How to I stop my King Parrot from pulling out her feathers?

poozes: How to I stop my King Parrot from pulling out her feathers?
She’s at least 10 years old, not too sure because we were given her, and she’s an Australian King Parrot. You see them a lot in the Blue Mountains in Canberra. We’ve bought her so many toys but she doesn’t like to play with them. We bring her inside every night for interaction but she does it inside as well. What should I do?

Answers and Views:

Answer by cynica
Usually feather pulling is a stress related thing. And since you say she was given to you this will be the most likely reason. Some times a vet can put a protective collar on if it becomes too severe. But maybe she needs a vet check up just to rule out any other problems.

Answer by Poopus
cover it in a food that it doesn’t like, but will nort die if eaten! then wash it off in the evening. repeat this daily untill it stops attempting to pulll out its feathers. iff it continues after that, put a piece of fabric round it’s head in a cone shape. hope this works : )

Answer by Hakit.
Got me confused here! If its a King Parrot, then surely its a male !?

As regards interaction, parrots are quite content just to sit in trees or like places and watch the world go by!

Extremely lazy! Just peck away, nibble at things and even fly a few feet if they can make it!

They love a female/male mate – have U tried giving him or her a mate!

That’ll definitely liven him/her up! U see ! Be whizzing round all day !

Answer by A L
My bird has a similar problem.(if you dont want to read a story skip to the bottom ill put a * next to what might help you) I have heard birds pick themselves because they are lonely and or want attention. My bird flew away for a month or two then came back but viscous. Ever since then we cant get her out of the cage and shes really starting to worry me because she will be happy and lift her wings and you can tell were she picks herself. I have another bird near her cage but that dosent seem to help. The other bird dosent pull out there feathers or pick its self and i think thats because he/she gets out of the cage and spends time with the family. I am assuming that because my other bird dosent leave its cage often (even though i sit by her cage all the time) she picks herself. *You might want to try and take your Parrot out even if you dont hold her sit on top of the cage inside or walk around on the floor and spend some quality time with her. also birds groom there self and feathers do fall out come that proses

Hope this helps ^_^

Answer by skydanzer400
You probably cannot stop it without help. There are two basic reasons a bird plucks. An underlying health problem or it’s behavioral. The first thing you need to do is get her a check up by a good Avian vet. It there is any health related cause, that needs to be addressed first. And don’t put it off. Even if it is health related, if you let it go on too long, it will become a habit, just like a human biting their nails. The health problem can be cured but she may still pluck if it’s been allowed to become habit with her. Once you get a clean bill of health, then you start to address it from a behavioral standpoint. But to do that before knowing she is healthy is only spinning your wheels and making both of you more frustrated. Also try giving her things she can shred to help take her mind off it. It sounds like you are allowing her to be outside? If that’s the case, a check up is even more important. Wild birds carry a lot of diseases and parasites, many of which are airborne. Please get her a check up right away. An Avian vet can then advise you of the next best step. Good luck with her.

Answer by *StOd*
Maybe she has mites, maybe she is stress, or it could even be sexual frustration. Try changing her cage around…like the perches and toys. Other than that there’s not much more you can do. Try calling a vet and ask him first. But you might have to take her in and get some sink tests done.

Answer by DogGoneTWo
Hello There,
Wow you have an unusual parrot. I have never heard of that kind. I believe that is what you call feather plucking. This is just their way of growing more feathers. But if i were you i would ask your vet to see what he or she says. I wish you the best of luck.

Answer by [email protected]
how long have you had her if not long shes not settled down yet,but try changing her diet,only give her a couple of toys at a time not a whole lot at a time,give her veggies frout of different types and something different to chew on and spend more time with her its important to her to know you are willing to be her “mate”,she needs that really bad,talk to her flatter her tell her hw bueatiful she is,go to the birdchannel.com for more info.