Author: Veterinarian Behaviourist Dr Muriel ALNOT-PERRONIN

 

Plucking is the act — which the parrot inflicts on itself or on another parrot — of tearing out feathers. It is a behaviour that is only observed in captivity. However, the etiological diagnosis (search for a cause) is a veritable investigation and requires the process of elimination. Causes can be behavioural — due to a lack of appropriate activity or a disability in learning how to groom feathers — or medical, this latter being extremely varied! Prior to the essential veterinary consultation and any necessary additional examinations, it is useful to gather the following data:

 

Circumstances in which plucking appeared:

 

• The approximate date of the beginning of feather loss or plucking: a long-lasting problem will often foretell a grim prognosis.

• The speed of development, which will help distinguish acute problems from chronic ones.

• The presence of other birds in the same cage. When the bird is not alone, it is good to isolate it for several weeks to determine if the plucking is not self-inflicted. If the companion is the culprit, feathers on the head may also be plucked.

 

Characteristics of the environment:

 

• Quality of the food (to be confirmed with your veterinarian bird specialist)

• Conditions of confinement: size of the cage, type and number of feeders, the material and diameter of perches, the presence of a birdhouse, etc.

• Type and duration of lighting over a 24-hour period

• Humidity rate

• Techniques and frequency of cleaning, type of products used

• Any changes in the environment, prior to the emergence of plucking, such as painting or something as simple as a change of lamps.

 

With this initial information, the veterinarian will first look for medical causes. There are many possibilities, and they must be systematically considered. Sometimes they are not individually responsible for the plucking, but the combination of several of them can cause enough stress to trigger the behaviour. Such is the case with internal parasites, hypothyroidism, painful discomfort, reproductive disorders, liver damage, hypocalcaemia, proventriculitis, etc. Some diseases or situations are however directly responsible for plucking. These are for example: certain bacterial or fungal skin damage, some external parasites, body hygiene defects, inappropriate diets or certain toxins. The most common medical cause is dietary deficiencies, causing abnormal development of feathers which in turn results in plucking.

 

There are some cases where a medical cause is necessarily present (and potentially aggravated or worsened by a behavioural factor). Such is the case where:

 

• The bird’s head is affected even though it does not live with a partner, because it is impossible for it to pluck its own head feathers by itself.

• A pruritus (itching) is observed, even if its presence is difficult to establish.

• Dysmorphia (body defects), significant necrotic (cell death) or inflammatory phenomena are visible.

 

Be forewarned: the fact that a parrot has no outward signs of sickness does not mean that it is in good health.

 

A behavioural origin is suspected only when medical causes have been eliminated. However, behavioural causes will still be sought even when a disease has been identified as the origin of plucking.

 

Behavioural causes:

 

The easiest to reach areas are generally those where plucking is first observed: the patagium (folds of skin at the elbow), the hind legs (at the mid-thigh), the sternum, or the tail. It is commonly believed that if the head is untouched, then the plucking is probably due to a behavioural cause, but it is not as simple as that!

 

Certain families of parrots seem to be more genetically predisposed to plucking than others: Cockatoos, African Greys, Amazons, and Macaws. However, the Electus and the Conure family are also very often affected. Some studies also suggest a greater genetic predisposition in females.

 

Among the most common causes are the following:

 

• Lack of activity or stimulus: for parrots, silence and solitude are discouraged; leaving toys in their cage is not sufficient.

• Toys that are not suitable for parrots (dangerous, toxic, etc.).

• Changes to the bird’s environment: positions near windows should for the most part be avoided as they place the bird in an “unprotected” situation.

• Too many people in the room or too many birds in the same cage.

• Lack of awareness of social interactions and normal communication in parrots. Touching certain parts of the body can cause stress (petting the back), and the lack of social contact with human beings (imported parrots or those raised exclusively by their parents) adds to the stress because unwanted contact can be traumatising.

• Poor grooming (due to developmental disorders)

• Presence or the arrival of other animals, in particular cats for small birds, or sudden and unexpected noises.

 

 

Dr Muriel ALNOT-PERRONIN, March 2014