Thread: What is this behavior all about?!

Scooter has been hanging from the top front right hand corner of her cage, upside-down (one leg on the side cage panel, another leg on the front cage panel) & shredding her tail feathers What is going on here?

Shredding as in chewing and destroying? Was there any previous evidence of this behavior to her feathers?

Yes, as in chewing & destroying! I took a photo but I have not put it on my computer yet. Will do that soon. No, her feathers were beautiful & perfect when she came to live with me. Maybe see needs more attention? Maybe she's having a super hard time adjusting to her new home?

Tail mutilation is not normal . Would love to see pics , but if you are really concerned a vet visit may be in order .

I know they preen their tails very rough sometimes , but taking feathers out should not be happening .

If it just started out of the blue, check in her tail feathers for a broken feather that may be poking or itching. My Kudzu fell off her playgym yesterday and broke a feather. The shaft is bothering her today and I may end up having to pull it. But if you don't find anything, take her chewing seriously. It can be a very serious problem. If you haven't read up on it, google Feather Destructive Behavior. It covers plucking, chewing, and over preening all in one. Let us know how she does.

Originally Posted by Dusky

Tail mutilation is not normal . Would love to see pics , but if you are really concerned a vet visit may be in order .

I know they preen their tails very rough sometimes , but taking feathers out should not be happening .

She is not pulling them out, she is shredding the barbs. The rachis, or part down the middle that the barbs connect to, is being left in tact. What I notice is when I go in the bird room, she will stop what she is doing elsewhere in the cage, go up to that corner of the cage, get in position then start shredding the tail feathers..

HMMMM....when you can...a picture would help.

Have you misted her, or given her a bath? She may have something that she's trying to get rid of?

Had her out for a while last night. She didn't go for her tail one time while out of her cage. I will post pics soon.

Okay these 2 photos are of her hanging from the corner of the cage in the middle of shredding her tail:





Here is her tail damage:

Aww, there we go, I posted in your other thread. Because this is new, I wonder if this isn't a food allergy. Do you know what she was fed before? This isn't normal behavior and I would suggest a vet appointment.