Feather Destructive Behavior in Psittacine Birds Webinar
This webinar recording by Lynne Seibert, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. American College of Veterinary Behaviorists is RACE-approved for 1 hour of continuing education. Feather destructive behavior, also called pterotillomania, is one of the most common and frustrating behavior problems seen in captive psittacine birds. The disorder is characterized by feather removal, feather chewing, or self-inflicted trauma to soft tissue, limited to areas that the bird can reach. Behavioral history-taking should include information about the bird’s background, early rearing environment, caregiver expectations, composition of the household, air quality issues, changes in the environment associated with onset of the behavior problem, exposure to chemicals, the cage, toys, and photoperiod, nutrition, and social interactions.