|
Feather picking is one of those problems that causes everyone to
scratch their heads. It is rare in wild birds since they depend on
their feathers to fly away from danger and their day is busy with
finding food and raising offspring. Boredom, which is common in caged
birds, is something wild birds do not have time for.
Causes of feather picking
A symptom of a disease or other problem, feather picking shows as a
loss of feathers on the body and neck with normal feathers on the head.
Behavior problems are the most common cause but the rule-out list
includes the following conditions:
- Infectious - bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic
- Metabolic - liver disease, kidney disease, air sacculitis
- Nutritional - inadequate diet, specific deficiencies
- Toxic - arsenic, cigarette smoke, nicotine on human hands
- Physical - improper wing trim
- Trauma - broken blood feather
- Allergic - food, cooking fumes, tobacco smoke
- Neoplastic - cancers, lipoma
- Endocrine - hypothyroid (decreased levels of thyroid hormones),
hyperadrenocorticism (increased levels of adrenal hormones),
testosterone responsive baldness
- Genetic - baldness
- Environmental - low humidity, lack of natural sunlight, small cage, overcrowding, dominance, change, inability to bathe
- Drug induced - praziquantel, fenbendazole
- Behavioral - boredom, frustration, breeding behavior, stress, attention-getting, anxiety, lack of sleep.
- Parasites
An ideal workup on a bird would include a thorough physical examination, lab work including a CBC, serum chemistry,
and microscopic exam of several abnormal feathers. An in-depth history
including housing (seeing pictures of the cage and its placement in the
house if the cage is too large to bring to the appointment), diet, and
activity should also be included.
Treatment
Treatment includes a combination of the following:
-
Treatment of any underlying disease such as liver or kidney disorders, parasites, or infection.
-
Change in diet to decrease the amount of seeds fed and to increase
the amount of pelleted food, fruits, vegetables, and other healthy
human foods. Change the way the food is fed: feed corn on the cob
rather than kernels, give carrot sticks rather than small slices. Make
the bird work for the food.
-
Change the environment to increase the humidity (daily misting,
humidifier), add natural sunlight, increase cage size, move the cage to
increase or decrease social activity. Eliminate smoking in the house
and smokers should wash hands before handling the bird to prevent the
nicotine from getting on the bird. Leave a radio on 'easy listening'
for the bird. Be careful about nature shows on television as they
depict predatory-type actions that could increase the anxiety of the
caged bird.
-
Increase activity for the bird to take up time during the day.
Increase time out of the cage, increase the number of new and
innovative toys, hide food in the cage and in toys. Work hard to
prevent boredom!
Do not just put an elizabethan collar (large cone)
on the bird and figure that it will stop the problem. The bird is going
to be more bored and frustrated with the cone on than he was before.
The problem needs to be identified and treated. Medications may be
necessary and should be prescribed by an avian veterinarian after a
thorough examination and workup.
Summary
If the reason for the feather picking is identified, it might be
correctable. A large number of feather-pickers do so out of boredom and
inadequate housing. Making changes can eliminate the problem. If the
problem is not completely correctable, the owner may have to live with
a less-than-perfect bird but should continue to try to eliminate the
condition.
C 2006 Drs. Foster and Smith, Inc.
Reprinted as a courtesy and with permission from
PetEducation.com (http://www.PetEducation.com )
On-line store at http://www.DrsFosterSmith.com
Free pet supply catalog: 1-800-323-4208
|
