredded paper. You could shred newspaper, computer paper, tissue...it doesn't matter. The thing is, it will take a lot longer for him to find his food then if it's just in a bowl. That is beginner foraging and I highly recommend it.

 

[Sj25]

@Sj25

I would look up "preening toys" and "shredding toys" on amazon or an online parrot store, and order a wide variety. They are toys that are often made up of palm leaves or raffia, etc.

Duckie loves the rafia and palm leaf ones, like this:
Amazon.com : Bonka Bird Toys 2006 Raffia Bush Bird Toy parrot cage toys cages shred cockatiel african grey : Pet Supplies

Or like this:
Amazon.com : Bonka Bird Toys Mini Taco 1359 Foraging Bird Toy Parrot Cages Cockatiel Parakeet Conure Lovebird Toys : Pet Supplies


the meantime, give him new things to pick at, and to tear up. You can use coffee filters, or muffin papers, toilet paper rolls, etc. Stick them through his bars, or stuff treats in them for him to get.

I would also look up foraging, and make him forage for his food, instead of putting it in a bowl. This will take up a lot of his time, and he'll have less inclination to pluck - hopefully.

One easy way I do it, is I line Duckie's cage with newspaper, sprinkle it with her pellets and some treats like nuts, and then cover it with shredded paper. You could shred newspaper, computer paper, tissue...it doesn't matter. The thing is, it will take a lot longer for him to find his food then if it's just in a bowl. That is beginner foraging and I highly recommend it.

I looked them up and he does have toys like that Doesnt really seem that interested though
Gave him some things to tear up but it is only helping a little. Ive seen him trying to get feathers from his back now too

 

[Sj25]

How old is he?

I have an almost ex-plucker caique. She plucked a lot when she was around 4 years old. I think it was hormone. She is fully feathered now but still plucks when I have to be out of town.

Pictures - Almost Ex-plucker’s story | Avian Avenue Parrot Forum

A little over 1 year... So no puberty yet

 

[Sj25]

That is very possible. How much time does Freddie spend alone/locked up? What kind of flight environment does he have?

You think he could be stressed 3 weeks later? my parents let Freddie out if the cage everyday and my dad loves playing with him... Only differerence was that there were 2 cockatiels extra. Now he has one cockatiel friend at my place.
I would feel much better if it was stress... I worry it is something else

 

[JLcribber]

You think he could be stressed 3 weeks later? my parents let Freddie out if the cage everyday and my dad loves playing with him... Only differerence was that there were 2 cockatiels extra. Now he has one cockatiel friend at my place.
I would feel much better if it was stress... I worry it is something else

You didn’t answer either question.

How much time does Freddie spend alone/locked up? What kind of flight environment does he have?

 

[Sj25]

Its Polyoma

 

[JLcribber]

Its Polyoma

I'm sorry to hear that.

 

[Sj25]

Does anyone know if that is fatal? Vet said it is but i read so many other things online about birds that are older than 60 days

 

[WendyN]

How old is Freddie?

 

[Sj25]

How old is Freddie?

About 1 year and 3/4 months

 

[Sj25]

I dont understand The feathers arent falling out, Freddie breaks them off. I think he stopped doing that cause I dont see anymore feather loss. He doesnt have any of the stupid symtoms, happily eating pellets now.
I really thought it was going much better with some new fluff feathers SO unexpected