upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Hi from Constance. I haven't been around lately, but some of you might know me as the woman whose cockateil was missing for 21 days; we found him 11 miles away! That was a year and a half ago.

I have a problem with my caique. He is 2 1/2 years old. He has been plucking his features for about six months now.There was no significant or slight change that started the plucking. Wherever he can reach, he is all downey grey feathers and now he is exposing some of his flesh. My family and I are very upset.

Let me describe our birds' life. They are not clipped and they fly around the house all day. They only go into their cubbies (cages) at night. They get 12-13 hours of sleep. They have active and interesting lives, and we are tolerant about letting them get into our space (walking across homework page), eating off our plate. The caique gets lots of shoulder-sitting and head-perching time. I don't like having him perch on my shoulder (he leans down and nibblels on a small mole I have right within reach--it's painful). When I try to take him from my shoulder, he runs around the back of my sweater and I can't reach him. So, I think he sees this as a great game and that he wins.

What could be the causes of plucking? I can't imagine altering his behavior unless he got a nap every afternoon. He has it, from my idea of a bird's point of view, a perfect life. He has a telephone book that he chews up and a nice three-tier bird condo with toys. Mostly, he wants to be with one or more of us, and preferable attached to someone's body. The two birds will eat closeby to each other. They don't cozy up but neighter do they seem to annoy each other. We have a dog who wants to be friends with the birds but the birds fly at the dog meaning mischief.

I know I should take the bird to an an avian vet. But I thought I'd bring my questions here first. How prevelent are mites? Could he have picked up mites somehow? It is a shame to see this beautiful bird with most of his beautiful white feathers plucked out.

Thanks,
Constance

I think it would be dangerous for any of us to guess at reasons your bird has been plucking for a half year. If he'd begun plucking 2 weeks ago, then we could help you find info on the net about what to consider at the 2wk point. After 6 months, you need to find a good avian vet and have full bloodwork done. The results might lead you and your vet to specific disease testing that then needs to be done. Please don't delay further.

We have no way in telling you if there was an environmental change, some sort of residue from something he's getting in contact with (lotion, nicotene, cleaning products, etc), an allergy, or even if this may be a bacterial, fungal or other health issue. Mites are not common in species outside of budgies, finches, and canaries.

I hate to say it, but if he's been plucking for so long, why did you not seek action sooner? This is something that should have been dealt with within the first week of noticing signs.

I remember your ordeal with your cockatiel getting lost outside.....I was one of the ones who followed along with your posts in hopes that you'd find him and it was such a wonderul, happy ending. I have no experience here with plucking, but I know it's a very common thing. Just wanted to wish you all the best with your caique and hope that you are able to find out why this is happening.