Ruling Out Medical Causes
Take your parakeet to an avian veterinarian. As soon as you notice your parakeet feather plucking, make an appointment with your veterinarian. Write down when the feather plucking started and how long it’s been going on so you can relate the information. Note any changes in your bird’s diet or environment that have accompanied the behavior. Write down a summary of your bird's living conditions, such as whether they are solo or have a partner, the size of their cage, the cage's location, their toys, their diet, and how much time they spend in the light or the dark. Look for an avian vet, as they have specialized skills and equipment for running diagnostic tests and treating parakeets.
Give your vet a full medical history of the parakeet. Sometimes stress from an underlying illness can cause your parakeet to pluck its feathers. Especially if your vet does not know your bird well, have records sent over from any previous vet practices so your doctor has a complete picture of your pet’s health. It can also be helpful to tell the doctor about any ongoing health issues and related medications your parakeet is taking.
Ask for a thyroid test. Hypothyroidism is a major cause of feather plucking in parakeets. Your vet can test for hypothyroidism by taking a small blood sample from your parakeet’s wing. If it’s found that your pet has an underactive thyroid, it can easily be treated with medication. Your vet may also recommend blood tests to check your bird's liver and kidney function, as organ failure and the build-up of toxins can cause discomfort, which the bird will try to relieve by plucking.
Tell your vet if the parakeet has been exposed to toxins or allergens. Parakeets have very sensitive respiratory systems, so even common household substances, such as cleaning solutions, and foods, such as milk, can cause stress and health problems. Let your vet know if your parakeet has been exposed to any toxins or allergens so that they can determine appropriate testing. Fumes from nonstick pots and pans are toxic to birds, so consider if your bird has been nearby while a nonstick pot or pan was in use.
Discuss your parakeet’s diet. Not getting enough nutrients can stress your parakeet and cause feather plucking. Many seed-only diets are high in fat and do not provide balanced nutrition. Your vet can advise you on what dietary changes, if any, should be made based on your current feeding regimen. Try to reserve seeds and nuts for training purposes rather than full meals unless your vet advises otherwise.
Consider behavior-modification medication. If your parakeet’s feather plucking is severe, it may be causing small tears in its skin. Any cut or tear in the skin has the potential for infection and is a danger to your pet. In cases like these, your vet may advise you to use psychotropic medication to modify your pet’s behavior. If your parakeet’s feather plucking is aggressive, a protective, cone-shaped collar may be an alternative to medication. Your vet can advise on whether this makes sense for your bird.
Reducing Your Parakeet’s Stress
Place your parakeet in a separate, dark room for sleep. Parakeets need 10-12 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night. If your pet is plucking its feathers, simply covering the cage at night may not be enough. Create a dark, cozy environment in a quiet room so your parakeet can de-stress and get enough sleep. A routine may be comforting for your parakeet. Set a calendar reminder for yourself so you put your pet to bed at the same time every night.
Bathe your parakeet up to once a day. Parakeets are a small species of parrot, which typically enjoy rain showers in the tropical rainforest. To stimulate your parakeet and help it relax, consider a daily spray bottle bath. Use lukewarm tap water in a spray bottle to gently dampen your parakeet with a fine mist. Take care not to spray the parakeet in the face. If your parakeet enjoys being handled, gently use a clean washcloth to dry it in short strokes in the direction of the feather growth. Never use soaps or a hair dryer on your parakeet. It is not necessary, and you can irritate its delicate skin. It is fine to let your parakeet air-dry. Avoid using cold water to bathe your parakeet, as it may lower your bird’s body temperature too much.
Consider getting your parakeet a cage-mate. Parakeets are social birds, and feather plucking can result from loneliness or sexual frustration. If you’ve ruled out a medical cause for the feather plucking, it is safe to get another parakeet to keep yours company. Take steps to slowly introduce the two birds through separate cages before placing them in the same space. Always take care to supervise new birds when they are together. Feather plucking can be hereditary, so it may make sense to get another parakeet of the same sex if you do not wish to breed more parakeets with this issue.
Address any new changes in your typical routine. Parakeets may become stressed and feather pluck as a result of a change in their environment. Whether it is a new cage, new family member, or new food, think about any environmental changes that accompanied the start of your parakeet’s feather plucking. Where possible, try to revert to your pet’s normal routine to reduce stress. If stress is unavoidable, try to comfort your pet and help it feel relaxed. If you’ve moved to a new house, for example, make sure your parakeet’s favorite perch and treats are available to help it feel at home.
Rotate toys to stimulate your parakeet’s mind. Parakeets need mental stimulation just like you, and feather plucking may signal that your pet is bored. Try rotating your parakeet’s toys to keep things interesting. Providing food-puzzle toys can also challenge your parakeet and keep it engaged. Though it’s not a traditional toy, if you are gone most of the day, your parakeet may enjoy listening to voices on the radio.
Give your parakeet a new view to keep it engaged. Boredom can be a cause of feather plucking, so experiment with new scenery to excite your pet. Moving your parakeet to a windowsill can provide a fascinating new point of view outside. If it’s chilly by your window, turn on the TV for some digital scenery instead. Spend time every day talking to, training, or playing with the parakeet in order to give it some social interaction.
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