Why Is My Bird Plucking Feathers?

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Bird - Behavior

Why Is My Bird Plucking Feathers?

Excessive feather plucking can be a sign of a medical or psychological disorder. Underlying reasons include:

Hormonal changes
Malnutrition
External and internal parasites
Bacterial or fungal infections of the skin or feather follicles
Allergies
Environmental stress
Overstimulation of a nervous bird
Not enough playtime, attention, activity or exercise
Inappropriate handling
Insufficient (full-spectrum) light
Fear of danger from other pets

Normal feather plucking when your bird is preening or molting is not a cause for concern. But you should take your bird to the veterinarian if the activity increases beyond the norm. It is a good idea to keep a record of when this feather plucking takes place and under what circumstances. This information may help your veterinarian with a diagnosis.