Need Help In Worst Way

[kymoonshine1969]

My Girl Peanut Butter Wont Stop Picking Her Chest Feathers Out ...sometimes She Starts To Let Them Grow Back Then She Will Start Picking Again...when I Got Butter Almost A Yr Ago She Was Already Picking...shes 16 Yrs Old But Im Hoping This Is A Habit I Can Break...butter Is The Love Of My Life And I Hate To See Her Hurting Herself...so Please Please If U Know Anything That Might Help Me...please. Butters Mommy

[kensbuns]

First of all I would vet her to rule out any bacteria, then you need to make sure she is getting enough calcium and is eating fresh veges and fruits. Sometimes there is nothing you can do.

[sml]

Its very important to check first if the reason to pick is some physical(bacteria, diet and so on). Go to your vet first.

Then if its psychological, you have to think witch would cause it, do the bird get enough your time, have it lost someone important person..have there been some changes(big to it)in life that might cause it..There are many reasons, and sometimes you cant solve it..but you can try.

In psittascene is one article(november -02) of feather picking you might want to read:

http://www.worldparrottrust.org//pub...ene/ps2001.htm

some other links too:

http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/featherpicking.htm
http://www.featherpicking.com/

sanne

[The Outlaw]

I have 5 macaws, 4 of which are BGs. Only one plucks, my Mia, a 5 year old hen. I have had so many tests run, changed everything you can imagine including diet, cages, location, hours of light and dark, you name it. She has identical foods and everything else that the other 4 have. I don't think I'll every truly know what causes her to pluck, but frankly, I don't really care anymore. Mia is by far, the sweetest bird in my home. You cannot MAKE her bite and she's extremely friendly and fun. With so many other beauties around here, I'm not starved for eye candy. Appreciate what your macaw is and don't feel dissapointed if she cannot refeather. I assure you, others have tried to "fix" her along the way and they likely got disgusted and turned her loose. In fact, that's probably why you have her now. Most birds with feathering problems that are due to medical reasons would have resolved long before now. This sounds to me like behaviorial plucking. Its very common and though unattractive, it still has nothing to do with the loving nature of your bird.

You may find that TLC will work wonders. However, no matter what, know that she's not trying to spite you or injure herself. She's probably just coping with her life the only way she knows how.

I would suggest that you shower her every other day, soaked to the skin and improve her diet. Can't hurt and it may help. Also, give her a phone book to shred. Hang it inside her cage and let her shred it. It may take her mind off of her feathers for a while.

Many vets will recommend using an Elizabethan collar. I wouldn't recommend that. With chronic pluckers, they simply get depressed, regrow feathers and as soon as the collar is removed, they pull everything out. Been there, got the tee shirt.