Urgent Is my Lovebird Feather Picking?

[EthanBoha]

I think he is, but I don't really know. If he is it would be a big help to give me some tips on how to get him to stop, thanks!

 

[Birdbabe]

Maybe,,is he molting? Have you had a wellness check and, or been tested for Giardia, Yeast?

 

[EthanBoha]

I honestly don't know what hes doing. And no, I haven't had a wellness check or any of that.

 

[janicedyh]

How old is he? If he is young he may be shedding some "fluff". If he isn't young then to me it does look like plucking. You really need to take him to a vet to make sure it is not health related. If it is behavioral you may be able to stop it from becoming a habit and long lasting if you start now. After the vet check and if he sees nothing, what size cage is he in? Does he get enough attention? Is there something causing him anxiety? (loud noise, children, strangers always passing through, not enough to keep him busy (toys, foraging etc)

 

[EthanBoha]

Hes 6. I'm planning to take him to a vet in September. His cage is 2 ft wide and 1.7 ft tall. The last few months I've been spending more time with him, but before then I didn't really give him much attention. I do put magazines and stuff like that in his cage and he does like chewing them and putting them in his wings. I do have a little playground in there, but I really don't see him "playing" on it. Here's a picture.

 

[MiniMacaw]

I'm sure others will chime in with more helpful advice, but I know for my high maintenance birds (not a lovebird but same concept), they get new toys at minimum every 2-3 days rotated. Not a whole cage worth, but like a new balsa toy in the corner. They're so intelligent and if they don't constantly have challenges and rewards they can lean toward self harm behavior.
Also, does he get out of the cage often? Sometimes (most times) being cage-bound also leads to depression.

 

[Peachfaced]

In your pictures, it looks like mating behavior. Was your bird continually holding his/her wings out? Or was it just a quick stretch?

The reason I ask is that sometimes they have a tendency to pluck a little before laying eggs. (Towards the cloaca in particular, but sometimes they overgoom elsewhere)

 

[EthanBoha]

When I get real close to him, like when I put my finger in the cage he does that and makes a weird clicking sound.

 

[Peachfaced]

When I get real close to him, like when I put my finger in the cage he does that and makes a weird clicking sound.

Oh... Yeah your bird considers you as a mate. I wouldn't be at all surprised if your bird was actually a girl.

 

[EthanBoha]

Oh... Yeah your bird considers you as a mate. I wouldn't be at all surprised if your bird was actually a girl.

Well before we got him he had a mate and she died (don't know how) And she may or may not have laid eggs I'm not for sure though. He still doesn't let me touch him because he either flys away or lift his wings up.

 

[LunaLovebird]

The lifting of the wings is typically a female mating display. You may have a hen who's going into nest mode.

 

[fluffypoptarts]

He/she is beautiful. It does look like plucking. An exam is good to determine cause (and it may be a good idea to get a DNA test done).

 

[janicedyh]

I really wouldn't wait until September