Bird feather picking is usually caused by some form of stress. This stress can be due to external issues, such as boredom, or internal issues like parasites. Bird feather picking can be differentiated from molting in birds by the fact that there may be large numbers of feathers removed at once, and/or bare spots on the bird. Some common reasons for bird feather picking can be emotional causes, serious pain, or chronic health problems.

Emotional causes for bird feather picking usually develop slowly over a period of time. Boredom and jealousy are two common examples of the emotional causes of bird feather picking. The addition or removal of another bird from the environment can also cause stress that could result in feather picking. If your bird begins to pick his feathers, try to determine what could be causing the stress. Minor changes, such as spending more time playing with your bird or providing her with a few new toys, may alleviate the feather picking.

Bird feather picking can also be a sign that your bird is experiencing significant pain. Consider whether your bird has recently had his beak or nails trimmed, and whether this may be causing him discomfort. Other changes in his behavior or appetite may indicate an illness that is resulting in him picking his feathers.

Chronic health problems, such as vitamin deficiencies, hygiene issues, or parasitic infestation, can also lead to bird feather picking. A shortage of vitamin A could cause unhealthy skin and feathers, leading the bird to pick. Giardia is a commonly-found internal parasite that affects a bird’s intestinal tract, and can lead to episodes of bird feather picking. Sometimes the cause is as simple as not bathing your bird frequently enough. If his feathers are getting overly dry, which can happen as a result of being in a heated or air-conditioned home, he may resort to picking them out.

While relieving the causes of bird feather picking will usually stop this unwanted behavior, there are times the picking will continue after the obvious reason for the feather picking is removed. Some birds grow accustomed to particular behaviors and begin to do them out of habit. If you think you have correctly identified the reasons for the bird feather picking but the behavior hasn’t stopped, you should consider behavior modification through positive reinforcement. Completely ignore your bird while she is actively picking her feathers, and lavish her with praise when she doesn’t pick. She will soon associate the positive reinforcement with not performing the picking behavior, and the bird feather picking should stop.