Some people might want to debate whether this topic should go under avian health or under behavior. Because first ruling out bacterial or fungal causes for feather plucking or mutilation is important, I chose the former. Feather plucking can start innocently enough, a few missing feathers on the breast or crests of the wings. However, if you do bot take immediate action it can quickly turn onto a serious and intractable problem. First, this is being discussed in terms of pet lovebirds. Mating pairs present a different issue because a hen lovebird will often clear what is called a brood spot on her belly or will pluck the feathers from her mate's head as part of the breeding process.

Some people believe feather picking is ultimately an issue of hormones. A frustrated lovebirds begins to pick at itself as hormones rage and it has no outlet for these energies. Other veterinarians has named this condition in lovebirds lovebird pyoderma. They will first rule out a skin infection and treat for any bacteria or fungus that might be detected. However, the behavior will often continue. Two avian veterinarians in Seattle, Washington, Drs. Donna Kelleher adn Tracy Bennet, report success in treating this condition in lovebirds with the use of medication for any identified infection and then the use of an herbal remedy to help the lovebird who continues to pluck in a manner that can best be described as compulsive behavior.

My best advice is to nip this behavior in the bud as soon as it starts. Do not wait until your lovebird is partially bald. The faster you deal with it, the more likely it will not become an ingrained, compulsive behavior. In cases where this seems to be more a behavioral than a medical problem, causes have been given such as boredom, frustration, and anxiety. Examine your lovebird's environment carefully to see what may have triggered the behavior. In one case, an African grey parrot began picking and the owners traced the start of the behavior to the day when they hung a new, large painting on the wall facing the lovebird's cage. Who knows why this particular painting caused anxiety or stress in this lovebird, but removal of the painting did solve the problem.

Other sources of anxiety could be a new baby in the home, new pets such as a dogs and cats, a new lovebird that is placed too close to your established lovebird's territory, or sudden changes in the decor of the home. This is not to say you cannot move your furniture once you own a lovebird. One of the most effective ways to help a lovebird remain flexible and amenable to change is to expose it to change on a regular basis early in its life. This can be done by moving its cage, rearranging the inside of the cage, allowing friends to handle the lovebird, and generally exposing it to new foods and toys on a regular basis. As your lovebird comes to realize that you will not expose it to anything dangerous, it will be less likely to overreact to changes in its environment. Lovebirds can easily become creatures of habit. So by changing your schedule and routines on a regular basis, you prepare your lovebird for changes in all aspects of its environment.

A special note on lovebirds who pick themselves until they bleed: Never use styptic powder to stop skin bleeding. It burns and will cause the lovebird to become even more aggressive with the wound. Also remember that if the lovebird ever does create a wound, It should be examined and treated by an avian veterinarian. A solution of Betadine diluted 50 percent with water will protect the wound from infection, and the veterinarian may also recommend a course of antibiotics if any infection is detected. An Elizabethan collar might be necessary to keep the lovebird from reaching the wound and causing further damage.