Assessment and Treatment of Feather Plucking in Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos Cacatua galerita

摘要

The objectives of this project were to reduce feather-plucking behaviour in a pair of sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) and to find the underlying cause of the behaviour. The study was carried out via the application of a number of treatments which were chosen due to past research. These researches determined that the possible causes of feather-plucking are stress, boredom and lack of adequate socialisation. The treatments researchers used were medicine (Haloperidol), socialisation, training and feeding enrichment. The success of the treatments was verified by behavioural observations, feather-condition score and by corticosterone level testing of the parrots. Overall, the project was a success with the reducing of abnormal behaviours, improving of feather condition score and decreasing of corticosterone levels during the treatment period. The most successful treatment was the training sessions as they provided the parrot with much needed social attention as well as the mental stimulation that a clever animal such as a cockatoo requires. These results are significant as it helps to shed some light on the underlying causes of feather-plucking and how to reduce the behaviour. Parrot training is easily applicable to all captive parrots whether they are held in a zoo environment or kept in a household.