Georgie started plucking in late Jan. We thought it was t a number of things......small cage, hormones, humidity too low...well once she got into the new bigger cage and the humidity went back up to a norm thing, we noticed a change in the plucking. She just about stopped.

Still bald, she's started again. I really don't know what to do. She eats good, gets veggies in and everything. Is there something I could put on it or some sort of ring I could make to get her to stop?

I imagine there is something, I'm just too lazy to dig around this big place.

I adopted a plucker ie lovebird as crazy as it sounds I thought I could help him but his plucking issue had to do with enviromental problems in his old house ie a smoker and candles being burned etc but the damage was so bad that he will never get fully feathered ever. He was housed with another love bird and now that the season is in for mating the other one started to overgroom the poor little guy so I had to separate them.

Alot of times its like detective work to see why they are plucking. Sometimes there is no answer at all and its a mystery. Yet in most cases thru trial and error alot of people successfully reform pluckers. Just keep trying different things until you hit on something that works. What had you did in the past that stopped the plucking? I also would suggest a vet exam just to make sure that everything is ok with him health wise.

Good luck and hang in there I am sure others will have better tips and suggestions that might work for you.

I've already asked the vet, vet says she's healthy. Says it could be a number of things....she was thining it was because of the humidity and she was a heavy molting.

We've did away with candles right after we got her, and we don't smoke.

I did catch her preening earlier and she plucked on then.....makes me wonder if she's getting carried away.

My qp has been plucking a little bit, she tends to just do one spot. I'd rule out the medical problems that could cause plucking first ( i think you have) and then go from there. I just got a suggestion of a treatment to at least let the feathers grow back in since they are ithcy when they come in and sometimes that just aggrevates the problem, ya know. I am trying this at home as we speak..but it has been tried on lots of peoples birds (people i trust with bird stuff) and seems to be working. anyway. mix 1 TBSP to 1 qt water, with both of these things..1 of Cool mint flavor listerine and another with aloe vera juice (not the gel). So you'll have two very dilute bottles to work with. put the listerine mixture on first (I use a q-tip, but you can spray.) then put the aloe vera mix on...I hear it works, and it should be fine to do on them, not toxic. might be worth a shot!

do you have an air purifier or humidifier in your house? If you do, does it have an ionizer in it? Just a thought.

Sandi I have been reading alot about ionizers and health issues because they create ozone. Alot of people are not aware of the findings and I am surprised alot of these products still are on the market. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html but the american lung association and other sites has alot of information about air purifiers that have an ionizer.
I just find it interesting because for the longest time I would feel more sicker when I used my purifier in the house with the ionizer on and figured it was all in my head until consumer reports initially put out the warning in its test study.

I have one of those $20.00 ones at Walmart...it's a vicks vaporizer. When I first got it when the humidity was low, she stopped plucking....it was also around the same time she got her "castle." Since the humidity has went back to normal, I've stopped using it.

I'm thinking of pulling it back out for a while.

The cool mint solution and aloe vera solution sounds interesting. Thanks.

These forums are so useful. I knew you had to watch your humidity. How do you know when its right?

I have a thing....it came with the house when we moved in. It looks sorta like a picture thing of some sort. It's pretty but old. It was my husband's great grandmothers. It has a temp gauge, a humidity gauge, and a barometer gauge.

Is 50% a good place to be with the humidity?

on those ratios i told you, it should read 1 TBSP to 1 PINT, not a quart! sorry!

a pint...a pint...remember a pint.

Ok....I went to Walmart and picked up some Wild Berry Aloe Vera Juice. Is that ok? Or is that how it comes?

Was that the brand name? I got some just straight up aloe vera juice at a local haggens (grocery store, health food section). I'd just look at the ingredients, if it has anything besides the juice, i'd try to find it straight..that might be flavored and have sugar which probably wouldn't be a good thing...thats my only thought.

ewwww it's tart as all get out. Yuck!

It does say on the label that it has 8g of sugar...I think I got the wrong one.

CHeck a local health food store if you can, or the health food section of a grocery, you should be able to find plain there..

well I have/had a plucker qp. he was a plucker before he came home with me. he has stress issues due to his former home...not intentional but it happened. since bringing him home wih me he has become overly attached to me...not good I know but I am the only one he will even let near him and he works me! anyway I put his cage right next to my bed that way I can still talk to him when he doesn't feel like coming out...his cage is left open all the time. I also covered his cage with a plain colored sheet so he can hide if he wants to. Every night I bring him something warm to eat..veggies, oatmeal, rice, beans, ect. I have him on a routine so he knows what to expect. All that said he is not plucking anymore....fingers crossed! I can see where some of the bald spot on his chest is starting to come back in but from what I have read it may not ever fully grow back. I have also read that you should not make a big fuss to the bird about the plucking as it might encourage the behavior. The most important thing is to make sure it is not a medical condidtion which you already did. I've seen other people suggest the listerine solution and some people swear by it where as others swear you better not use it....I've never used it so I don't have any personal advice other than it wouldn't hurt to ask your vet first. Not trying to offend anyone just giving my 2 cents right or wrong. I do hope you can find a solution for your baby! Mine was more behavioral so I'm sorry I don't have better advice...just try not to make a big deal about to your bird. My favorite spot to give him kisses is his bald spot....that bird has me sooooooo wrapped around his fingers!

Just a interesting link might be of interest ...
http://www.flightquarters.com/bird-diapers...ategory_Code=FP