Feather question

[Boysmom]

My Female MRH Zon I was told would pluck her chest bare to line her nest. About 5-6 weeks ago she began plucking her chest and shoulder areas and did put the feathers in the nest box. She didnt go to nest and didnt pluck bald, just the colored feathers. She still has the grey downy feathers, but has not regrown new feathers. Anyone know what may be going on ? Could it be from stress, as I was medicating her mate at the time for a respiratory infection ? They both were cage bound breeders when I rescued them and I havent any idea of their age, but was told they were around 10. She will come out of the cage for play time but doesnt want to be touched but the male was quite a struggle to catch to medicate twice daily for 14 days.

 

[Kiwibird]

I would start by providing her more appropriate nesting materials than her own feathers. A full roll or TP or paper towels would be good, or an old phone book with the cover ripped off. Sounds to me like she isn't plucking due to stress, boredom, disease ect..., but rather a means to make a home for her "babies". She was a breeder after all, and amazon mating season is right around the corner, so she is probably used to prepping a nest at this time of year. If she doesn't have nesting materials, her maternal instinct will tell her to use whatever is at hand. My moms female amazon (never bred, but still very much a momma bird in her own little mind) used to start "nesting" this time of year when she was a younger bird. With her, she didn't pluck feathers but would make giant holes in the carpet as she pulled it up fiber by fiber. We would catch her with a huge mouthful of carpet fibers on her way to her box. Simply giving her a full roll of toilet paper for her to line her nest box with corrected the issue. In the spring, we would also put small plastic Easter eggs in the nest box, and she liked to sit on them (I still wonder if she realized they were fake, ha!). Not sure how old your female is, but her nesting behavior tapered off in her 30s, and she hasn't built a nested in about 10 years now (she's about 45 now). If the nesting materials don't help the problem, then you should look into other reasons for her plucking. I've never personally had to deal with a plucker (thank god!) but from what I understand, down feathers are the first to go, and the plucking isn't ever connected to anything positive/natural (like nesting). Sounds like your girl just wants to be a good momma again

 

[Boysmom]

Her nest box is lined with pine shavings, as that is what she was used to. I was just concerned that it has been a month and a half and she hasnt regrown any of the feathers.

 

[henpecked]

Yes they will pluck breast feathers but it 's more for a brood pouch, I patch of bare skin that will quickly warm the eggs when she's off them for a few minutes. I would suggest small blocks of soft wood in their nest box. Of course the box needs about 2'" of pine shaving . Does the male do any chewing?

 

[Boysmom]

They have both been chewing their perches lately, but she didnt pluck bare. She has had the only the grey downy feathers on her chest and shoulders for about 6 weeks. I will get a pic later today so you all can see what I see. I may just be a worry wart.

 

[Boysmom]

Ok here's the photos

 

[MaraWentz]

Make sure you dont move her nesting box. Sounds like she is in the act of preparing to nest, so she may need to have hormone levels checked by a vet.

 

[MonicaMc]

Is it possible that she snipped the feathers off rather than plucking them out? This may account for the lack of new growth.

 

[henpecked]

DANG, erased my post. What looks more stress/ diet related than it looks like a brood patch. Are the feathers in the box or on the floor ? Using a metal box? Put soft wood blocks in the box for them to chew. You do have pine shaving in the box? If i thought the feather issue was related to breeding i'd say boost their fat intake. If i thought it was stress/vit A issues then that's NOT the thing to do. What do you think is happening ? Are they mating in the early AM? They should be if that's why she's plucking. I think more diet or some stress factor.

 

[Boysmom]

They have a pine nest box with plenty of pine shavings. Some feathers are in the box but they are whole feathers that are not broken off. They got a new cage because the cage they came to me in was just way too small IMO. They were in it a few days without their nest box, as it was spider infested and disgusting and I cleaned it very well over several days. She started the feather issue before I rehung the box, so I quickly replaced the box as I thought it would give them a sense of security to have it back. I havent witnessed and hanky panky in the AM, but their lights are on timers in the bird room, so I'm usually making the breakfast for all the birdies for the first 30 min they awake.
But the diet may be it. About that time I mixed TOPS pellets with their normal Roudybush, but not a single bird will touch the TOPS pellets except to push them out of the way. They do still eat the Roudybush though.
Also she hasnt plucked any more since this began 5-6 weeks ago.

 

[henpecked]

Yeah , changing the cage might be the cause. I find with breeder birds that what they grew up with, is what they like. Some of my zons won't breed in a larger cage. They want the same old,same old. I always want to upgrade , but it usually sets most pairs back a year or two.

 

[Boysmom]

Thanks Richard, that makes me rest a bit better. I still feel the bigger cage is best for them and they do utilize all the extra space they have. I just felt that a 24 x 24 cage was cruel for them, plus it was very old and was missing a bottom grate. They sure are chewing through the perches lately though. The Hubby made them some new chewing peches today out of large eucalyptus limbs and they have already began to destroy them, but it sure makes the bird room smell fresh.

 

[henpecked]

If given the choice i usually change cages just after a hatch, when i pull the box. Or when i move them. Still sometimes it "sets them back". If they're good breeders they'll get back on track ,but you might miss a season or two. The more you change things the faster they'll adapt. However any change can stress breeder birds, especially in season. the one exception is my longtime pair of OWAs, Rod and Reel, every time i move their cage they go to breeding.( but they're more like pets)