Feather barbering

[banshea]

My husband has asked me to post asking for advice about his greencheek conure, Robin, who is about a year and a half old

Comments

[mazz]

I love this post.
If she's doing it while your husband is on the computer and she's on his shoulder maybe make a small play gym next to him at his shoulder height with things she can chew and destroy. She may be wanting to sit with him but isn't stimulated enough while she is. Having toys right there at the spot she likes to sit with him might help.

Good luck.

[bloolark]

Though it probably isn't medical, a vet checkup is probably worthwhile either way.

Can you increase his shreddy toys? Does he play with toys adequately? Do you have more parrots and/or pets in the house?

[tarelgeth]

He does play with his toys frequently, and we rotate new toys in for him on a regular basis. I've got a decent roll of woven shredder strips that he particularly loves destroying, and I have to cut new strips of it for him every few days. He does seem to do most of his feather-chewing when he's hanging out on my shoulder, though - not when he's near his toys. I'm making a leather necklace with shredder-type stuff on it to see if that helps. I'm also adding more hidden foraging around the room.

We do have other parrots. Robin shares the office with one budgie, and there's a macaw in another room. They regularly converse, but do not play together.

[bloolark]

Just a quick note -- in order to reply and not be screened, you need to join the community.

Considering what you say here, the #1 thing I'd do immediately is set up a playstand nearby with lots of toys and stop having him sit on your shoulder. Since that's the biggest trigger, it's also likely going to get you the biggest response.