We use cookies with an analytical purpose. You can either configure or reject the cookies by clicking on "Cookies configuration". You can also accept all the cookies clicking on "Accept all cookies". For more information you can visit our Cookies Policy.
Accept all cookiesF.A.Q.
How can we help you?
My parrot chews its feathers. Why does it do it? What can I do to avoid it?
My parrot chews its feathers. Why does it do it? What can I do to avoid it?
This behavior called plucking can have medical causes: it can be due to skin diseases, feather diseases… This is why it is advisable to visit a veterinarian if this occurs and thus eliminate this possible cause. However, it can also be a behavioral pluckage, a behavioral disorder. This behavioral disorder may have a nutritional basis. An incorrect diet can increase the “basal stress” of the animal. In other words, an inadequate diet can increase the “stressability” of the animal. In Psittacus Catalonia we investigate in this area and we apply all the knowledge that we obtain in the improvement of our pellets and hand-feeding formulas. We could say that parrots that eat PSITTACUS products will be less anxious and more prepared to integrate the stimuli of the environment without exceeding the threshold from which this type of abnormal behavior starts to be triggered. Behavioral pluckage is an abnormal behavior that can be triggered as an “irrational” response to a new destabilizing stimulus (usually a change in the physical and/or experiential environment). In other words, when a parrot does not know how to respond to something that makes it uneasy and/or creates insecurity or discomfort, it releases that stress by doing something that apparently has nothing to do with it: screeching exaggeratedly, destroying the furniture, self-injuring, cleaning and touching its feathers excessively… (like a person who bites its nails when it is restless). These behaviors of release of stress or “emotional” tension can become chronic, modified and aggravated. In parrots that cohabit with humans, this behavior draws negative attention to us and we often respond by scolding them (in short, paying attention to them). If the parrot observes that plucking feathers gets our attention, it will reinforce this behavior. In these cases, it is noticeable that they chew and pluck their feathers especially when we are next to them. Broadly speaking, to stop this behavior, we need to do a little introspection. We have to put ourselves in the parrot’s place and try to discover what could be the triggering cause of this behavior. Once the cause has been located, it will be necessary to eliminate it or minimize the effects by making a progressive adaptation of the parrot to the new situation. Analyze carefully from what moment your parrot started to pluck and what has changed since then. Triggering factors can be: changes in the family group, changes in routines, changes in the physical environment (for example the change of location of the cage or the addition of a new toy to the cage), overstimulation, understimulation (boredom), the sudden decrease in the level of human attention to which it was used to… Avoid scolding it when it does it, as you could unintentionally reinforce this behavior even more: if the parrot sees that when he does it we address it (even if it is only to scold him), it will do it also to get attention. It is even advisable that when it plucks a feather in front of you, you turn your back and leave the room. It is convenient that it notices that you are not at all interested in what it is doing. It is advisable to prevent this anomalous behavior from becoming chronic, we do not have to wait long to find solutions. At a nutritional level, during a situation of pluckage, the most indicated pellets and that we recommend to eliminate a possible nutritional cause and to reduce the level of anxiety of the animal, is the Omega formula.
This behavior called plucking can have medical causes: it can be due to skin diseases, feather diseases… This is why it is advisable to visit a veterinarian if this occurs and thus eliminate this possible cause. However, it can also be a behavioral pluckage, a behavioral disorder. This behavioral disorder may have a nutritional basis. An incorrect diet can increase the “basal stress” of the animal. In other words, an inadequate diet can increase the “stressability” of the animal. In Psittacus Catalonia we investigate in this area and we apply all the knowledge that we obtain in the improvement of our pellets and hand-feeding formulas. We could say that parrots that eat PSITTACUS products will be less anxious and more prepared to integrate the stimuli of the environment without exceeding the threshold from which this type of abnormal behavior starts to be triggered. Behavioral pluckage is an abnormal behavior that can be triggered as an “irrational” response to a new destabilizing stimulus (usually a change in the physical and/or experiential environment). In other words, when a parrot does not know how to respond to something that makes it uneasy and/or creates insecurity or discomfort, it releases that stress by doing something that apparently has nothing to do with it: screeching exaggeratedly, destroying the furniture, self-injuring, cleaning and touching its feathers excessively… (like a person who bites its nails when it is restless). These behaviors of release of stress or “emotional” tension can become chronic, modified and aggravated. In parrots that cohabit with humans, this behavior draws negative attention to us and we often respond by scolding them (in short, paying attention to them). If the parrot observes that plucking feathers gets our attention, it will reinforce this behavior. In these cases, it is noticeable that they chew and pluck their feathers especially when we are next to them. Broadly speaking, to stop this behavior, we need to do a little introspection. We have to put ourselves in the parrot’s place and try to discover what could be the triggering cause of this behavior. Once the cause has been located, it will be necessary to eliminate it or minimize the effects by making a progressive adaptation of the parrot to the new situation. Analyze carefully from what moment your parrot started to pluck and what has changed since then. Triggering factors can be: changes in the family group, changes in routines, changes in the physical environment (for example the change of location of the cage or the addition of a new toy to the cage), overstimulation, understimulation (boredom), the sudden decrease in the level of human attention to which it was used to… Avoid scolding it when it does it, as you could unintentionally reinforce this behavior even more: if the parrot sees that when he does it we address it (even if it is only to scold him), it will do it also to get attention. It is even advisable that when it plucks a feather in front of you, you turn your back and leave the room. It is convenient that it notices that you are not at all interested in what it is doing. It is advisable to prevent this anomalous behavior from becoming chronic, we do not have to wait long to find solutions. At a nutritional level, during a situation of pluckage, the most indicated pellets and that we recommend to eliminate a possible nutritional cause and to reduce the level of anxiety of the animal, is the Omega formula.
< Go back