Plucking or preening?

[danadear]

I am a newbie cockatoo owner so very unfamiliar with plucking.

I have a 5 month old RB2 named Willow..she's been with us for 2-3 weeks now and is doing great. Last night after her shower she started pulling at the feathers on her neck and face with her foot. She was pretty rough although no feathers have come out so far. I was hoping she just had water in her ear or something but she started doing it again today. I have made her a vet appointment for Friday but am kind of freaking out imagining what could be wrong. How common is this?

 

[sssaucey]

I'm not to sure how common it is, but I don't think birds can pluck feathers out with their feet. Have you noticed any dry patches of skin on her head?
or even any mites?

It may be hard to notice either of those so you would have to separate her feathers on her head to get a good look at the skin.