Feather destructive behaviors (plucking, barbering, over preening) may occur for a number of reasons. Stress, boredom, or an underlying illness are a few. But a very common cause that is often overlooked is hormones. Environmental cues typically trigger hormones. Some environmental cues include, an abundance of food (especially high energy foods), long daylight hours, and access to a mate and/or a nest. In our homes, there are similar cues. It is often very difficult to avoid hormones entirely. Even if you do everything right, many birds will still have some hormonal behaviors, especially during the mating seasons (spring/fall). Accept, in our homes, a bird can become hormonal year round if hormone triggers are present. Feather destructive behaviors are particularly difficult to manage because, though they may begin for one of the previously mentioned reasons, they can quickly become a self reinforcing habit. The longer a bird exhibits feather destructive behavior, the harder it may be to stop or reverse. In Auggie’s case, she started plucking in her previous home. Over the last several months she had let her feathers grow in, but this week, in less than a day, she managed to pull them all out again. Why? I believe it is due to hormones. Auggie’s hormones are difficult to keep in check. It is my belief that seasonal changes may trigger her plucking. What can I do about it? For now, nothing. We will watch and wait. My guess is, she will stop after a couple of months and they will start to grow in again… until fall when she may do it again. One option I am considering is hormone injections or a hormone implant, but those are last resorts, and they don’t always work.
#auggie #quaker #parrot #bird #rescue #plucking #hormones