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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 new or unfamiliar to a
cockatiel, can precipitate the event of plucking. Even outdoor
stimuli such as roadwork, street lamplights, and car headlights
shining through windows can stress out a cockatiel. Changes
in the number of daylight hours, hours of darkness, and the
opportunity for sleep and rest can all add unwarranted stress.
A lack of companionship can deeply affect cockatiels.

Schedule changes that increase or decrease the amount of
time and attention formerly given to a cockatiel may cause
plucking behavior. Provide adequate attention if your time and
efforts have been displaced to another pet, or to a new
member of the family, work, or other distraction.


Behavioral influences should not be totally discounted. In a
group situation with three or more birds, it is possible that one
bird may teach another the bad habit of feather plucking. This
behavior should be discouraged by ignoring the bad behavior
and immediately praising the very next behavior the bird
performs that has nothing to do with feather plucking another
bird. Punishing bad behavior will never deter the behavior in
the long run, whereas consistently praising an alternate
behavior will have surprising results. The key word here,
however, is “consistency.” Be consistent in this training.

Sometimes a cockatiel may, in the absence of another
cockatiel, preen a bird of a different species that is its

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FEATHER-PLUCKING IN COCKATIELS
COPYRIGHT © 2002 LINDA S. RUBIN
Originally published in June 2002 issue of
BIRD TIMES Magazine
"All Rights Reserved"