A budgerigar plucks the feathers on its chest. Why does a parrot pull out its feathers? Shedding and ritual scratching

Often parrot owners are faced with the problem of feather plucking. In order to avoid or cope with this problem, you need to know what such actions indicate and what should be taken immediately.

Features of parrot behavior

Parrots are one of the most fastidious and vulnerable bird species in the world. Almost every action they take indicates a change in mood and level of satisfaction, or vice versa, dissatisfaction with something in their life. Any strange movement, sound, or action of the bird may be a signal that the pet is unhappy with something. Unusual behavior may also indicate health problems. Therefore, uncharacteristic actions of a pet need to be identified in time and carefully monitored.

Typically, a parrot's behavior is determined by two types of factors:

External factors - living conditions, food, change of environment, appearance of new animals or people.
Biological factors - the influence of age, hormonal imbalances, illness or puberty (this is greatly influenced by the appearance of a partner).

The most common manifestations of the internal state of parrots are:

Trembling is a very common manifestation of behavior change; it indicates sparseness, agitation, or agitation.
Flying inside the cage is an indicator of good physical fitness.
Strange sounds or cries near people - the bird is scared and ready to defend itself (perhaps even attack).
Wings spread - the parrot feels uncomfortable in its surroundings, it is hot.
Lack of interest in food and water - most often this phenomenon is observed when buying a parrot, or moving, it is due to the fact that the bird is not yet accustomed to the new and retains safety measures for itself. Water may also be sufficient in your pet's diet, especially if there are fresh fruits and vegetables, then reluctance to drink is absolutely normal.

Did you know? Parrots give their offspring names! It will be very difficult for a person to hear the difference between the sounds, but for each chick it is individual.

Particular attention should be paid to biological factors. First of all, this is the period of hatching eggs and molting. During these periods, parrots can become extremely aggressive and can even bite their owner. This is completely normal as they are simply trying to protect their offspring and feel unsafe. During the molting period, birds experience unpleasant sensations - itching, mild pain, this leads to increased irritation.

Among the biological factors, there are hormonal periods: the parrot can feed the owner, or the mirror, because he sees another parrot in it, rub against the bars, coo, spread his wings, and begin to make a nest. During these periods, the bird may show aggression, so you should remove the irritants (mirror, toy) and wait out this period.

Why does a parrot itch and pluck its feathers: reasons

During the molting period, when the parrot feels itchy due to the growth of new feathers, he tries to pull out the old ones, in this case this is absolutely normal, but if the skin is damaged to the point of bleeding and the pet is constantly itching, you need to pay attention to this and begin treatment. A number of reasons can serve as factors for the emergence of such a process.

Violation of containment conditions

In case of violation necessary conditions For life, the pet's skin can be severely damaged, this in turn leads to feathers being pulled out. Most often this is due to the wrong temperature and humidity for the parrot.

At very high temperatures and dry air, the bird's skin begins to peel off, becomes covered with scales, like dandruff, and begins to itch very much. The optimal temperature and humidity are +20-25⁰С and humidity 70-80%.

Important! Keeping the cage near a fireplace, heater, or radiator can greatly harm the health of the parrot!

Not regularly cleaning the cage can also lead to skin irritation and illness in your pet. Also, smoke and insufficient lighting can cause health problems for the bird.

Skin irritation

Improper nutrition can lead to diseases such as hepatitis, fatty hepatosis, liver and kidney tumors, liver rupture, nephritis. All these diseases occur quite unnoticed, their symptoms are: apathy, lack of appetite, bad bowel movements and skin problems.

Stress

Causes of stress for a parrot can be: moving to another place, traveling, changing owners, separation from another parrot or its death, sharing a cage with another parrot of the same sex (competition and tension arises), changing cages, having a dog or cat that is aggressive towards the parrot, physical pain. All such actions can plunge the bird into a state of stress. This leads to her plucking out her feathers.

Also, if ointments were previously used to treat the bird and they were poorly absorbed, this will be stressful for her and she will get rid of oily feathers. This can become a habit and even when the feathers are clean, she will still try to get rid of them.

Did you know? Parrots have been pets for 3,000 years! The Egyptians and Chinese were the first to domesticate them.

Failure to meet all needs can also cause your pet to shed feathers. This is often associated with loneliness. For example, Jaco parrots require communication, and if the owner leaves the house for the whole day, the bird begins to get bored. The same goes for the need for space, food and entertainment. When there are no toys in the cage at all, depression can be caused by boredom.

A full and sound sleep is very important for birds; if it is not there due to external irritants, constant noise, then the bird will be aggressive and may begin to get rid of feathers.

Important! Holistic care for a parrot is necessary; the absence of at least one element of care can lead to severe illness and stress for the bird.

What to do?

Once the cause is determined, action must be taken immediately to stop the loss of feathers.

Inspection and observation

If pulling out feathers leads to damage to the skin to the point of bleeding, and is also accompanied by such symptoms as apathy, lack of appetite, poor bowel movements, aggressiveness, flaking of the skin, the presence of black sticks (pereaters, lice eaters) on the body You should immediately contact your veterinarian.

But if this happens during molting and is not accompanied by the above symptoms, then this is normal, since new feathers cause itching and irritation. If the molting is prolonged, then this is also considered an alarming signal.

Veterinary assistance

First of all, a trip to the veterinarian will help determine the exact cause of feather loss, since some variants (diseases) internal organs, fungal diseases, mites) are very difficult to determine on your own.

If the cause is stress, then most often a bitter spray is prescribed, which does not contain harmful substances and stops the bird from pulling out. Aloe vera spray is also prescribed as it is a natural antiseptic that helps soften and moisturize the skin and stop bleeding. Calcium pangamate and vitamin B 15 are often used. The doctor will be able to determine the optimal treatment option individually for each pet.

Help and treatment at home

If it is not possible to go to the veterinarian, you can resort to home treatment. First of all, it is necessary to determine the cause of the phenomenon.

Bright luxurious plumage is a decoration of a parrot and a source of pride for its owner. But often owners notice that the parrot begins to pluck its feathers. Concerns arising in this regard are not without foundation. Self-plucking is a serious disease and can occur under the influence of various factors. Even a specialist sometimes finds it difficult to determine the true cause of the development of pathology.

Previously, it was believed that mainly large parrots, such as gray parrots and macaws, plucked their feathers. Now owners are also facing the same problem. budgies, lovebirds, necklace parrots etc.

Symptoms of self-plucking

The parrot sits ruffled, indifferent to everything that happens around, most often there are no feathers on the lower part of the wings, belly and chest. In especially severe cases, the entire body, with the exception of the head, becomes naked.
Plucked feathers are bitten, torn, frayed. At first, the bird pulls out feathers during daily grooming, then does this more and more often and loses more and more feathers. If they are “alive”, bleeding may occur.
The bird also plucks out newly growing feathers. Sometimes a parrot, frantically pulling out feathers, can also peck at the skin, then extensive wounds appear with exposed blood vessels, and bleeding begins.

Possible reasons for a parrot pulling out feathers

1. Violation of conditions of detention, namely

Dry air in the apartment, especially during the heating season, when the rooms are not ventilated and the radiators are hot.
Due to the anatomical feature, the skin of parrots is dry, since it does not have sebaceous and sweat glands, with the exception of the coccygeal gland (and some species of parrots - grays, macaws, Amazons - do not have a coccygeal gland). Accordingly, birds must be bathed, which owners often forget about.
To prevent physical inactivity, parrots kept in cages should be given the opportunity to fly around the apartment. Before doing this, do not forget to check the apartment for any sources of danger to birds.
It is important that the perches are made from natural material. The tannins in the bark of the perches stimulate digestion, and birds do not experience problems such as diarrhea or constipation.

2. Violation of the rules and norms of feeding, namely

Lack of amino acids such as cystine, methionine, lysine in the diet due to the lack of protein component in it. Owners often forget to give their birds protein foods, and some do not even know about their need. Once a week, parrots should receive protein in the form of a boiled egg, low-fat cottage cheese, yogurt, and minced meat. The amount of protein food depends on the type of parrot. Yes, for budgerigar it can be the size of a cherry, and for a larger one - correspondingly larger. During the molting period, protein should enter the parrot's body 2 times more often; when laying and incubating eggs, as well as when feeding chicks - daily.
For a pet to be healthy, its diet must contain fresh food - fruits, vegetables, herbs. It often happens that owners, once they see that the parrot refuses an apple, carrot or pear, stop giving them. But this is a case where you need to be persistent and offer fresh food over and over again every day. The parrot is very curious by nature, and after a while it will begin to try the fruits and vegetables offered, and then eat them fully.
Not a single bird’s diet can do without grain feed, and parrots are no exception. However, there are also mistakes here: the food is always given the same. For poultry, the composition of the grain mixture is very important, since different seeds contain correspondingly different nutrients. For example, wheat contains sulfur, which is so necessary during molting; oats – the most important amino acids lysine and cystine; corn, millet, canary seed, grass seeds are rich in carbohydrates; oil seeds and nuts – unsaturated fatty acids.
There are also owners who, out of ignorance, try to feed the parrot with food from their table: cutlets, fried meat, sausage, etc. This leads to a perversion of the bird’s appetite and, as a result, to metabolic disorders, and often to death pet.
Some experts believe that the cause of feather plucking is a pathology of the thyroid gland, and advises including beets, carrots, cabbage, and lettuce in the diet of sick birds: they stimulate the activity of the thyroid gland. At the same time, it is necessary to exclude oats from the parrots’ diet, because it suppresses the thyroid gland, as well as oilseeds and walnuts containing fatty oils.

3. Skin irritation

Itchy skin can also be caused by liver and kidney diseases.

Often the cause of feather plucking is the treatment of pet skin diseases with ointments. The ointment that gets on the feather makes it stick together, and the bird begins to tidy it up. But, as a rule, nothing works out for her, and such a feather has to be removed. The larger the surface treated with ointment, the larger the area of skin thinned from feathers.

4. Frustration

This is the most common and most difficult to determine cause of self-plucking. Parrots live in large flocks and are endowed with a highly developed psyche. Frustration is the most common type of psychogenic disorder; it is a strong mental experience that is a reaction to an insurmountable obstacle to meeting one’s needs, both physiological and psychological. That is, any violation of both the conditions of keeping and feeding, and communication (with other birds or humans), causes frustration in the parrot. Prolonged presence of a bird in a state of frustration can lead to serious disturbances in its mental state - depression, neurosis. The reaction to frustration can be aggressive or depressed, depending on the type of nervous system of the bird, but in any case it begins to pull out its feathers.

The causes of frustration in a parrot can be:

boredom (the owner is away from home for a long time, and when he returns he does not pay attention to the pet);
the presence of other pets or small children who do not give the bird rest;
intrusive attention from strangers;
loneliness due to the loss of a partner or owner;
the appearance of a new partner that the parrot did not like;
low position in a group of birds when the majority rejects the parrot; lack of sleep when the cage is overcrowded or the bird’s circadian rhythm is not observed (it needs 15 hours of light and 9 hours of sleep);
fear of separation from a person when he goes on vacation and gives the pet to an unfamiliar house, to unfamiliar people (this is especially important for a parrot in the first year of life with the owner).
Often a state of frustration is observed after the parrot and its cage are moved somewhere in a corner where there is not enough light, the air is drier and there is less attention. That is, when they forgot about him, when no one needed him... The bird feels well the attitude towards it, suffers and begins to pull out feathers out of grief.

But it also happens that after a change of owner, a parrot may stop plucking feathers: the bird is more comfortable with the new owner, and its aggression or sadness goes away.

How to help a parrot? Self-plucking treatment

You can use bitter spray “Beafar spray”, “Aloe Vera”. The action of Beafar spray is based on the use of bittering substances that are harmless to humans and animals. Aloe Vera spray is a natural antiseptic, is an analgesic and hemostatic agent, softens and moisturizes the irritated area on the bird’s skin.

For home remedies, you can try a solution of baking soda in a 1:1 ratio. When applied to a parrot's feathers, due to its bitterness, it discourages the bird from plucking.

But without finding out the reason for pulling out feathers, these remedies will not help.

You can put a protective collar on the parrot, but this is also not a solution, since the physiology of this bird is such that it must clean its feathers and put them in order for 2-3 hours every day. The collar will not allow this to be done, which is why the parrot’s painful condition can only get worse. If the collar is removed, the parrot will return to its old ways.

To reduce itching, your pet should be given 1/8–1/2 tablets of calcium pangamate and vitamin B15 daily. If the feathers do not grow, the parrot must constantly be given food with iodine. To bring the pet’s nervous system into a stable state, he is given an infusion of valerian (can be with sugar or honey) or valerian extract (1/2 tablet per day large birds). Eleutherococcus extract and pollen will also help reduce itching. In addition, the patient needs to be bathed frequently. And don't forget that it needs ultraviolet irradiation.

In contact with

Many owners of feathered pets, seeing for the first time how they pluck themselves and go bald, are horrified. Of course, such self-torture is not a pleasant sight. But the bird behaves this way for a reason. What is not happening, and what are the reasons for this behavior? Let's find out in detail.

Wrong diet as the cause of the problem

The chaotic feeding of a flying friend most often causes itching, which begins to bother him so much that it leads to self-plucking. Some owners simply do not attach importance to the issues of properly preparing the bird’s diet; they believe that it can be fed from the owner’s table. But this is an irreparable mistake. After all, the digestive system of humans and birds is significantly different. So over time, finishing cutlets, salads, pecking bread and crumbs from the table can lead to skin problems in the bird. Yes, parrots get used to such a diet, it is very convenient for the owner, because there is no need to waste time and money on buying special food. He eats with the bird, and in the meantime the metabolism is disrupted, and one day the bird begins to pull out its own feathers. She does this so actively and zealously that soon the feathers may remain only on the head and neck, where they are inaccessible for plucking. Food from the master's table is taboo for birds. Problems will begin with a deficiency of calcium and vitamins, metabolic disorders, then the kidneys and liver will suffer. The pet will scratch intensely and experience itching. So he plucks out the feathers.

If the plumage of females suffers during the period of feeding their offspring, then perhaps there is not enough protein in their diet.

Stress as a risk factor

There are many reasons for emotional distress in birds. These include relocation to a smaller cage, a change of owner or the death of a partner, severe fright, or cat attacks. Sometimes physical punishment, which owners use when a bird misbehaves or does not learn to speak, leads to stress. Sometimes, due to inexperience, owners keep 2 birds of the same sex in one cage. Then one of them will infringe on the other, who is weaker in character. So he can start plucking himself.

And the owner himself, his indifference and inattention to the pet lead to the bird developing stress. She feels unwanted. After all, in nature, parrots are accustomed to living in flocks; loneliness is not typical for them. And if the owner leaves the bird alone for a long time and does not pay attention to it every day, then in this way the bird will try to attract him to itself.

Stress from loneliness is a feature most often characteristic of gray parrots. When buying such a bird, you need to take into account your employment.

Owners of birds should know that the thyroid gland is responsible for the growth of plumage in birds, producing hormones that affect metabolism and thermoregulation. When a parrot plucks itself from stress, the thyroid gland, as during the period of natural molting, begins to work in increased mode. The feathers grow back, and the bird plucks them out again. Then the thyroid gland intensively synthesizes hormones and works hard. She thus becomes exhausted. The main organ of the endocrine system stops producing hormones, and the feathered pet may remain almost bald. Large wing feathers, tail feathers and flight feathers will remain on the body. And to prevent this from happening to the ward, it is important to provide him with emotional comfort every day.

A healthy parrot spends a lot of time preening its feathers. For him, this is a hygienic procedure and fun in one bottle. Sometimes owners notice that their pet itches too often. This can be either the first sign of a disease or an absolutely normal phenomenon.

Instructions

Parrots can scratch their feathers for up to three hours a day, this is completely normal. Sometimes they rub their head with their paw and even push it through the bars of the cage. However, remember that this is not only for hygienic reasons. Active scratching may indicate that your pet is in the process of molting; feathers scattered around the cage can also indicate this. The parrot combs out old feathers with its paws, making room for new ones. During molting, you need to monitor your parrot's diet; your pet must get enough calcium.

If you think your parrot is too active, you can inspect the fallen feathers. There should be no marks on them, and they should not be too disheveled, that is, damaged. Perhaps the room is too dry, which is why the parrot itches too often. Air humidity should be approximately 70%. The bird's skin becomes dehydrated due to dryness and itching appears. To moisturize the skin, the parrot should be bathed regularly, and you can also spray the bird with a spray bottle from time to time.

Signs that itching for unnatural reasons are peeling of the beak and paws. At the first symptoms of malaise, it is necessary to urgently show the parrot veterinarian. If you keep several birds, then the sick parrot must be isolated and quarantined.

Spectacular and bright plumage is one of the most attractive advantages of exotic birds. Sometimes parrot owners are faced with a serious problem: their beloved pet begins to pluck its feathers. If several pieces fall out per month, then this is not scary, but quite natural - the bird independently gets rid of unnecessary pieces. Sometimes a once beautiful feathered friend loses all its splendor and takes on a pitiful appearance, constantly plucking itself. There are several sources for this behavior. Some of them pose a danger not only to the appearance of the bird, but also to its health. Let us dwell on the main reasons for plucking feathers in parrots.

Feeding errors

As food for these exotics, it is better to purchase from specialized stores ready-made food for parrots. Additionally, you can enrich your diet with vegetables and fruits. The products are pre-washed, peeled, cut and pitted. You cannot use salty, sweet, fatty or fried foods. It is also necessary to diversify the menu with special vitamin complexes with mineral supplements.

If fed improperly, the parrot's body lacks useful microelements, and the bird compensates for this by plucking. Sometimes itching forces him to do this. It occurs due to allergies or metabolic disorders, if the pet is fed prohibited or harmful foods. For example, you should not give a lot of sunflower seeds because of their high fat content. The owner wants to please the pet with a tasty treat, but in the end the pet has problems. Problems in this case can be avoided by reconsidering the bird’s diet.

Sometimes self-plucking occurs during feeding of chicks, when the diet of adults lacks minerals and proteins.

Poor living conditions

A cramped and uncomfortable cage, too high or low air temperature, low or high humidity in the room, or insufficient daylight hours can cause a parrot to pluck feathers on its chest, butt, or other accessible place.

It is necessary to give the bird the opportunity to swim in warm water, especially in extreme heat and when the air in the room is very dry. In winter, when the days are very short, lamps are always turned on near this exotic for several hours to increase the length of the day. It is useful to let the bird fly around the apartment. The more often you do this, the better for your pet, because in nature he does not sit in one place for a long time.

Loneliness and boredom

In nature, parrots mostly spend time with their own kind. In the absence of such an opportunity, they may well engage in self-plucking. The likelihood of this behavior increases if the bird's sexual partner or cage mate has died. Sometimes a bird does this during puberty.

You can help the bird if you devote more time to your pet. You can buy new toys or get another feathered friend to reduce the feeling of loneliness.

Parrots plucking feathers photo

Lack of attention

The parrot needs to devote several hours of your free time every day. He is like a child who is constantly reaching out to adults. Developmental activities, stroking, and calm, long conversations will help your bright friend avoid problems with self-plucking.

Stress

There can be many reasons for overvoltage:

change in usual living conditions - new food, lack of sleep;
too noisy neighbors (children, animals);
new place of residence (or moving the cage to another place);
low place in the bird hierarchy if there are other birds in the house.

Stress can lead to frustration. This painful condition often begins with the parrot plucking feathers on its butt or other accessible areas. Then other symptoms develop. Depending on the individual, aggressiveness or depression manifests itself. Serious mental disorders are possible - depression, neurosis, etc. The problem can be avoided if its source is eliminated.

Ticks, different kinds fungus, feather and feather eaters, helminths cause serious discomfort to the parrot. The bird is carefully examined to exclude such a cause of plucking. If there are other birds in the house, when purchasing a new pet, a month-long quarantine must be carried out, and appearance the newcomer is studied especially carefully.

Diseases

This is one of the most unpleasant reasons for plucking feathers in parrots. A variety of illnesses can lead to this behavior.

Inflammation of feather follicles. Often with this disease, the parrot plucks the feathers under its wings.
Pathologies of the thyroid gland. To prevent and stimulate the thyroid gland, the parrot’s diet includes lettuce, beets, carrots and cabbage. The consumption of walnuts, oats and oilseeds is limited.
Dermatitis. There are many sources of its occurrence, but as a result, the parrot can pluck feathers until they bleed, and the resulting wounds easily become infected and worsen the bird’s condition.

Plucking feathers is a serious reason to take a closer look at your pet. Sometimes there are several reasons for this behavior, and it is very difficult to detect them on your own. If within a couple of weeks it is not possible to understand and eliminate the problem, and the plumage is catastrophically lost, it is necessary to contact a veterinary clinic to provide assistance to the suffering bird.

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