Hormone levels can, and often will, play a role in feather chewing, plucking and sometimes self-mutilation.
Subtle physical changes may not be detected, but it is important that this step be completed. Tests may include blood testing, x-rays, skin/follicle biopsies and other diagnostic procedures ordered by your avian veterinarian. It is vital that your feather-plucking friend receive a thorough workup to rule out any underlying physical causes for the problem.
#Goffin cockatoo plucking feather skin#
While it is easy to assume medical causes for mutilation of skin and feathers, it is not always a good first step towards resolution. It is important to realize that once a parrot has begun this activity, it may never be completely controlled. Unfortunately, the longer the problem is allowed to go on, the more factors contribute to it and the more difficult, if not impossible, it is to resolve.įeather plucking seldom has a single cause. Owners frequently think that it may just be a “phase” that will hopefully resolve itself. Often this problem will go on for several months, or even several years when a bird is finally brought into the clinic.
The temperament of these birds, their bonding behaviors and anxiety levels all contribute to the problem. The most common species affected by feather plucking are the African grey, eclectus and lovebirds. In captivity, they do not have these survival tasks to keep them occupied and out of trouble. Feather plucking does not occur in the wild, where birds must spend time seeking food, avoiding predators, mating, and breeding and rearing their babies. The phrase “feather-plucking” ranges from over-preening and chewing to complete removal of all body feathers within reach. While feather-picking diminishes aesthetics and causes anxiety for the bird owner, self-mutilation can result in massive blood loss and death. Self-mutilators will chew into their own flesh, typically causing the most severe damage to the pectoral (chest) muscle, but damage can occur anywhere on the body. It is most common among cockatoos and lovebirds, although the problem can affect members of other species as well. Self-mutilation, as opposed to feather plucking, is a life-threatening disorder. Your little friend may become un-feathered in a matter of one night! The onset of feather plucking can be surprisingly rapid, and is one of the most disturbing and troubling problems bird owners can encounter.
When we see a bird plucking feathers out and self-mutilating, we are seeing two of the most frustrating conditions for an avian veterinarian, the owner and the birds themselves. TIFFANY MARGOLIN, DVM, DIPL ABVP AVIAN, NAET CERT, DISCUSSES WHY A BIRD PLUCKING FEATHERS OUT AND SELF-MUTILATING CAN BE A SERIOUS ISSUE, PROVIDES INFORMATION ON CAUSES AND TREATMENTS
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