Plucking Help

[Ionia]

My 7 year old female cockatiel Stiny has developed a HUGE bald patch on the back of her head. Her mate, Steve has been yanking feathers out every time he preens her and he's now even started to draw blood as he's doing it. It's awkward, because they are a loved up pair and they go nuts if parted, so I'm just confused why this behaviour started. I'm not sure what I should do. She looks pitiful with a bald spot and I hate that he's hurting her. Any advice?

 

[Jtbirds]

Well since no one else respond I will. I'd suggest make sure they have plenty of toys... Epically preening toys if that I what is the issue. You can get extra cuts offs of fleece at your local fabric store and cheap. Just hang peices just frills into them and so on. If worst comes to worst get a split cage that has a wire divider and put one on each side they will be able to see each other and interact by the divider but the pulling won't happen. If this doesn't work we will go from there

Feel free to ask more

-justin

 

[Ionia]

Thank you. I've been trying to add toys in bit by bit to see if it amuses them. They share a cage with other birds too in an very large indoor aviary. I was worried in case it may be stress, but they are actually the oldest couple in there and the plucking only started about 6 months ago.

I'll see if I have any old fleeces and laces I can knot into the cage. Thank you!

 

[Jtbirds]

Anytime let us know how it works out in the end. I can give other ideas if you need later.

 

[Robinrae]

I don't know what your living situation is but I too had a pair of cockatiels with this problem. We built them a flight cage and that seemed to help. They were in the cage with some parakeets a well.

 

[weco]

I don't know if you will find an answer to your question, but here's a link from some 2005 info: The Complexity and Frustration of Pet Bird Feather Picking

Additionally, I have read, but don't have a link, that if multiple pairs of birds are in a large cage & other pairs are nesting one or the other of a pair may be interested in breeding while the mate is not.....if you have another cage available, you might try caging themselves separately & give them a nest box.....

Good luck.....

I leave this reply with the caveat that there are those who might disagree with my suggestion, but I stand by it.....this caveat was included because of the thrashing I received on another, earlier reply.....