Whoops, she did it again!

[Phocyn]

Quartz was growing in her beautiful tail feathers and now…. They’re gone again. Yes, her wings did get caught on it, but why would she just be removing her tail feathers? Is she getting annoyed with them? It’s not plucking as I know plucking to be. It’s just these ones. Any and all tail feathers. She’s got her rump feathers, but nothing for the flight feathers on her butt.

I’m gonna take her to the vet for this but first want a few opinions. If pictures are needed I’ll get those.

edit: thinking about it, I changed my entire flock to Harrison’s from roudybush? Should I switch her back?

 

[zERo/]

I’ve heard of birds having adverse reactions to changing foods, especially to new foods with soy in them.

I would get blood work done at the vet to rule out any medical cause before changing her diet back though.

 

[Phocyn]

She didn’t do this before the change over. I have fed many different foods and this seems to be only when I add the Harrison’s specifically to her bowl.

 

[zERo/]

I’d say that may indicate that Harrison’s may not be suitable for her.
You could try giving her Roudybush again and see if she stops feather destruction.

 

[Phocyn]

I’m going to. Thinking of taking her to the vet too.

 

[Shezbug]

If the plucking is new and in a localised area I would definitely be seeing the vet to rule out injury or pain in the area.

 

[Phocyn]

I agree but this isn’t new to her. She just likes to pick on this spot. I’m looking into things I can do such as moving her to a separate cage with a cover on it, away from the other birds? She may have done this is response to the other birds laying eggs? She had a rather traumatic response to egg laying prior to this a few years ago. To the point she tried to kill the babies, her then mate, and even got me several times. Im still gonna take Quartz to the vet but I’m trying to isolate her causes and whys.

 

[Zara]

Before making any changes, go to the vet and consult with them. Additional changes may stress her more and make it worse.