Wavy, corolla, lovebirds and other wonderful parrots bring so much joy to their owners that any changes in the behavior of pets may seem suspicious and dangerous. Want to know why parrots pluck their feathers? Will it go away on its own or should you start to worry?
We will describe all the reasons for this behavior. You will learn how to distinguish a natural process from a pathological condition and how to cure a parrot in case of illness.
Plucking feathers when molting
The first change of down and feather attire in domestic parrots occurs at the age of four to five months. Shedding lasts a lifetime twice a year and falls in spring and autumn. In this case, the blood supply to the old, worn feathers stops, the bases dry out, and they fall out safely.
However, molting is one of the reasons why parrots pluck their feathers: birds feel the rods that have become obsolete and pull them out, getting rid of the ballast. At the same time, self-plucking is single in nature, and rare scratches are caused by the separation of the feather base from the follicle. Due to the enhanced metabolic processes in the body, the pet may lose its appetite or become aggressive.
When molting, the feathers of the cockatiel, lovebirds, budgies and other parrots on the wings and tail fall symmetrically, and their bases should be dry and clean. After a month, the process ends.
If the change of outfit is delayed, it occurs more often than usual, the pet begins to itch and intensively lose its plumage - these are signs of severe skin itching that does not accompany the natural feather loss in healthy birds. Let's see why the parrot itches and plucks feathers, if the molt is clearly nothing to do with it.
Causes of scabies and plucking feathers from parrots
Skin irritation causes discomfort in the bird and the need to itch. The causes of pruritus can be either exogenous, that is, caused by external stimuli, or endogenous, when pulling out the feathers becomes the pet's reaction to stress or metabolic disturbances.
Consider the reasons why the Corella parrot itches and plucks feathers, or the Amazons and lovebirds do this:
- reaction to the vital activity of parasites: deciduous, red bird or scabies ticks, fleas;
- metabolic disorders associated with an unbalanced diet, stress or inappropriate conditions of detention;
- self-pinching syndrome.
All these pathological conditions have different manifestations, so we will consider each of them separately. So the owners of parrots will understand the clinical picture and methods of treating the disease.
Down-eaters
The appearance of downy-eaters is one of the most likely reasons why parrots pluck their feathers. Small parasites with a length of about two mm more often infect aviaries, but can settle on a domestic parrot if, for example, the cage was taken out to an open balcony.
These insects have a gnawing oral apparatus, eating feathers and keratinized epithelium. Thanks to three pairs of legs with tenacious claws, they easily move around the body of a parrot.
The appearance of poo-eaters is accompanied by a number of characteristic signs:
- the parrot behaves uneasily, stops playing, eats poorly;
- the bird is constantly sorting and trying to pull out feathers, itches, ruffles;
- upon closer inspection, the feathers are dotted with needle holes, egg clusters are clearly visible on them.
A tan insect can be found on the back and under the wings. Female poo-eaters often attach eggs to the fluff around the bird’s cloaca.
The following agents are used for treatment:
- aerosol insecticides: Arpalit, Celandine, Front Line (use with caution, following the instructions);
- wormwood or chamomile in the form of a powder is rubbed into feathers;
- As an antiseptic, a 1% solution of boric acid is used.
The cell and all its components must be treated with disinfectants, for example, Virosan, Ecocide C. You can use cool boiling water or 5% iodine solution.
Red tick
Parasites get into the cage to parrots with infected sand, loose food and from street birds. During the day, they hide at the bottom of the tray, and at night they move to the host's body, and tick bites become the reason why parrots pluck their feathers. It is difficult to see an insect with the naked eye. Its length is about one mm, however, having pumped blood, it becomes twice as large and acquires a characteristic red color.
The first symptom of infection is a parrot's anxiety at night, and a pronounced sign is a strong weakening of the bird as a result of blood loss.
Effective methods of treatment for lesions of red ticks:
- treatment of feathers and skin with pharmaceutical chamomile powder (with early detection of parasites);
- the use of aversectin ointment (insecticide and acaricide) in places of bites (erosion);
- lubrication of areas with fallen feathers "Neostomozan" (the drug is designed for dogs and cats, but helps to get rid of ticks in parrots).
Immunomodulators and vitamin-mineral complexes are used to restore strength in an exhausted bird.
Knemidocoptosis (scabies)
This is an extremely dangerous disease that causes scabies mite - a microscopic parasite of a yellowish-white color with a size of about 0.3 mm. Untimely cleaning of the cell and even dust in the apartment can cause infection with knemidocoptosis. Accessories purchased at the pet store are infected with a scabies mite or a green sprig brought from the street.
Using the mouth apparatus of the gnawing-sucking type, parasites make passages in the skin of the bird, where they feed on blood and actively reproduce. It affects both exposed areas of the body - paws, waxen and areas around the eyes, and feathered places. The reason why the budgerigar plucks its feathers is a severe itch, which is caused not so much by the movement of parasites as an allergic reaction to the products of their vital activity.
Symptoms of knemidocoptosis are difficult to confuse with signs of other diseases:
- horny scales on the legs and wax are deformed and covered with tuberous growths;
- the bird becomes extremely restless, itches, scrapes itchy places with its beak;
- spongy spots and cracks appear on the surface of the beak.
A parrot in this state needs a comprehensive treatment developed by a specialist. A veterinarian ornithologist can prescribe lubrication of affected areas of the body with birch tar, aversectin ointment, the drug "ASD-3" diluted with vegetable oil in a ratio of 1: 5. Front line insecticidal spray can also be used.
Fleas
In nature, bird fleas settle in bird nests during incubation of masonry. Jumping, tenacious and prolific parasites can get into the apartment on shoes or through ventilation, but to get accustomed and get to the parrot, they need certain conditions: a lot of dust and a rare cleaning of the cage in which garbage accumulates.
The danger of fleas lies not only in painful bites, but in the possible infection of the bird with the infections that these insects carry, for example, tularemia.
A flea bitten pet behaves uneasily both day and night, this is one of the reasons why the parrot plucks feathers on its chest and other places. Brown parasites with a flat body in length from two to eight mm can be detected when examining the litter. Eggs are more difficult to find: females spray them in small portions in all directions, which ensures successful distribution throughout the room.
To rid a parrot of fleas, disinfection of the cage and general cleaning of the apartment, as well as bathing the pet with the use of anti-flea shampoo, are enough. In advanced cases, they use Front Line and Ivomek.
Skin dermatitis
Budgerigars are more likely than others to ulcerate the skin. In this case, foci of erosion are observed under the wings and on the shoulders. The birds are worried about severe itching, forcing them to bite the skin affected by scabs to blood, bite and pluck feathers.
The cause of dermatitis is often commonplace stress, and sometimes kidney and liver diseases are detected as a result of diagnosis.
The treatment of ulcerative inflammation should be carried out by a specialist who prescribes a course of antibiotics, disinfectant solutions, antiseptic powder. If pathological diseases were not found during the examination, the treatment of dermatitis should be aimed at eliminating stress.
Mycoses
Fungal diseases are found in birds as often as in humans, and can be the reason why the cockatiel parrot plucks its feathers. The causative agents of infection enter the body of birds with poor water, poor-quality food, and even with air. Some species of fungi affect the internal organs, others - the skin and plumage. Impaired parrots are more susceptible to fungal infections than healthy birds.
Outwardly, such lesions look like local redness, which is accompanied by itching, combing, falling out or pulling out feathers.
For treatment, antimycotic drugs are used, for example, Itraconazole and immunity-supporting vitamin complexes.
Self-pinching syndrome
A complex and poorly studied behavior disorder, which is characterized as obsessive and excessive plumage care, is called "self-pinching syndrome."
It is worth noting that pathology is more common in jacquot, macaw, cockatoo and lovebirds. However, it is sometimes observed in Corella, Amazons and budgies. Methodical biting and pulling out feathers sometimes leads to complete baldness of the bird.
Among the risk factors that trigger the development of self-pinching syndrome, experts note the following:
- boredom and stress;
- unbalanced diet or vitamin deficiency;
- Incorrect containment conditions: insufficient t and air humidity;
- internal parasites, for example, worms or infectious diseases (circovirus);
- genetic predisposition.
The exact causes of the pathology have not yet been identified, so there are no methods of effective treatment. Only an experienced ornithologist can help the bird, able to conduct an in-depth analysis of all possible risk factors and prescribe adequate therapy.
It is important to understand: if a parrot plucks feathers for itself, the causes and treatment in each case are different. Therefore, at the first signs of atypical behavior, it is better to show the pet to a good doctor. Today, even advanced pathologies are successfully treated, but timely help from a specialist will save the pet from unnecessary suffering.