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I checked in my Drsfoster &smith catalog for the peacock feather toy however, they no longer carry it. They use to carry activtoys for parakeets as well. That is another item they no longer carry (!?)
I bought a peacock feather toy, I beleive at petsmart, about a year ago.
California bird nerds may carry bird safe feathers used to make toys...

Thank you! I will order a couple of the feather toys. There used to be "wild" peacocks up the canyon where my parents live. I wonder if they're still there... well, that idea probably wouldn't work anyway.

That's an interesting article about preening toys. I have some toys already that fit those descriptions, but I didn't know they were preening toys. I've seen the cotton candy toys in pet stores, but I remembered reading in articles about bird safety (when Yadira injured her leg, you all helped me with that too ) about birds getting tangled in fabric and cotton strands, so I haven't bought any. I do have toys with sisal rope, leather, and beads.

Here's what I'm thinking now:
I will follow the advice of my vet and keep Lady Gwen and Yadira in separate cages for the full thirty days. I'll give them time out together and watch closely so I can separate them if they pluck. Hopefully the feather toys will come during that time. If Yadira can start playing with the feather toys while they're separated maybe she will continue to do so when I put them back together at the end of the thirty days. (Assuming Lady Gwen is completely feathered out. If she isn't, then maybe I will consult the vet some more before putting them back together.)

After putting them back together, I will watch closely for signs of plucking. If Yadira plucks again, I think I'll try the spray once and see if it helps. If neither the spray nor the feather toys work, then I'll have to re-think.

Does this sound like a good plan?

Thanks again!
-Maija

It does sound like a plan, all but using wild bird feathers. Ones you purchase from a toy dealer would be fine, but from wild birds, there is too much risk of parasites and disease, don't use them.

I talked to my local pet store today, he said he can't find them any more either. I would take a look on Grey Feather toys for preening toys. I have used the "cotton candy" toy sucessfully, but I check the toy daily for tangles. There are several types of preening and destructable toys out there, it is just a matter of finding out which ones work for you!

Another toy that is safe that my birds play (destroy) for hours is toys I've made using chinese finger traps. Also ones made out of straws

I use the chinese finger traps too! I pierce them through the center and string them on leather. Then I stuff them with nutriberries for a foraging treat. (Grey Feather sells them in bulk!)

Here is a photo of a toy I've made for my tiels:

Ooooh! I like it!
I sometimes take 3 or 4 of them forming them into a star shape and put a stainless steel screw through them and attached to side of cage. The teils chew them and tear peices off. they love it!\\
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!

Wow! Those are great looking toys! I slid those chinese finger traps over a dowel perch once and the 'tiels had fun chewing them off. (I don't normally use the dowel perches. That was just for a few days to play with.) I've never given them straws either, but I have a whole box of them left over from when I was hand feeding my starling. What kind of string are you using, bostonbudgie?

I had Lady Gwen and Yadira out together for a couple of hours last night. They just sat right next to each other for most of the time. I didn't see any grooming or plucking. When I separated them for the night, Yadira became upset, but she settled down after a few minutes. I switched which cage they were in too, since one cage is much large than the other.

-Maija

I use natural twine as string

Well, Linus started his shananagans again. I found lucille with half of head bald with her ear completely exposed. I didn't see linus do the plucking but it is safe guess he is the culprit since they have been mating like crazy.He can be a persistant pest. So during the day lucille goes in the cage with Eddie (another female) and Linus has his own cage right next to them so he can see her.
Poor lucille!

aww that is so sad little buggers aren't they when they pluck