"Lee"  wrote in message
news:pan.2005.03.15.22.18.12.197108{at}anon.com...
> Hi all.
>
> I'm sure this has probably been asked several times before, but I have
> done a search of this newsgroup and didn't come up with anything.
>
> I have a maroon bellied conure which strips her feathers from her
> legs, back, and belly (basically wherever she could reach). I've
> considered the idea of nutrition, the fact that it may be a normal female
> thing to do at some point in their maturity etc, but it seems to have
> become habit now and there's actually no real point to it that I can see.
>
> There's plenty for them to do in the cage, she's a happy bird, loves me,
> and seems to have no other reason to pluck other than it's something to do
> (despite that there is plenty to occupy them already - toys, food treats
> etc). She's not eating the feathers (just pulls and drops them), so there
> doesn't seem to be a deficiency issue.
>
> Any ideas anyone? Thanks in advance.

 There is no *one* reason a bird plucks and if I could find a reason o a
cure I would be a rich woman.I would suggest a vet visit with some blood
testing to eliminate disease or anything else wrong. Once you know what it
*isn't* you can start eliminating other reasons.It can prove nigh on
impossible to stop the plucking once it starts.




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