Feather-plucking Information & Feather-plucking Links at HealthHaven.com

Feather-plucking or pterotillomania occurs in many bird species worldwide for a variety of reasons. Wild birds may pluck feathers for thermoregulatory or nesting behaviors, while pets may also engage in the activity for psychological reasons.

Birds kept in cages may be showing emotion through the feather-plucking habit, possibly owing to lack of appropriate environmental stimulation. Feather-plucking may indicate the bird feels neglected, sad, bored, or inappropriately expressing joy. Alternatively, feather-plucking may be due to a feather disease, an itchy skin disease or another physical problem. Captive birds flocks may pick at other birds for social dominance with the added complication of not being able to avoid a tormentor, usually indicated by bald spots where an individual could not self-inflict them such as the head.

One of the main reasons a bird begins to pluck their feathers is malnutrition. Many birds, especially parrots, are fed a diet consisting of mainly seeds. This diet lacks many of the essential nutrients such as vitamins that birds need to stay healthy. The birds skin eventually becomes dry, flaky, and irritated. The birds then try to relieve the itching by grooming their feathers, but this often leads to over-grooming and eventually feather plucking.

It is possible that veterinary treatment or an improved and more stimulating environment may help a bird suffering from feather-plucking. Organic bitter sprays are sold in pet stores to discourage plucking, especially of newly grown feathers, although this may make general beak-based grooming difficult for the animal.