This condition occurs in alot of Pet Birds due to boredom, sexual frustration when a bird reaches maturity, stress in the birds environment and medical issues. It is very frustating to watch your bird pluck it's feathers out and is very hard to turn around. We have received a number of birds that have plucked their feathers and for the most part usually is not a medical condition. After you have eliminated any possible medical condition it is recommened that you try and discover why the bird is plucking and change the environment. We have turned some of these birds around to fully feathered by giving them to companionship of other birds and an outdoor environment. It turns into a bad habit and once a bird has pulled the feathers out so many times the feather follicle is pulled and the bird will never be able to grow them back in.
Screaming:
It is the nature of Parrots to call out loudly but is not normal for your bird to scream for hours on end. Mostly without knowing you are doing it, anytime you go to your bird and "reward" this behaviour by giving them food, covering them, yelling at them to stop is a negative reinforcement. We have found that when you ignore the screaming bird and going to them with love and attention when they are not screaming is much more effective. Many screaming birds have stopped screaming once placed in the Sanctuary with others of their own kind and learn to call normally
Biting:
A biting Parrot is a very dangerous situation. Birds bite when they are threatened, some bite for attention, never hit a bird for biting you. Place the bird in it's cage and ignore the bird, then take him/her from the cage and place on a playstand and reinforce with love and attention when the bird does not bite. We do not recommend that you allow your bird on your shoulder as this is a position of dominence.
