The Best Way to Prevent Feather-Plucking – Make Your Parrot Work!

An exciting new study has revealed that healthy parrots prefer working for their food to eating from a bowl.  Parrots involved in feather-plucking, however, go right to their bowls and show no interest in solving problems that led to food rewards.  I think this research is important to all who share their homes with parrots.  Some progress was also made in developing a medication for birds that have begun to damage their plumage.  I have dealt with feather-plucking even in well-run zoos; it’s a sad and frustrating condition, and I hope that this new work points the way to some solutions.

Busy Minds and Bodies Remain Healthy

Feather plucking is heartbreaking to see, and immensely frustrating to cure.  Despite much interest from the parrot-keeping community, foolproof solutions elude us.  Feather-plucking and other forms of self-mutilation ruin the lives of countless pet parrots, many of which are eventually turned over to rescue centers, euthanized, or released.

A researcher at the Utrecht University Clinic for Companion Animals in the Netherlands offered African Gray Parrots the option of eating from a bowl or removing food from a pipe lined with holes.  Healthy birds invariably ignored the food bowls and went right to work on the pipes.

Having observed several parrot species in their natural environments, I was not surprised to read this.  The search for food takes up most of a wild parrot’s waking hours.  Millions of years of evolution have primed them to investigate any and all food-gathering opportunities.  Parrots are not domesticated animals whose natural instincts have been greatly modified by selective breeding. It makes sense that, unless starving, they would be impelled to actively forage.  I have found this to be true for a huge array of animals ranging from fish to mammals.

Pets that meet their food requirements after 10 minutes at the food bowl are prime candidates for behavioral and even physical problems.  Interestingly, research has shown that injured rats heal faster when kept in social groups or stimulating environments – could the same apply to parrots? Please see the article linked below.

Does Self-Mutilation Fulfill a Need?

Many who care for and study parrots have noted that feather-plucking often seems to become a replacement for normal behaviors such as searching for food and mate-grooming. Once begun, self-mutilation usually takes on a “life of its own”, often with tragic consequences.

Some of the parrots in the Utrecht University had a history of feather-plucking.  These individuals showed no interest in solving food puzzles.  Researchers theorize that feather plucking took over the role formerly filled by natural foraging/searching behaviors.

Why Don’t All Bored Parrots Pluck?

Parrots kept under similar conditions react in very different ways.  Signaling chemicals in the brain likely come into play.  How these function seems to vary greatly among different species and individuals of the same species.  Working from this premise, researchers at Utrecht University are investigating the drug Paroxetine as a means of curtailing feather plucking.

Feather-plucking can also be caused by a variety of other environmental and physical factors, including social isolation, sleep deprivation, fear-related stress and poor diet.  Please see this article for further information, and be sure to post any questions below.  I’ve been dealing with this problem, in both zoos and private collections, for decades, and will do my best to help.

Adding Zest to Your Pet’s Life

No caring person buys a parrot with the intent that it merely “endure” captivity.  We want to give them the opportunity to live life to the fullest.  These highly intelligent, social birds are a joy to be around…but only if they have the chance to put their complex minds and boundless energies to use.

Giving your parrot the largest cage possible is an important first step.  When weather permits, outdoor time in an aviary will greatly improve your pet’s quality of life – and your pet-keeping experience!  Make the environment as complex as possible by adding appropriate perches and vines, and change these around regularly.  Play-stands and out-of-cage time should be used to encourage activity and exploration.  A mate or other avian companion is the best option for most birds, but you should also spend as much time as possible with your parrot.

In keeping with the study mentioned above, always try to make your bird search for and work for its meals.  Try hiding food and spreading meals throughout the day, and experiment with homemade food puzzles (nuts in a closed box, etc.).  Fortunately, many bird toys are now designed with the specific intent of challenging parrot minds and bodies.  In my opinion, the most useful of these use food as a reward.  Parrots are adapted to search long and hard for their meals, and will choose to do so when given the opportunity.  You may wish to check out more these 50+ exciting foraging toys and educational accessories.

 

 

Further Reading

Feather Plucking: Causes and Solutions

Behavioral Enrichment for Parrots

Stimulating Environments Speed Healing