[usamma]

Originally Posted by Tom Lawless

It can be really hard to pinpoint the reason for plucking. Sometimes it is clear but others can be impossible to figure out. My Bing never lived in a glass pet store cage. He has a pretty good life and yet he has feather destruction issues that are behavioral and for the life of me, incomprehensible. I think the July 2009 Bird Talk magazine has some great essays written by people whose birds pluck. I recommend reading it if you can get a hold of it, not for answers but because you realize you are not alone and hear how others have made peace with this. It can be hard not to take it personal. Think of it like people who are compulsive finger nail chewers. It's just what they do. That's not to say it can't change. As your new bird settles into the pattern of life in her new home whatever issues that lead to her plucking may be resolved. This move has probably thrown life as she knew it into chaos so it's almost no surprise that she would return to plucking behaviors. Having said that my vet encouraged me to give Bing a shower every day, to get a good Avian full spectrum light on him for four to six hours a day, lots of toys he can shred, and try to move him toward foraging for food to keep his mind occupied in different ways. I have also been using pluck-no-more which is expensive. I will say he looks better than he did but he stills picks at his feathers and breaks some and although I hope it doesn't happen, I worry I will come home to a big pile of feathers again in the future. Having said that, I love that bird. He brings me so much happiness. Even knowing he would turn out to be a plucker, I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to take him. It is what it is.

It really sounds like you have a good handle on this. Good luck. I hope they both bring you lots of fun and that the rest of your flock thinks this is a good addition too.

Thanks for sharing your story. I will try to find a copy of that mag. I'm sure they have back issues, or maybe my library would have it.