I have a feather plucker Pic attached

[TheresaR215]

When I rescued these two adorable birds their cage was so caked with poop and a bunch of downy feathers. They have never been handled in the 2 1/2 years that the lady owned them. To get them out of their cage you have to chase them around and grab a hold of them. Once out of the cage they are fine. I already have the one trained to step up on my finger. They other bird all it wants to do is cling to your shirt or whatever other material that it can get its feet on and she is a little nippy. Well any way I noticed when I was petting her yesterday that she had a bare spot of her back just before the tail feathers. You can not see it unless you spread the feathers. I also looked under the wings and same thing bare spots. My friend said that they are just molting because I still have downy feathers all over the place. Last night I was watching and she is pulling her feathers out. I attached a photo so is this feather plucking or molting? Is there something I can do to stop the feather plucking? Sorry for such a long post.

 

[Allee]

Hello there, thank you for adopting these two little characters! I'm sorry you're having plucking problems. How long have you had Kiwi and Peaches? Generally speaking, quakers are prone to plucking, transitions, molting, hormones, or a combination can cause a feather pulling episode. Here's a link you may find helpful.

http://www.parrotforums.com/behavioral/52217-plucking-search-answers.html

There are several things you can do for them immediately. Frequent baths with plain water will help the feather condition, molting or not. You can use aloe mist on the bare spots to help with the irritated skin. You can make your own mist using three parts water mixed with one part 100% aloe juice, this makes the feathers oily, I wouldn't use it too often, but I have used it with positive results. Another thing you might try is, rather than catching them to get them out of their cage try putting a perch beside the door and let them come out on their own.

I wish you the best with your friends. Please keep us updated on their progress.

 

[gracebowen]

I second Allees suggestion. I have an untamed budgie. I open her door and she comes out on her own. At dark she goes back on her own too. A perch and some toys outside of the cage might help. It was also suggested to me to lure them out with millet.