Parrot Feather Plucking

Hi all I have an african grey called Jasper and he is healthy, talks, sings etc but the tips of his feathers are starting to go bold. He has never been a feather plucker but he obviosly does preen like any other bird. I feed him on good quality food and has fresh water every day. I also give him the Calcivet Vitamins in his water and put the powder on his fruit and veg. Along with his feathers his red tail isnt of good quality either. :( Any advice would be great. Joe

Some parrots are more prone to be pluckers, like the African Greys. The reason behind the plucking is almost always due to behavioural problems like parrot boredom, parrot physical problems or lack of interest in the parrot surroundings or its owners. Because plucking is a cyclic behaviour, once a parrot starts to self-mutilate, it is very hard to stop it from doing this. So, you must know HOW to stop the cycle. -------------------------------------------------------------- Why do...

Plucking seems to occur more often in Greys because they must be managed more carefully than other species. Internal conflicts involving environment, cage, diet, activities, bathing, discipline, training, amusement produce internal disharmony and anxiety. The companion Grey may internalize these events and be unable to resolve them in a non-destructive manner. When something is amiss, they may express their discomfort or anxiety by feather plucking. Greys need to be helped, more than other species, in...

Is it normal to lose some feathers some of the time? If so, what amount is normal? At first I noticed a stray, white, downy feather here and there and assumed it normal. Yesterday I found a 2-3 inch feather at the bottom of Vin's cage. Tonight he was flapping out loud and I saw another, just over an inch, drift downward. They're all soft, fluffy feathers -- "underfeathers" I suppose... Do you think this is cause for concern? Thanks!

I've recently noticed a fairly substantial growth of Parrot-feather in many of my lilly pots and now along the bottom of my pond.I didn't plant these and they probably got in my pond as a free rider in one of my lilly purchases. Suffice it to says they are thriving and I am afraid they my take over my pond if they keep reproducing at their present rate. Is there any real problem with these plants and should I be removing them . ------------------------------------- SHANON Guaranteed ROI

I am fostering 2 amazons. they are both 17yrs old. I have had them 6 months. They havent plucked or had any problems since i got them. I have had to separate them due to aggressiveness when one went in "season". Now the other went in "season" and is plucking his wing till he is bloody. He started doing that today. It breaks my heart to see him do this. How do I stop it? Fast?!!

I have a african grey of 5 years old, i bought him from a pet shop and since i got him, his been a feather plucker, even plucks his tail feathers. I have been told that it could be one of the reasons below, but doubt very much... His bored --- well i ended up taking him to work with me every day and nothing changed. His diet ---- was told to take him off sunflower seed coz this could be a skin irritation, well i did that too and nothing changed bath --- was told to bath him in a duluted...