A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Copyright © 2008 Wings of Hope New Jersey All Rights Reserved |
Website developed by Laird Web Service |
Wings of Hope, New Jersey
Rescue and Sanctuary
P.O. Box 12034, Jacksonville, NC 28546
Ph: (732) 833 - 7825 Fax: (910) 353-4139
Email: WOH@wingsofhope-nj.com
Rescue and Sanctuary
P.O. Box 12034, Jacksonville, NC 28546
Ph: (732) 833 - 7825 Fax: (910) 353-4139
Email: WOH@wingsofhope-nj.com
A donation of any size makes a big difference
Search for anything on the internet using Good Search, and a donation is sent to Wings of Hope
Feather Picking Checklist
| · | Malnutrition |
| · | Obesity |
| · | Too much vitamin supplementation |
| · | Liver, kidney and pancreatic disease |
| · | Aspergillosis |
| · | Candida |
| · | Giardia |
| · | Staphylococcus |
| · | Zinc, lead or copper toxicity |
| · | Sensitivity to cleaning agents |
| · | Food allergies |
| · | Allergies to other pets |
| · | Exposure to smoke and nicotine |
| · | Dirty feathers from the lack of a good bath |
| · | Bacterial infection of the skin follicles |
Root Causes of Feather Picking
| · | Bacterial, viral infection, or protozoal infection such as Giardia |
| · | Nutritional deficiency |
| · | Allergies |
| · | fungal infections |
| · | bad wing-feather trim |
| · | fracture that has healed improperly can cause the bird neurologic pain and make him or her start picking at the area |
| · | hormones – seasonal – known as brood patch plucking. Some birds pluck the area of feather on the chest or abdominal area that is used during incubation to transfer heat to the eggs. Both sexes can do this. |
| · | Behavioral component – being “intact” and yet having no mate, no territory, and no flock. The anxiety from not being able to complete the instinctive breeding cycle. |
| · | Sexual frustrations can be exaggerated it the bird is pair-bonded with his or her owner. If the person gives more attention to another person in the room, the bird could feather pluck. |
| · | Environmental causes – cage too small, wrong perches in the cage |
| · | Exposure to tobacco smoke and aerosol sprays. |
| · | Low humidity |
| · | Lack of full spectrum lighting (fluorescent light flickering might be very frustrating to a bird). |
| · | Not enough mental stimulation - bored |
| · | Being under too much stress (fighting in the home, addition of a new pet or family member, move of the bird’s cage next to a window |
| · | In most situations, feather picking is multifactorial |
| · | Positive reinforcement from feather picking |
| · | Injury - like a cracked keel |
| · | If no problems medically – vet might refer you to a behavior consultant |
| · | Stress from owner’s lives making the bird stressed |
| · | It has become a habit |
If you do not stop the feather plucking it could get a lot worse.
You need a good avian vet to help you rule out medical causes for your bird's feather picking. To find an avian veterinarian in your area, please check out the Association of Avian Veterinarians at www.aav.org. Also, you may locate a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, who is "board certified" in Avian Practice. A "certified avian veterinarian" or "board certified veterinarian" is a veterinarian who has received certification from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). Certification is given by the ABVP and includes documentation of six years of significant avian practice experience or a formal residency plus scientific papers, plus a rigorous series of examinations.
You need a good avian vet to help you rule out medical causes for your bird's feather picking. To find an avian veterinarian in your area, please check out the Association of Avian Veterinarians at www.aav.org. Also, you may locate a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, who is "board certified" in Avian Practice. A "certified avian veterinarian" or "board certified veterinarian" is a veterinarian who has received certification from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). Certification is given by the ABVP and includes documentation of six years of significant avian practice experience or a formal residency plus scientific papers, plus a rigorous series of examinations.