DIAGNOSING A FEATHER-PICKING BIRD

By David Hannon

A feather-picking bird can be a frustration to both the bird's owner and veterinarian. The list of possible causes of this condition is long and involved, but they can typically be divided into two categories: medical and behavioral. However, keep in mind that feather-picking is a symptom of disease, and not a disease unto itself, and that sometimes more than one cause can attribute to it.
The first task is to establish a good history on the patient. Find out everything about this bird and its environment that may be significant. This includes its diet and nutritional status; cage and toys; interactions with other birds, pets, or people; exposure to dust, aerosols, cigarette smoke, or other potential irritants or toxins; cleanliness and hygiene; or any other environmental factor that may affect its health or behavior (loud noises, poor lighting, etc.) Keep in mind that even if the bird has one or more contributing environmental factors, that may not necessarily be the sole cause or even main cause of its problems.

Some veterinarians recommend ruling out all medical causes prior to tackling a behavioral problem. Some breeders and bird owners assume that the problem is behavioral, and try to deal with that before looking for a medical problem. I try to assess both at the same time. After taking a thorough history, the next thing I recommend is a complete physical examination. Any obvious physical problems may also contribute. Keep in mind that a bird doesn't necessarily pick its feathers due to a dermatological problem. Any underlying illness that causes pain, discomfort, or stress may make a bird pick. I usually follow the physical with a fecal exam (to rule out intestinal parasites), a feather exam (to rule out external parasites, as well as to assess the damage), and a gram stain. Even though an abnormal gram stain may be indicative of a gastrointestinal or respiratory infection, any underlying systemic disease or stressor can alter the results.

At this point, we have established a minimum database, and where we go from here depends on the history and clinical findings, the severity of the problem, and the willingness of the owner. Typically, people who own larger, more valuable birds, or people with larger numbers in their aviary, are more inclined to work harder to rule out medical causes, especially ones that are potentially infectious. However, I have had some budgerigar and cockatiel owners who want to be just as thorough. If the bird's owner wants to stop here, I will typically treat on the basis of the clinical findings so far, and make recommendations as to modifying the diet, environment, or any other husbandry problems (see below), and watching if the bird responds (some birds have been "cured" just by taking them off seed and putting them on a quality pelleted diet).

If the feather-picking is severe, chronic, or associated with self-mutilation, or if the clinical findings to this point indicate a more serious disease, or if the owner is concerned about a potentially dangerous infection, we will pursue a diagnosis a bit more aggressively. The next battery of tests include a chlamydia test, complete blood count, serum chemistries, cytology, and possibly radiographs (x-rays). Depending on the results of these tests, and on the desires of the owner, I may also do a bacterial or fungal culture, skin biopsy, or test for viruses that can cause feather lesions, such as psittacine beak and feather disease virus or polyomavirus. Even though I mentioned these two viruses last, they are becoming more common, and if there is any question in my mind that they may be present, or if there is a large and/or expensive (in terms of money or emotion) collection at stake, these will be some of the first tests that I run.

After all possible medical causes are ruled out, it's time to tackle the potential behavioral causes. Keep in mind that often we are treating both at the same time. First I look at possible causes associated with the bird's husbandry, such as:

1. Diet - inadequate nutrition, typically seed diets, is probably the number one contributing factor.
2. Cleanliness - a dirty bird in a dirty cage is more likely to overpreen or itch.
3. Psychological stimulation (i.e. toys, perch placement, TV's, radios, windows, owner-bird interaction, etc.) - bored birds tend to chew more that stimulated birds.
4. Environmental deficiencies - poor lighting, improper ventilation, low humidity, insufficient cage space, and inadequate exercise can all contribute.
5. Social interactions - aggressive cagemates, new pets, or your hyperactive grandchildren can all be sources of stress. Remember that it may be the cagemate that's doing the picking.
6. Environmental irritants (i.e. cigarette smoke, aerosols, vitamins in the drinking water of a frequent bather, etc.) - an itchy or irritated bird will almost always pick.
7. Change - some birds don't like change, and the new painting, houseplant, or cage location may be all it takes to stress a bird into picking. This also holds true for a change in the level of attention.

Once the environmental problems have been corrected or modified, then it's time to tackle the truly behavioral causes:

1. Hormones - this not something that is easily diagnosed, but if the picking tends to follow a cyclic pattern, or seems to associated with a breeding cycle or molt, hormones may be related. Some people try to pass this off as "sexual frustration."
2. Poor early socialization - this makes any animal psycho.
3. Poor development of curiosity - this causes fear of new or different things.
4. Abandonment during critical independence stages - this can lead to separation anxiety or frustration.
5. Insecurity due to forced weaning or improper hand-feeding Confusion - caused from lack of early guidance and rules, or receiving contradictory signals.
6. Aggressive handling or physical violence - this will sometimes make a bird mutilate itself due to displaced aggression.
7. Lack of nurturing attention - often leads to frustration.
8. Overdependence - this also leads to separation anxiety.
9. Positive reinforcement - although this might not be the initial cause of feather picking, by reacting, shouting, or giving the bird any attention while it is picking, you may be reinforcing that behavior, making the bird pick at itself to stimulate your response.

Therapy for a feather-picker is very dependent on the clinical findings, as well as the environmental problems. Most cases can be managed by treating the medical problem(s) and correcting the husbandry problems. However, sometimes more drastic measures should be taken. These include distractions, such as rag toys or shredded newspaper for the bird to pick on instead of its feathers, and restraint devices, such as Elizabethan collars or metal vests that physically keep the bird from its feathers. If an allergy is the suspected cause (they are extremely difficult to diagnose in birds without a skin biopsy, and that is only diagnostic in a small number of cases), antihistamines and cortisone have shown some benefit. Hormone injections can be used if it appears to be a result of a hormonal imbalance. Finally, if all else fails, new research using psycho-active drugs, such as Prozac, shows promise, especially if the bird appears to have an obsessive/compulsive disorder.

As you can see, there is no single good answer for managing a feather-picker, and there are no quick fixes. It should not be assumed that something that works on one bird will also work on another, even if they seem to be doing the exact same thing. Each case is unique and different, and should be evaluated thoroughly before treatment recommendations are made.