Why Do Parrots Pluck Their Feathers?

So, why do parrots pluck their feathers. There are many reasons why they pick up this unfortunate habit, but let’s delve a little further into this problem.

This article may contain affiliate links which means that the owner of this website will earn a commission on qualifying purchases.

This disorder is a particular problem in the case of pet parrots. Unfortunately, there is no single cause; various factors may be involved, including boredom, an inadequate diet and lack of opportunity to bathe.

Not being able to bathe may be one of the most significant factors because the plumage becomes dry and will not lie flat, which may in turn encourage the parrot to remove its feathers as it becomes frustrated attempting to keep them in place.

Prevention is much easier than cure, particularly as once this problem arises, it can soon become a habit.

There are deterrent sprays that you can use in an attempt to persuade the parrot to desist from this behaviour, but they are rarely successful.

Here are some products you can try and there have been varying degrees of success.

Aloe Vera Bird Spray which is a natural, fast-acting support for feather plucking, itchy, dry skin, and molting.

You could also try more extreme measures like this neck collar for African grey parrots which will prevent them from being able to pluck their feathers.

Changing the bird’s environment can be just as effective. It is always worth using a spray to kill mites and lice, though, just in case parasites of this type are causing underlying irritation which has triggered the feather plucking. Seeking the advice of an experienced avian veterinarian may help to isolate the problem rapidly.

With finches and softbills, feather plucking is far less common, especially among established birds. If it does occur, it can be indicative of overcrowding, and once the birds are housed in spacious surroundings, the feathers will regrow without any further problems.

Feather-plucking is less common when parrots are housed in outdoor aviaries, although it may occur on occasion, and can often be linked with the hen’s desire to go to nest. Hen Abyssinian lovebirds may pluck their feathers to use as a nest lining, but this is not a matter for concern – these feathers will soon regrow.

Where feather-plucking is much more problematic is in the case of young chicks being plucked by their parents while they are still in the nest.

This abnormal behaviour is most common in budgerigars and lutino cockatiels, as well as some lories and lorikeets. There is clear evidence that feather-plucking of this type is inherited, at least in some cases.

Transferring the eggs of pairs known to pluck their offspring to those which do not is likely to result in the chicks being reared normally. Unfortunately, when these fostered birds are paired up as adults, the vice will re-emerge, and they will pluck their chicks.

It is sometimes possible to break this cycle, by using a special spray designed for the purpose, applying it when the chicks are at their most vulnerable, with their feathers emerging over the neck and shoulder area. Provided that you can deter the adult birds at this stage, there is a chance that the chicks will emerge from the nest with their feathering intact. Assuming this does prove successful, you will still need to treat future chicks in the same way.

When chicks emerge from the nest badly plucked, keep watch on them to ensure that they do not become chilled.

The only other solution, aside from fostering, is to remove the chicks as their feathers start to emerge, and complete the rearing process by hand, to prevent feather-plucking occurring.

Once feather plucking has become a habit, it is a very difficult one to break, so try and catch the problem early before it does become a habit.