Feather plucking is a very common problem that numerous bird owners will tell you about. If you have ever owned parrots, you most likely have had at least one bird with a feather plucking problem. The good news is that this plucking habit is one that can be deterred if you know how to do this.

Feather plucking is a bad habit that can have many causes. Of course, you will need to determine why your parrot started plucking its feathers. However, in many cases, the original cause has gone away and the bird is simply plucking out of habit. If you have a bird with a feather plucking problem, then one of the things you will need to consider is its diet. There are actually dietary changes that can be made that will help to alleviate the problem of feather plucking.

Parrots and Feather Plucking Due to Diet:

There are many foods that contain ingredients that can actually irritate the bird’s skin. If your bird gets irritated skin, then it may start plucking its feathers while it is trying to alleviate the problem. Some ingredients in the foods include artificial colors and preservatives. Often, these artificial ingredients can be very irritating to a bird. Additionally, items that contain an overly large amount of sodium can be skin irritants. Finally, keep in mind that birds can have food allergies much like humans can. If your bird has a food allergy and it is eating that food, then it may begin plucking at its feathers. In order to alleviate this problem, you just need to consider a new diet plan.

• To start with, consider an all organic diet plan. These organic foods will not have the artificial ingredients that many mainstream foods will contain. Look for whole grains and seeds, and look for only foods that have all organic ingredients. Consider feeding your bird human grade fruits and vegetables as well.

• If you are afraid that the foods your bird is eating is actually the reason for its feather plucking, you can also switch to providing your bird with all natural baby foods. These baby foods will have very mild ingredients without the harmful chemicals that may be found in other foods. Of course, keep in mind that if you include baby food to make sure your bird is getting enough fruits and vegetables, then you will also need to make sure you are providing the bird with enough nuts and grains as well.

• Finally, a pellet heavy diet can be a cause of feather plucking. Many people think that pellets are enough for the bird to be healthy. However, pellets do include everything that the parrots need in order to be totally healthy. If you have been feeding the bird almost all pellets and it is experiencing feather plucking, then be sure to add fresh fruits and vegetables to its diet. You may see a big difference quite quickly.

There are many things that cause feather plucking. If your bird has picked up the habit, then you may want to consider changing its diet. This should be the first step that you take. If your bird’s diet is the culprit, then you may be able to solve the feather plucking problem right away.