New to lovebirds-plucking each others feathers!!!

[Clarabelle]

Hey everyone

We got pair of lovebirds last week from breeder at local bird sale. They seem to get on ok but yesterday I noticed a bald spot on one of the birds head.when I watched them a bit closer, I have noticed that the other bird is pecking and plucking the feathers out. The female (we think!) however sits and lets the male do this!! We are nearly sure it is the male doing it to the female. We are new to these birds and would love any advice. They are fisher lovebirds. Unfortunately we do not have any contact details of the breeder we bought them from.

Thanks
Claire

[mayaexquisite]

Hi and welcome!!

First thing, I would separate them immediately. You don't want to come home one day to a dead lovebird at the bottom of the cage (this is obviously the extreme case, but can happen). They can still keep each other company with cages side by side, a couple inches apart so there can be no physical attacking or contact.

If the bird doing the plucking ends up plucking him/herself when separated, you can provide stimulation to distract the plucking. There are lots of toys out there made just for pluckers.

Second, I would get them DNA sexed. You may have two females on your hands and one is being dominant over the other. Even with them in separate cages, DNA sexing is a good idea because you'll know what things you can and can't give your birds. If they're hens, you'll know to expect nesty behavior and you'll know not to provide them with a Happy Hut or any type of nesting material, etc.

What are your birds names? We'd love to see pictures!! Pictures are a must on forums!! ^_^

[expressmailtome]

In lovebirds females are the dominant ones. I have not seen males pluck females. It is usually the other way. Especially around breeding season.

Matt