My lovebird keeps picking a raw spot. How do I stop feather picking?

Treating feather picking really depends on the underlying cause. Mites can be a possibility, and you may see an increase in itching, redness of the skin, or visible flecks of "stuff" on the skin or feather base. Most pet stores carry a mite spray that can be used to treat this. If you see visible wounds or oozing on the skin, it could indicate something more serious such as an illness or skin infection which should be looked at by a vet. If the plucking is around the vent, this can sometimes indicate an internal parasite or digestive upset causing issue. Boredom can also sometimes cause feather plucking. Adding in more enrichment such as fun puzzle toys, toys that can be preened instead, or even spending more time together can help reduce boredom behavior and feather plucking. Moving the cage to a lower traffic area without pets or people bothering Kiwi as much can also help. if you can't seem to find a cause, home treatment doesn't work, or the problem worsens, seeking veterinary care is always best.

Have Elmo examined by an experienced avian veterinarian to diagnose illness or infection. This can include malnutrition, parasites, viral infection or skin infection. Once medical causes have been ruled out, you can focus on behavioral causes for the feather picking. Elmo could be stressed by your absence if he was bonded to you. He may be bored in his cage or it could be too small. Consider a larger cage and rotate perches and toys to keep him engaged. More human interaction is also a necessity, especially if he was hand raised.

Poor guy! If the collar isn't working, making a larger diameter one may help deter him some. If he's bored and trying to overpreen, adding in some toys with feathers or soft fabric materials on them may also encourage him to redirect his attention to them without resorting to getting a mate. Making sure he is on a balanced diet (and gets some fun treats) can also help. In some cases of extreme anxiety or behavior-related feather plucking, temporary medications to calm anxiety may be needed in addition to the behavior modification, cage rearranging and e-collar to stop the plucking habit. Talking with your vet to see if this is a viable option may be best if other efforts haven't helped.

Feather picking can be due to infection (bacterial, fungal, viral or parasites), stress or boredom. Ideally, Coco should be physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian to diagnose any medical causes. In the meantime, clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Provide a variety of toys and accessories to keep him distracted. Increase playtime and time outside the cage if possible. A small e-collar (cone) may be necessary to prevent further picking.

If you suspect a parasite such as mites most pet stores carry a commercial mite spray that can be used on birds to treat mites. Placing an Elizabethan (cone) collar on Sky is also a good idea to keep her from picking at the spot while it heals (Google has tutorials on how to make bird-sized ones at home) If the problem persists, it would be good to have her examined by a vet. If you're having trouble affording care, this site may help give you some ideas to make vet care more affordable so Sky can get the help she needs: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/having-trouble-affording-veterinary-care

Thanks for reaching out about Tooka and including a photo. A veterinary visit is needed to determine a cause for the picking. Medical conditions such as viral diseases (PBFD, polyoma virus), kidney or liver disease, bacterial skin diseases, pain or arthritis, malnutrition, are just a few. Behavioral stresses can lead to feather picking also, hormones or husbandry. Anti-anxiety medications might help with feather picking but a veterinary visit is needed to prescribe. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Robin and including photos. Feather picking behavior can be due to multiple causes including stress, feather parasites (lice, mites), metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), infectious diseases (viral, bacterial), contact allergies and others. A veterinary visit is recommended, and you might have to utilize a hand towel to restrain and transport to a travel cage. As for trust, that just takes time, especially if not originally hand fed. Keep movements slow and deliberate. Good luck.