My dear little ducorps girl whom we have had for 4 1/2 years now -  was going along beautifully fabulous condition - wonderful nature  and so happy in herself - then last August it started - a few small feathers that you wouldn't even notice but after coming back from our annual holiday - she went for it in earnest the dreaded plucking.     I have had greys and macaws and this is the first bird I have ever kept  to self harm.   Sometimes she has let feathers regrow and other times strips everyone bare underneath and on her tummy.      She gets the same amount of time she has always had with us - was trained to a harness when she was a chick so that she can have as much outside time without any bars as possible - ofcourse - when weather will allow  - she has loads of toys - is played with everyday there are boxes to rip up - forage toys - both in and out of the cage.   and for this reason alone she seems more than content - except for the plucking.   She is a very socialble and confident bird with people - as she has been out with us all over the place.   Yet at this present moment -  I have a bald bird mainly on her tummy and but recently - she has started attacking her wings -  She has been to the vet  - tests have been done and have come back fine -   except a slight dif - in vit A - which was addressed.     I have her on Harrisons fine now - did have her on a good quality seed with vits and fruit veg and obviously have always ensured protein and calcium into the aquation.     We have exhusted everything we can think of   reg baths - only water.    We had deliberately brought her up with a regular routine ever since she was a chick - to stop this kind of behaviour from manifesting it'self -    but I guess nature just doesn't care about that - so now we are thinking as a last resort - that perhaps this is just her nesting time and she simply needs to mate.    Problem being that she is so human imprinted It will not be an easy process to introduce a boy into the equation let alone subjecting the poor lad to her behaviour.   But we do think it's likely now that it is her frustration that is causing the issue - because she has even tried to mate with our hands -  and It was this behaviour that started just before the plucking.       If there are any Ducorps people out there who know their cycle to looking to nest and find a mate who can either confirm or eliminate this theory please let me know.    If indeed it turns out that she is going through the need to nest down with a partner - then if anyone knows of a male ducorps out there needing a mate and a good perm home - please let us know - we can only try for both their sakes.   

All ideas welcome obviously  - just please be aware that we have done everything poss to get her back to rights.

Many thanks

Heather

Hi hon - please ask as many questions as you like - and thanks for the reply - one of those where you never thought you would be in this position but you are - feel aweful even though we know we have done everything we can think of. The boxes are just whatever cardboard boxes we can find to give her to chew up and keep her mind off of her feathers. And I know what you mean when you say about where she is putting them regarding boxes - but no - unfortunately that's not the case. Basically when she plucks she puts them anywhere in the cage - she has no set time she is doing it - and in no one place either. Nothing we can pin point to say - that's the trigger. We have an upstairs cage and downstairs (as I have my parents living with me whom I care for) so we have her upstairs with my partner and I after about 8pm in the evening and during the day she is downstairs with me - basically whereever I am in the house she is I guess.

There is only one dinamic that has changed and it's a long shot but my father used to be downstairs every morning - and she would see and sit with him a lot. My father is now very sick in the last stages of cancer to be honest we have nurses and doctors going in and out all the time at the moment. Whether she picked up on that - and the fact that she doesn't see him downstairs now - could that be prolonging the plucking or be a factor in her starting - it's possible - but as I say it's a long shot - if it were my parner or myself I coud say well that's probably the cause.

It's unlikely to be separation anxiety as she has regularly been left alone for a couple of hours a day - so it's not as if she isn't used to having to amuse herself for a few hours during the course of a week - but probably never more than 4 at a time. I hope I don't sound defensive that's not my intention and certainly won't solve the problem - if I could just find the reason we might be able to do something. She has a day light bulb swell on her daytime cage downstairs for whenever I can't put her in natural sunlight. So please just keep asking the questions hon and maybe something you ask might be that one thing that could make a difference. Obiviously I am aware that once they start doing this it is a hard habit to break - I had hoped it was something I was not giving her dietry wise - at least - then - I could smack myself - and give her what she needed - but that wasn't the case. Anyway I am all ears and as far as a companion is concerned I really don't care - whether it's - female - male - same species - or other - as long as it solves the obvious for both of them - should it be necessary to go that way. As I said though I don't want to be responsible for her habit becoming another birds. It would be different if the bird had already got the habit themselves at least then something good may come out of a bad - I'm sure you can understand that you grasp at straws at times like this and until it happens to you - your convinced it's something someone's not doing that has caused it - I put my hands up - because I did I never expected to be in this position- so big oppologies to a lot of people out there whose birds have plucked because I really thought it was just down to bad diet or lack of interaction that caused this. My greys and macaws I owned which I had to place out on perm loan when my job sent me abroad years ago - never had one feather out of place - except for the usual moulting time - in all the ten years I had them. One thing is for sure I would never have one bird on it's own again - we obviously arn't enough for them no matter how imprinted they are on us.

Big big hugs to all you wonderful bird people out there. And again my oppologies to anybody who has been through this for my previous views - as they are certainly different now.

many thanks heather from Southport

Hi Heather, It sounds like you have and are doing all you can, and as you say, someone might just suggest something you hadnt thought of.We have seen countless birds who pluck themselves, and some eventually stop, whilst others do prefer to be nude.
I have a grey here who came in with just head and tail feathers, she had vit and calcium deficiences, but five years on, she has improved dramatically as in she now has a covering of downy feathers, all growing normally. BUT she still plucks her chest and strips her wings.It is purely a habit now. She has had vet checks and all is clear.All the other birds I have here are all feather perfect, and have all the same care and feeding etc, so sometimes if everything you try fails you may just have to accept that this is just the way she is. It can be heartbreaking I know.
Last resort for me in your situation would probably be either a same sex friend, or a different species, just as company.To be honest everyone has their own personal opinions, but if she had a mate, you MAY find she no longer wants anything to do with you.

Hi Heather,

Although I don't have a Ducorps, I have the same problem with a Senegal which tore me apart emotionally. Our stories are exactly the same, it started out of the blue completely unexplainable, and we have spent hundreds of pounds on vet fees trying to get to the bottom of it.  Pele has an excellent and stimulated lifestyle and diet, drinks britta filtered water and is even sprayed in evian water in case it is the chemicals in tap water!

My emotions were/are the same as yours but I am slowly accepting the fact that some birds just pluck. What you have got to understand is it doesn't make you a bad or neglectful owner. A friend of mine likened it to her Staffie bull terrier that always licks her leg until it gets sore for no apparent reason except that she is an anxious type personality. I hope you do get to the bottom of it, if not, just remember they are as neurotic and as different as we are!!

Ahh thank you folks you don't know what it means just to have the support. Your right about accepting. I had nightmares for weeks when she first started showing signs of skin and no feathers on her tummy tossing and turning but back then she was just being tested by the vet and I was convinced that it would come back with a dietry problem (even though I secretly knew I was giving her everything I had with my previous birds) but I hoped it was something i wasn't doing. When the tests came back with a slight vitA difficiency again I thought oh well must be that. She did start to regrow some downy feathers and then in one night she took the lot again. I have accepted my balding bird now - I still wish for her to come back and be what she was but it doesn't have the same devistating effect it did 6 months ago. I love her - it's as simple as that - so I don't care what she looks like - just as long as she is healthy other than the feathers. This is the only reason I am looking for a companion for her. My only concern about just a companion and not a male of her own species was the question of - would the frustration still continue if she could not forfil the need. We are humans therefore she can not forfil it with us - so I am concerned that just another bird is not going to do anything but stress her more. However it does make sense that should she have a proper mate she would be looking to nest down and that - that in turn - would only encorouge her to pluck to build her nest so I guess any companion would be better than now. I think the best thing I can do is offer my home as a safehouse and at least give her a chance to find a friend she likes whilst doing some good in the process. I have no interest in producing chicks folks - just to forfil her life. I am not able to put up an aviary at the moment of any real size anyway - other than a small flight until someone buys this house and we can move somewhere with a much bigger garden - where I can put up the equivalent of what I had in my previous home that spanned the whole garden it was wonderful. With my father being so ill though - obviously noise is an issue - so I couldn't have more than one other bird here anyway in the present circumstances. Heres hoping that there is a friend out there for her that will make all the difference to her life - we can but try. As I said before thank you all so much for the kind words this is not an easy time for us at the moment and just finding time to get onto the site to talk to you is hard to find - imbetween caring for dad and giving my Ducorps her time and my dogs and all the other domestic things you have to do. As I said before keep coming up with any suggestions you have - it only takes one thought that someone else hasn't had.

Many thanks and hugs

heather

Hi Heather
I am a safe house and have had quite a few plucked birds come through. I swear by a product called Avi-Stress that is sold by Rob Harvey,www.robharvey.com, I think! If you just put Rob Harvey into google it's the top one. He has also just started selling other products for parrots with feather problems that I may well try in the future. It is just a mixture of multi vits ect. You can call for advice on 01420 23986. I find them very helpful. I had a sennie come in to me that was totally plucked except for his head and a stripe down his back. He had no wing or tail feathers.5 months later he is now very nearly fully feathered and learning to fly! He hasn't flown for years so needs to build up muscles-but he is getting there. BUT like others have and will say some birds start plucking and you just have to accept it, heart breaking as it is. Goodluck and fingers crossed.
Laura

Thanks laura not heard of that one - yet I used to swear by Rob harvey products and seed. Will just need to get an idea of whether giving extra additives now that she is on the Harrison all in one would be ok or not. Don't want to be giving her too much. I am still adding the vit A to her soft food at the moment. But sincerely many thanks for that - and if someone on the forum can confirm that adding this to her food will not be overdoing the vits then will just get some and give it a go I did used to put feather up on her food when it first started but seemed to make her worse. Well done you anyway for your success - looks as though in your case you are getting somewhere and who knows if I get the thumbs up for the product - maybe I will be able to say the same thing in a few months from now - will certainly give it a try.

hugs Heather

Heather,

You have clearly tried as much as you can for your little girl. It's wonderful that you both have such a close relationship. I don't know much about Ducorps but CAGs, when they get to around 6 years, reach sexual maturity and can have significant behaviour changes. Also, I'm sure your little one will have been affected by your father's illness. She has lost her usual morning companion and will be picking up on everyone's emotions. I'm not sure how you could get around this, but I'm sure it must be a factor. Birds are very sensitive to their companion humans feelings.

I have no experience of the contents of Avi-stress, but would, like you be cautious, particularly as you are already adding in Vitamin A. A is just about the only vitamin that is toxic in high levels, so best to check with your vet.

I sincerely hope you get to the bottom of things but, like everyone else has said, don't blame yourself - some birds just prefer to be naked (or fluffy) - Charlie our foster CAG is one example. What's important is that you show them that you still love them (which you clearly do) and give them no special attention when they do pluck.

Please let us all know how you get on x

Thanks again for answering unfortunately have had a terrible time with my father regarding his illness - so sorry folks for late reply. Angel may have a companion soon. She has proved to me that this is definately frustration only by whats happened over the past 2 days. She has been building nests at the bottom of her cage and it is coming up to Aug which was the same month and the first time I saw a feather being plucked last year. So I think I have my answer - now it's just a question of finding a bird she will take to - as a lifelong buddy - and I'm not expecting it to be an easy process seeing as she was handreared and has been the only bird since a baby. Hopefully she will prove me wrong and her need will override anything else. I hope she does for her own sake. The sooner she has another bird to preen her and whom she can receiprecate with the sooner I hope things will improve. But again if anyone out there has a different view please let me have your opinion and why.

Many many thanks everyone

Heather

Are you a Birdline Member? If so, if you become a Safe House, you'll have lots of different birds going through, and you'll be able to judge if there's anyone there that fits the bill. If not, you're looking at spending lots of money on a bird that she may not like, then what? The new bird can be returned, but what does that do to the bird... and the process begins all over again. Remember, it doesn't have to be the same breed bird, you might find she likes an Amazon, or a Senegal, or... who knows what!
Doddie

Abosolutely - have already offered my home as safe house - for that very reason. And ofcourse you are right about the danger of a safehouse bird having to move on if they were not like each other and the trauma that brings. However without the safehouses acting as a middle ground what would happen There would be just another bird sitting somewhere in the same position. The only thing I can liken it to - in a human way is when people who have lost their partner and are ready for a new relationship - they won't meet them sitting at home - and even when you do date again - it can take a while before you meet right one. A paired bird which loses its mate is in the same predicament as my little girl - they may gel with the first bird they meet - but they may not - even one of their own species. At least this way - it gives birds a chance to bond with a friend they like and not one that is forced upon them. As soon as Angel takes to a bird as far as I am concerned nomatter what it is - that will be the one - and they will stay with me for life - if that is ok with the rescue. I should also like to add - that the life span of the bird should also be taken into consideration. Would it be fair to put a bird which lifespan is 60 years and bond it to a bird of 20. Ideally I want my little girl to have a friend for life once she finds one.

But THANK YOU SO MUCH for making a very important point on the forum for other people swell to take on board. I know only to well how particular parrots are regarding picking their friends esp their own species and ideally I would love to be able to put her in an aviary of ducorps or similar sized birds and let her pick her own friend - but ofcourse that's not an option or if it is - that is what I would choose to do. BUT - Because the Ducorps is such a small Too you are very very limited safety wise as to what she can mix with - especially as she is a handreared bird and will not understand the behaviour of another until she has spent some real time with one. For example - If she were with a grey or amazon just as an example - it could be very dangerous - I would be forever waiting for her to get hurt or if the bird were smaller than her - the other bird to get hurt - supervised or not - it only takes a moment and then it's to late.
If the bird is of an equal size - at least it's usually a spat - if you put a heavy weight and a feather weight together it doesn't take a genuis to know the outcome. But there are birds that would fit with her other - than the Ducorps but very limited as their frame and beak capacity - is tiny compared with other parrots and toos.- I also have to take into account - where I live - IDEALLY !!! we would be living - out in the middle of nowhere - with not a neighbour in site and have another aviary up that could take any size bird - but unfortunately we don't. The other criteria I have to meet is simply regarding the household. I have elderly parents who are living with me in a very resdential area - and these things have to be considered. It would be very easy to find yourself in court through a noise issue with your neighbours - and end up losing your original bird in the process. And sadly I have known people this has happened to in the past. But as I have said so many times before ANY IDEAS WELCOME - and if there is - an avairy at a rescue centre where Angel could go to and stay to find her lifelong friend - then I would be more than happy to take her there - at least that way neither bird would be having to move again.

So so grateful for everyones contribution and in the process I do hope this is helping someone else.

Hugs Heather

Hi again Heather,I can see you are so desperate to ensure your little one is happy, even to the point of parting with her. I dont want to appear negative in any way, but one point I would like to make is that you mention a rescue with an aviary where she can have her buddy for life.
My concern here would be, that being a companion bird herself, and used to family life, it may actually make things worse for her.
Birdline for instance would never put a companion bird into an aviary,unless that bird was wild and hated human interaction and stressed out every time you approached it, or was exeptionally aggressive to humans, and did prefer to be ONLY with its own kind.
Also a plucked bird wouldnt be able to go into an OUTDOOR avairy.
Just another couple of points for you to consider here.
Lots of us have mixed species living alongside each other in seperate cages quite happily, I have greys, a macaw, a conure, and a cockatoo, out of which it is only the macaw and the small timneh grey who need to be out seperately and dont like each other. The rest are fine, and will whistle and talk to each other, love each others company even though they rarely sit together.

So so sorry did not mean for one moment I was going to part with her on a permanent basis - just that I wished there were somewhere she could go and stay for whilst she decides on a friend herself and visa versa - then they could come back to me as a couple. But I did not make that clear on re reading my last post. I guess when you love a bird so much you are scared to put anything bigger around them in case they get hurt. I loved my greys and especially my macaws the boy and me were inseprable when I had to let them go it broke my heart it truly did. I just did the best for them and not for me. Anyway don't want to go there cause I'll just get upset again. No all I would like for her - is to have a friend she likes and not one I force on her that's all. So that was what I was trying to say badly ofcourse. For that reason if you - don't - feel there will be a problem - then I don't have any objection to taking on any another quiet'ish parrot - just had hoped she could have one - that she could be with - but which she could intereract with as this seems to be what she is looking for. So really sorry for the confusion. HUGS heather

have you phoned the number up and asked to be a safehouse to the relevant person/people? you need to do that to be considered for a safehouse1

that's right - I tried to join - but unfortunately at the time - the system was down to do that and I was told will be till beginning of next month - but if it's up and running again will do so. Many thanks

Heather

Hi folks have just managed to join officially - so if you think there is a friend that is right for my little girl out there please let me know.

Hugs Heather

Congratulations Heather - you need to contact your nearest ACO (on the contacts list) and offer to safehouse

I know this may sound stupid but my friend has a ducorps and she changed her curtains for some new ones, he went crazy. plucking his feathers and screaming all day, it went on about 6 weeks before she realised that she had cut out the view from his cage to the street, she changed her curtains back to the old ones and he was happy and stopped the behaviour and the plucking..... think back... have you changed anything in the room recently?

I have a rescued umbrella female cockatoo 4 years old and when I got her she was bold chest and legs and had started on her wings, she was originally hand reared. I already had a juvenile male ducorps cockatoo, she took to him on the same day, within a month she had an egg on the sofa, then she had another egg in my sons bed, then another on the sofa, I took the decision to put a proper nest box on for her as she was very terratorial of the place where she had the egg, I put some chewable nesting material in there for here and she stopped plucking she spent all her time taking stuff in her nest box and preparing it. it made a tremendous difference to her behaviour aswell, at last she had a place where she could do what comes naturally to some birds. she wont let my ducorps in there but he doesnt care. It worked for her. it was like she was always looking for somewhere to nest digging in the sofa cushions chewing them and my sons bed, all his quilts have holes in them where she used to just chew. its made a tremendous difference to her she is full feathered, and had eggs on her own without any help from my ducorps. Also my mom and her dog came to stay in the 6 weeks holiday and she started to pluck her legs again, any change can affect their behaviour some cockatoos are extremely sensitive to any change. needless to say my mom wont be coming to stay again. the stress of watching my princess start to pluck again was too much.. but since they have gone she is back to full feather, and working on her nest box, so shes a happy princess again.. best of luck, this worked for me it might work for you. your ducorps might not even need a mate just a proper nest box to do what comes naturally, cause my umbrella would rather be with my 12 year old son. and sit in her nest box on her own. best of luck...