FIX UNDERLYING PROBLEMS TO STOP FEATHER-PICKING BIRDS

[Lhasav]

From: ^birdie^  (Original Message) Sent: 13/10/2001 1:14 AM

FIX UNDERLYING PROBLEMS TO STOP FEATHER-PICKING BIRDS
Not long ago I wrote about feathers, the strong, light- weight and beautiful genetic adaptation that allowed birds to shed their reptilian ancestry and take flight. I soon heard from a woman with an umbrella cockatoo. She wishes she could appreciate her bird's feathers more -- or rather, that her bird would. "Bianca looks like a plucked chicken, from her neck to her feet," wrote the woman. "I love her dearly, but it hurts to look at her. She will not stop feather-pick- ing. What can I do?" I wish I could offer a definitive answer, but there just isn't one. Birds pluck their feathers for any number and combination of medical and psychological problems, and birdkeepers and avian veterinarians alike practically tear out their own hair trying to find a fix for this frustrating behavior. Feather-picking is not a disease -- it's a symptom of something else that's wrong with a bird. If your bird pulls out his feathers, the only hope you have of end- ing the problem is to fix the underlying problem (or problems, in many cases). First step: Take your pet to a veterinarian who's up- to-date in avian medicine -- not all are -- or is a board-certified avian specialist. (Certified specialists will carry the designation ABVP (avian practice) after their veterinary degrees, initials that stand for the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, an organization that oversees spec- ialty testing and certification for in-practice veterinarians.) It's essential to get help for your pet at the first sign of trouble: The longer your bird has been picking, the greater the probability that the behavior cannot be cured.

Considering just a few of the triggers for feather-pick- ing will give you an idea of how difficult this mystery can be for even the best avian veterinarians to solve. Here are a few of the more common reasons for feather- picking in pet birds: Health problems. Medical conditions behind feather-pick- ing include allergies, parasitic infections, bacterial infections, cysts in the feather follicles, vitamin deficiencies and hormone-associated problems. And that's the short list. Low humidity. Many birds come from extremely humid environments, and our houses can't hope to duplicate the conditions of a rain forest. The dry air of most houses can be a factor in feather-picking and can also set the stage for some secondary medical prob- lems. .

Boredom and pent-up energy. Birds are active and intel- ligent, and they don't handle well the strain of sit- ting around in a cage all day. Without activities to exercise their minds and bodies, birds may direct all their energy toward tearing out their feathers.

Psychological problems. Although birds need to have their wings trimmed for safety, a bad wing trim -- too short, with no allowance for an "easy landing" -- can upset a bird so badly that he starts tearing at himself. Obses- sive-compulsive disorders can also trigger feather-pick- ing. Attention-seeking. You love how your bird looks. He starts tugging at feathers and you freak, imagining your beautiful bird with the broiler-chicken look. Every time he touches his feathers -- even for normal preening behavior -- you rush over. See how this works? "Aha!" thinks your bird. "All I have to do to get atten- tion is pull a feather!"

After your bird receives a clean bill of physical health, follow your veterinarian's suggestions for environmental adjustments, such as changing the cage size or location, misting the bird frequently, adding toys and increasing interaction. Prepare for the project to be a long one! Start a diary to record your changes and any effects they may have on your bird's behavior. When I shared this information with Bianca's owner, she immediately responded with, "Are you sure this will help?" Alas, there are no guarantees, despite the best efforts of a birdkeeper and veterinarian. We must do our best for our pets, but when it comes to feather-picking, we must realize that sometimes, with pets as well as people, you just have to love them the way they are, even if they look like plucked chickens.

article from Pet Connection By Gina Spadafori

 
 
 


 
 
 

 
 

[Lhasav]

From: ^birdie^  (Original Message) Sent: 10/03/2002 8:04 PM


A little bit about feather picking

One of the most frustrating and disconcerting conditions of caged birds is feather picking. Ranking as some of the most difficult and challenging conditions to diagnose and treat, feather picking is an obsessive, destructive behavior pattern of birds during which all or part of their feathers are methodically pulled out, amputated, frayed, or in some other way damaged. While there can be physical causes of feather picking, such as bacterial infections or food allergies, the more problematic cases result from psychological factors.




Generally a problem of birds in captivity, wild birds do not feather pick because they are too preoccupied with their own survival and with reproduction. Pet birds endure stress not experienced by their wild counterparts - captivity, malnutrition, solitary living, absence of a mate with which to fulfill courtship rituals and mating needs cause significant stress. Most caged birds seem prone to feather picking, including African gray and Timneh parrots, cockatoos, macaws, conures, gray-cheeked parakeets, and cockatiels. Interestingly, Amazon parrots rarely engage in the habit.




There are no quick and easy solutions for psychological or stress-induced feather picking. Collars can be fitted and applied, creating an artificial barrier between the bird's beak and its feathers. But while these treat the symptoms, they do not eliminate the underlying causes. Indeed, the collars themselves can be stressful and should only be applied to arrest self-mutilation and prevent hemorrhage, or as a last resort when all else fails. They also prevent normal feather maintenance orpreening.




If medical causes for feather picking have been ruled out, and boredom is regarded as the major cause of feather picking, then you must make changes. Increasing the amount of time you spend with your bird will greatly reduce feather-picking tendencies because the bird is kept otherwise engaged. Sometimes changing the location of the bird's cage or perch is helpful. Some feather pickers may not receive adequate rest, and providing them with a more quiet and secluded locale or covering the cage at night may help. Bathing or misting a feather picker on a regular basis may be beneficial as wetting the feathers encourages normal preening behavior.




Additionally, boredom and resultant feather picking can be combated by providing a wider variety of foods. Foods that require some time and effort to eat (non-shelled walnuts and other nuts, string beans, snow peas, macaroni and cheese) and those representing a variety of colors, shapes, sizes and textures will help keep your bird stimulated and interested in the food, increase the amount of time required to eat, and decrease the amount of free time that could be spent feather picking.



The same factors should be considered when providing toys, offering the widest variety and assortment possible. They should stimulate and hold the bird's interest as much as possible. It's important to provide natural objects that a bird can investigate, chew up, and rip apart, such as branches from non-toxic trees (with leaves) and large pine cones. It's also important to provide objects that can fully involve the bird in actual physical exercise, such as large ropes to climb on, large paper bags, and cardboard boxes with holes. Appliances (radios, tape recorders, televisions, etc) that stimulate the bird's other senses may also work well. A feather picker whose attention is diverted and held by these will spend less time stressing.



Finally, some cases of severe chronic feather picking may not respond to any treatment. Damage of the feather follicles may result in permanent feather loss. Sadly, these pet birds tend also to be difficult to handle. Placing these birds in a breeding or avicultural situation may be the most practical alternative. Unfortunately, this is never an easy decision for a devoted bird owner.




For more on feather picking, check out these informative websites:
http://www.featherpicking.com/
http://www.funnyfarmexotics.com/IAS/Blanchfp.htm
http://www.newmanveterinary.com/feather.html
http://www.quakerparrots.com/qms/pluckingarticle.htm


from Arca    posted by ^birdie^