My cockatoo is itching too much?

[Erick123]

Peanut, my cockatoo, has been itching and picking at his feathers for some time now and I'm not sure why. I took him to a avian vet almost a month ago, and the results came back great. The blood work and the other examinations showed that he was healthy, but I can't understand why he keeps itching. Sometimes he plucks, but is not as much as before when I first got him. He also hasn't stopped his nesting behavior. He likes to break pieces off of his toys and tries to stuff them into his feathers. Is this a reason for concern? On the plus side, he has been more and more playful with every passing day. It just seems that the constant itching and self grooming is a discomfort to him and I wish to help him.

 

[Kiwibird]

Glad he's seen a vet and gotten an all clear health wise. Nice to hear he's becoming more playful and settling in.

In regards to the itching, what makes you believe he is itchy VS. simply preening (which parrots do all the time)? How often are you bathing him?

 

[Erick123]

Is it something they often do? I feel like he does it way too often. He will pick at his legs and chest which both have no feathers. I try to give him a shower every other day.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Have you got any preening toys to distract him?

 

[Allee]

Poor Peanut. All things considered including clean blood work it could be something as minor as the humidity in Peanut's room. How long have you had Peanut? Are you certain he isn't a she? My U2 tucks food and small pieces of wood blocks into her feathers, it's a natural behavior. Maybe cut down on the frequency of the baths, every other day may be causing dry skin. As Plumsmum mentioned, provide chew toys to distract Peanut.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Poor Peanut. All things considered including clean blood work it could be something as minor as the humidity in Peanut's room. How long have you had Peanut? Are you certain he isn't a she? My U2 tucks food and small pieces of wood blocks into her feathers, it's a natural behavior. Maybe cut down on the frequency of the baths, every other day may be causing dry skin. As Plumsmum mentioned, provide chew toys to distract Peanut.

Please tell Poppy that she looks much better in hats than food and wood blocks LOL

 

[Scott]

Can you post a video of Peanut's picking? Also an image of the areas that have been affected??

 

[Erick123]

I had the avian vet determine the sex and Peanut is male. I thought he was female too. I recently bought Peanut a new cage with a playstand on top. He hasn't used it yet though. He seems confused to what it is. I guess because of the last owner. The previous owner kept him in his small cage 24/7 for the first three years according to the pet store owner who sold me him. I recently bought ALOT of toys, one of them being mini pots and pans which he absolutely loves! The other toys he doesn't interact with much. I've had him for about a month and a half. There are days where he won't leave his cage even when it's open but he has been showing more playful behavior. Sometimes I play music and jump up and down to the beat to get him excited. It works sometimes. Our bond has grown a lot too over the past month. Every time I see him, I give a kiss on his head and he'll let out a small laugh lol. When he's relaxing in his cage I'll lay on the sofa I have in the room and he'll get out to perch on my leg and start meowing and barking. I'll post a video of him itching and his new area after work.

 

[Erick123]

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

 

[Erick123]

He's been too busy playing to itch it seems ��

 

[Erick123]

[ame="https://youtu.be/pJiOeyLymBk"]trim B85824B7 1D62 4A16 BB2B 58F07E029376 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Scott]

Judging from the still pic and the video, there are two aspects to the picking/grooming.

Part of his abdomen appears cleanly picked in a manner fairly common to cockatoos. Do you see many feather follicles in that area, or just skin? I suspect he has been working on that section for a very long while.

The video of scattered grooming on the wings and back seems typical behavior. Some areas, particularly on the forward wing-joint appear to be overly groomed to a minor degree.

Overall he looks pretty good with the exception of the abdomen. You may find over time he mellows the behavior a bit, though with cockatoos one never knows.

Peanut's cage and toys looks great!!

 

[Erick123]

Sometimes I see feathers follicles. Today was almost the perfect day for him. He was interacting with all of his toys! He was super hyper and I made the mistake of closing the door to his cage and he bite me super hard.

 

[plumsmum2005]

If you automatically think I'll just close his door and then you go straight over to do it, it will be perceived as a sudden movement which will unnerve Peanut. Until he gets very comfy with you around and doing things, knows you won't harm him you almost have to ask permission first. Try engaging him, tell him what you are going to do and then if OK go ahead. When you get to the point that they just carry on doing whatever and you feel ignored then it is OK, you have trust. Remember though even if you think he isn't watching everything going on, he is! They miss very little.

 

[Mango16]

sorry not sure how to post a new post, I'm new to this, But i'm having the same problem with my goffin, I got him last friday so will be a week i've had him, He is adorable, very very gentle. Loves to be held and loves to get on your shoulder. He is bald on one leg, part of his back, and chest. He has also been to the vet and good bill of health. I've put him on pellets and avicalm, He is consitstley doing it when he is on me, he doesn't do it as much in his cage, i know things are not going to change over night, But he wants on my shoulder and wants love every day but he picks more when he is out and on my shoulder. He has all kinds of toys and things to chew. Seem like when he is getting attention he goes crazy and starts picking at his feathers. How can i stop this. please help..

Moderator note: Unique thread now created here: http://www.parrotforums.com/cockatoos/70054-scratching-picking-plucking.html

 

[LordTriggs]

from what I can tell considering peanut's history and how he is seeming to calm the plucking now it feels to me like a habit he learnt from when he was in the cage all that time, which is to say the during those years he was simply bored and began preening as something to do. Over time it's evolved into a behavior he does simple because its what he knows to do. Hopefully over time he will calm down, learn to interest himself with toys and general playing and his feathers will hopefully grow back.

Sounds like you got a potentially very happy friend ready to break through his past for you