Why is my macaw picking feathers? Is it anxiety, dry skin, or illness?

Monitor him for excessive preening or feather picking. If you see either. Have him examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian to diagnose the underlying cause. In the meantime, clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Bathe or mist him with warm water to promote preening and healthy plumage. Feed a balanced diet including a commercial pelleted diet, fortified seed mix and fresh fruits, greens and vegetables. You can also feed cooked rice, beans and plain pastas in small amounts.

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.

Birds will pluck due to infection (bacterial, fungal, parasites), stress or boredom. If Paco will allow, look him over for redness or scabbing. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Use paper towels or plain paper on the cage bottom and change daily. Provide a variety of toys and puzzle feeders to keep him occupied. Allow playtime and interaction outside of the cage daily. Bathe or mist him with warm water weekly to encourage preening and to promote healthy plumage. If he persists, have him physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian to diagnose and treat injury or illness.

Get her on a balanced diet. Use a commercial pelleted diet such as Harrison's or LaFebers if you can get them. Offer fresh, chopped fruit and vegetables as well. A larger cage will prevent further wing and tail damage. Bathe her in the shower or mist her several times weekly to promote preening and healthy plumage/skin. Sanitize all cage furniture. Discard and replace anything that cannot be sanitized.

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Bangaram and including a photo. Psittacine Feather Destructive Behavior is common in parrots, but the difficulty is acquiring a cause. Stress/behavior is common a nd can consist of breeding, nutritional or environmental stressors. Diseases can also lead to pulling feathers including infectious diseases (viral, bacterial), metabolic disorders (liver, renal), skin diseases and others. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and try to determine a cause. Diet and husbandry practices need to be reviewed with a veterinarian experienced with birds. Some diagnostic tests will probably be recommended and necessary to come to a conclusion. There is no topical medication that is going to cure or even stabilize this condition. Good luck.

Parrots do get mites, but they also feather pick due to many behavioral and emotional issues. Make sure it has enough room as possible, ideally is loose most of the day in a safe environment with many safe toys, perches, and stimulation, and is getting a seed-free high-quality parrot diet with many fresh fruits and vegetables.