PERFECT PLUMAGE

uExpress, April, 2008 by Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

By Dr. Marty Becker

and Gina Spadafori

Universal Press Syndicate

If there's one parrot problem that has both bird owners and veterinarians pulling out their own hair in frustration, it would have to be feather-picking, a bird's willful destruction of his own plumage.

The first thing you need to know about this problem: Feather-picking is a symptom of something else that's wrong with your bird. The only hope you have of "curing" feather-picking is finding out and treating what's behind the behavior.

Feather-picking relates to a staggering variety of problems, and any one or any combination of the following can be behind your bird's plucking:

Health problems. Medical conditions behind feather-picking include allergies, parasitic...