What a cutie ^^! My lorikeet started laying unfertilized eggs, do most birds pluck their feathers? Should I leave her alone when she starts doing it??
@toastymellows They don't all do it, but it isn't uncommon when they are on eggs. They pluck to both line the nest and to create a "brood patch" (their skin is hotter without feathers and keeps the eggs toasty warm.
Plucking can be a sign of stress or illness though, so if she does it when not on eggs I'd worry.
@ozbirds plucking is also a sign of psychological issues :) I had a very destructive cockatiel indulge in this behaviour years ago it was when I bought him back inside to 100% attention his feathers grew back. I remember seeing on Dr Harry something about this probably about 12 years ago
@mumandtwins Thanks, yes I think I saw that episode of Dr. Harry as well :)
She is inside all the time but only started doing it when she started laying eggs. I hope it isn't psychological. She seems otherwise healthy and doesn't pluck any other feathers. I am glad your cockatiel recovered.
@ozbirds Billy had to go into my avery outside for a little while as I needed the inside cage for some hand reared babies mind you Billy still got plenty of attention outside too, just to his perspective not enough so he started pulling all his feathers out, that stopped once he came back inside and a bit more silver beet in his diet took about 2 months for the feathers to grow back, but that was years ago he is long gone now.
@onmilo I think stressed, as far as I have been able to determine she only does this plucking when she is on eggs. I'm hoping that when she is done sitting on this clutch (not fertile) and I take the nestbox away that she will allow the feathers to regrow.
What a cutie ^^! My lorikeet started laying unfertilized eggs, do most birds pluck their feathers? Should I leave her alone when she starts doing it??
toastymellows 5 months ago
@toastymellows They don't all do it, but it isn't uncommon when they are on eggs. They pluck to both line the nest and to create a "brood patch" (their skin is hotter without feathers and keeps the eggs toasty warm.
Plucking can be a sign of stress or illness though, so if she does it when not on eggs I'd worry.
ozbirds 4 months ago
@ozbirds plucking is also a sign of psychological issues :) I had a very destructive cockatiel indulge in this behaviour years ago it was when I bought him back inside to 100% attention his feathers grew back. I remember seeing on Dr Harry something about this probably about 12 years ago
mumandtwins 2 months ago
@mumandtwins Thanks, yes I think I saw that episode of Dr. Harry as well :)
She is inside all the time but only started doing it when she started laying eggs. I hope it isn't psychological. She seems otherwise healthy and doesn't pluck any other feathers. I am glad your cockatiel recovered.
ozbirds 2 months ago
@ozbirds Billy had to go into my avery outside for a little while as I needed the inside cage for some hand reared babies mind you Billy still got plenty of attention outside too, just to his perspective not enough so he started pulling all his feathers out, that stopped once he came back inside and a bit more silver beet in his diet took about 2 months for the feathers to grow back, but that was years ago he is long gone now.
mumandtwins 2 months ago
Awww, poor Squirt. She sure is a sweetie!
greybirdy 7 months ago
Sick or stressed?
onmilo 7 months ago
@onmilo I think stressed, as far as I have been able to determine she only does this plucking when she is on eggs. I'm hoping that when she is done sitting on this clutch (not fertile) and I take the nestbox away that she will allow the feathers to regrow.
ozbirds 7 months ago
@ozbirds
Yep,yep.
I hope the best for her.
onmilo 7 months ago
@onmilo Thankyou. :)
ozbirds 6 months ago
aaaaw, this video makes me miss my lorikeet so much :(
xxNikkeh 7 months ago