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Feather plucking stems from one of two conditions; either a cockatiel is plucking feathers from its own body, or it is
plucking feathers from another bird. Feather plucking may also be directed at different members of a flock: other
birds, its mate, or its offspring, and there are as many reasons for each, just as there are a variety of reasons why
birds pluck feathers from their own bodies.

When a cockatiel begins plucking the feathers of another bird, more usually its mate, it may pull out feathers from
the facial area such as the cheek patches, behind the head and the nape of the neck. This type of plucking is more
likely designed to show “possession,” as in “you belong to me” that is sometimes seen in bonded pairs.

Plucking feathers on other birds may be motivated by genetic inheritance, which can and should be bred out of a
line by selecting and breeding only birds that do not pluck their mate or offspring. It can be difficult to fully eradicate
such genes, but many breeders have successfully done so and no longer produce succeeding generations of
birds that pluck future mates or their young. However, for birds that already pluck their mates there may not be
much to dissuade them from the ingrained behavior that has become an established habit.

In general, when a male plucks the head feathers of its intended or established mate, it is usually a benign
situation and no real danger is intended. A hen may understandably squeal as a feather is plucked out, but other
than the missing plume, no other damage is caused. Usually, the feathers will grow back in time unless the
plucking is continual and the shaft is completely removed.

Females, too, may pluck their mates at times, although perhaps not as frequently. In addition, hens may even pluck
the soft contour feathers from their own bodies when they are preparing to go to nest to include these feathers as
part of the nesting material in their boxes. Do not remove these small soft feathers if your hen is bringing them in to
line her box in preparation for breeding, otherwise she will be inclined to replace them with more.

If a cockatiel begins to pluck the feathers of other birds, it warrants close watching. Usually the aggressor is male
and it may be a sign of higher testosterone levels rising as the bird’s hormones motivate it to defend territory or
claim a mate, including another bird - regardless of gender - or even a human. It is your cockatiel’s way of stating,
“Keep away!” A male may subject any bird that approaches to a hard yank, pulling out a feather to prove its point.

Owners should watch their cockatiels carefully to discover if their actions are actually feather plucking or if they are
merely grooming their feathers. For example, cockatiels usually groom one another around the head, face, and
neck, which are areas that birds find challenging to reach by themselves. Cockatiels may also lovingly, and
carefully, groom their owner’s hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes. These activities could sometimes end with a tug or
two, and possibly a vocal complaint, but usually are harmless.

If a cockatiel is kept by itself and has lost feathers from the neck down, it is typically indicative of self-plucking.
However, if the plucked cockatiel is housed with another bird and the feathers are missing from the neck upward,
then it would indicate that another bird is doing the plucking.
Feather plucking can be influence by one or more factors: nutrition, illness, environment, behavior and genetics.

Sometimes even with the best of intentions, cockatiel owners can create an imbalance by mixing together products
that change the nutritional composition of the diet. Just as a dietary deficiency may cause malnutrition, overfeeding
a specific nutrient, excluding necessary nutrients, or incorrectly combining products may be just as dangerous (for
example, hyper-vitaminosis). In some rare instances, malabsorption, or the inability to metabolize nutrients may
cause a serious health problem. An avian veterinarian who specializes in birds is best able to diagnose such
possibilities.

Medical problems or disease can be a precipitating factor to a bird plucking its own feathers. One of the most
severe illnesses, Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) can have devastating effects on a cockatiel,
including feather loss. Feather loss in this example is not due to plucking, but rather to the ravages of disease.

A more common problem routinely screened in feather-plucking cockatiels by avian veterinarians, is the presence
of Giardia, a protozoan parasite sometimes found in birds that originate from outdoor breeding facilities. Most
breeders and breeding farms that keep cockatiels outside worm their birds. However, should a cockatiel be
infected by Giardia, it can be treated with appropriate drugs prescribed by an avian veterinarian who properly tests
and diagnoses the bird.

Environmental influences and changes can have a profound effect on the behavior of cockatiels. For example, any
change in a cockatiel’s cage such as adding a new bird into its existing territory, or adding, changing, or removing
toys and feed vessels, can affect your bird.

Room changes such as noise levels from television, radio, children, pets, and strangers, either

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c. 2008 Amy Hopkins

Cockatiel Foundation, Inc.