Clinical Approach to Feather Destructive Behavior

Feather destructive behavior is one of the most challenging clinical concerns faced by avian veterinarians and owners alike. In this RACE-approved webinar recording, Lauren Thielen, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice) discusses the systematic hunt for underlying causes as well as case management strategies once feather damaging behavior has been observed. Review of the current literature in feather destructive behavior is discussed as a way to understand why parrots exhibit this behavior and what caretakers can do to reduce the incidence of this problem . . .


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References

Acharya R, Rault JL. Risk factors for feather damaging behavior in companion parrots:  A social media study. J Veterinary Behav. 2020; 40: 43-49.

Fluck A, Enderlein D, Piepenbring A, et al. Correlation of avian bornavirus-specific antibodies and viral ribonucleic acid shedding with neurological signs and feather-damaging behaviour in psittacine birds. Vet Rec. 2019;184(15):476. doi: 10.1136/vr.104860. Epub 2019 Feb 12. PMID: 30755457.

Gaskins LA, Hungerford L. Nonmedical factors associated with feather picking in pet psittacine birds. J Avian Med Surg. 2014 Jun;28(2):109-17. doi: 10.1647/2012-073R. PMID: 25115039.

Hess L, Mauldin G, Rosenthal K. Estimated nutrient content of diets commonly fed to pet birds. Vet Rec. 2002;150(13):399-404. doi: 10.1136/vr.150.13.399. PMID: 11999276.

James C, Asher L, Herborn K, Wiseman J. The effect of supplementary ultraviolet wavelengths on broiler chicken welfare indicators. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2018;209:55-64. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.10.002. PMID: 30510331; PMCID: PMC6222521.

Jayson SL, Williams DL, Wood JLN. Prevalence and risk factors of feather plucking in African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus erithacus and Psittacus erithacus timneh) and cockatoos (Cacatua spp.). J Exotic Pet Med 2014; 23(3):250-257. doi: 10.1053/j.jepm.2014.06.012.

van Zeeland Y. Medication for behavior modification in birds. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2018;21(1):115-149. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2017.08.005. PMID: 29146027.

Van Zeeland YRA, van der Aa MJA, Vinke CM, Lumeij JT, Schoemaker NJ. Behavioural testing to determine differences between coping styles in Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus erithacus) with and without feather damaging behavior. Applied Animal Behavior Science 2013; 148(3-4):218-231. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2013.08.004.

West JA, Tully TN Jr, Nevarez JG, Stout RW. Effects of fluorescent lighting versus sunlight exposure on calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and feather destructive behavior in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). J Avian Med Surg. 2019;33(3):235-244. doi: 10.1647/2018-378. PMID: 31893618.

To cite this page:

Thielen L. Clinical approach to avian destructive behavior. LafeberVet web site. May 16, 2023. Available at https://lafeber.com/vet/clinical-approach-to-fdb/