There are many names which describe this condition which include but are not limited to the following.    

Feather chewing, over preening, feather barbering, feather shredding, self feather or skin mutilation,

feather plucking or pluckers, feather picking or pickers, fragmented feathers.

Fragmented and damaged feather are generally caused by allergy due to the itching it causes. However it can then be compounded by nutritional deficiencies.   Even with bird receiving a nutritionally balanced diet, they can still be deficient.  This is due to the allergens “binding with the minerals added to most commercially prepared bird foods and preventing the absorption” of the fortifications and supplementations being added to these diets.  In the past it was commonly accepted that birds who refuse to accept formulated diets were just picky.  However allergy symptoms are caused not just by ingestion but also inhalation.  When a sensitive bird gets near these they have no choice but to breath them in and often have no other way to tell you except to refuse to eat it.  Birds that are ignored and forced to eat pellets despite their attempt at showing you will often starve to death before consuming a food TOXIC to them.  Some parrot species are more susceptible to this condition than others.  Though it is more commonly seen in African Greys, Cockatoos, and Eclectus it has also been witnessed in Macaws, Amazons, Conures, Cockatiels, Parakeets, Quakers, Pionus, Parrotlets, to name just a few.  If this condition continues long term it most often results in eventual organ damage and even death.  High carbohydrate foods including pellets, formulated and cooked diets seem to feed and worsen this condition.  Lower carbohydrate, higher fat, protein and vegetable diets make birds more resistant to allergens.  That is exactly what all Feather+Go products were developed for.  To provide parrots with a more balanced and easily absorbed food rich in vitamins and minerals low in carbohydrates  made from whole foods to allow for healing and prevention of this serious illness.

Suggested Treatments may include:

 Avoiding ALL diets and foods containing man made vitamins, colors and preservatives even when they claim all natural.  Avoid carbohydrates including fruit, when offering table foods.  Used distilled drinking water.  Feed nutrient rich whole food fortified diets such as Feather+Gro.  In multiple bird households all diets containing allergens need to be removed even when others don’t seem to be affected in order to protect the sensitive bird(s) from inhaling allergens.  These diets can be easily replaced with Pro+Veggies.  Adding Feather+Aid GSE Easy to Mix Concentrate may be added to the drinking water for birds with more serious feather conditions.  For birds who have cause injury to skin Feather+Aid Healing Salve may be applied directly to the wound.  DO NOT REACT when you see you bird pick, any attention you give is a reward whether is positive or negative and may quickly turn this condition into a habit.  Provide non toxic easily destroyed toys to provide a mental exercise to keep bird busy while healing and on going.  Suggestions may include toys made with Feather+Gro vegetable mineral cubes, paulie rope, clean untreated soft wood and leather, thinker toys, non toxic tree branches with the bark on them, cause and effect toys, etc.  Misting the bird to ease the itching with plain water hot water in spray bottle (it will mix with the air and be luke warm when it contacts the bird). 

Aloe Vera may be added to mist water to sooth the skin.   

CAUTION: NEVER USE HUMIDIFIERS WITH ANY BIRD!

 

Behavioral feather conditions may have several causes but all have only two things in common.  The feather is pulled out WHOLE and perfect feather is generally restored once the problems within the birds emotional environment are identified and then corrected.   Emotional cause may be boredom, fear, abuse, stress, small cage, loneliness, traumatic event, and lack of understanding of emotional needs on the part of the owner, etc.  If it is actually a mental condition causing the bird to remove his feathers, they will allow their feathers to grow out and discontinue plucking behavior once conditions are corrected and emotional balance is restored.  If allowed to continue long term this condition can become a habit but rarely does if it is truly a mental cause.

Immediately identifying and correcting the cause of trauma to the parrot.  Remove all offenders or offensive situation.  Making sure to offer cage is properly sized, generally one or more sizes larger than what the manufacturer recommends.  Stimulating bird mentally by supplying a variety of toys including those using natural and easily destroyed parts.   Offering diets rich in calcium, vitamins and minerals which are easily absorbed by the body such as Feather+Aid Pro+Veggies and Feather+Gro along with other healthful vegetables and table foods to aid in the growth of new feathers.  Misting the bird to ease the itching with plain water hot water in spray bottle (it will mix with the air and be luke warm when it contacts the bird).  Aloe Vera may be added to mist water to sooth the skin.   

CAUTION: NEVER USE HUMIDIFIERS WITH ANY BIRD!

 

Often owners of feather pickers are told that a pet bird is in need of a mate.  It is common for birds to selectively pick their feathers during mating season with or without a mate.  This is an instinctual behavior with many which ensures better incubation and effective fertilization.  With this type of picker removal usually occurs in the lower abdominal region and or around the vent.  Most feathers are removed whole and are retained for use with the nest. 

Offering diets rich in calcium, vitamins and minerals which are easily absorbed by the body such as Pro+Veggies and Feather+Gro during nesting season along with other healthful vegetables and table foods.  Misting the bird to ease the itching with plain water hot water in spray bottle (it will mix with the air and be luke warm when it contacts the bird).  Aloe Vera may be added to mist water to sooth the skin.  CAUTION: NEVER USE HUMIDIFIERS WITH ANY BIRD!