Parrotlet Questions

[Nerien]

I have four parrotlets in one big cage, like an A&E flight cage (single-32x22x35 or so). They were given to me together, all four in one of those "cockatiel" cages that's about 18 inches square, and so hung with toys they just walked from one to another, no room to fly at all; so this new cage is a big improvement. They were never hand-tamed, so they don't come out of the cage, only one will come up and eat things from our fingers, and tries to bite us as well (which is actually a game for her). They are all just a bit over a year old now. We've had them a few months.

They are a brother (Blueberry) and his two sisters (Jellybean and Gumdrop) and an unrelated female (Cricket). Blueberry and Cricket are a bonded pair, they go everywhere together, do everything together, snuggle and sleep together. No problems there. If we ever get things rearranged and make more room, we will let them make little baby parrotlets. Cricket is the #1 bird of the group, Blueberry ranks #2.

The two sisters also act like a bonded pair. They sit together, snuggle together, go eat, drink, hang out on the swing, sleep, mate (stop that, girls!), do everything together. Sometimes they squabble, which means sit there shouting at each other getting louder and louder until their brother Blueberry comes up and breaks it up. Really. He comes up, shouts at them, gets in between them, and makes them stop arguing. It's really funny. Happens at most once a day, and not every day.

But recently I have noticed Jellybean's head feathers are really thinned down. Have been hoping she was molting, but I really don't think so anymore. It's just her head, her entire head. No obvious thinning of the rest of her body. Jellybean and Gumdrop groom each other, so I'm guessing Gumdrop is overdoing it and slowly making Jellybean bald? Jellybean is the dominant one of the pair, and of the four parrotlets, she'd be #3 in rank, Gumdrop is #4. I see no aggressive grooming, and no protesting by Jellybean when Gumdrop is grooming her head. Jellybean also grooms Gumdrop right back. There is no bullying or other aggression. All looks like normal activity. But she's gotten very thinned out on her head.

Nobody else is showing any signs of thinning feathers, so it can't be an infestation or disease, right?

What can I do?

If I pull one of these sisters, I have to pull both, because that would leave a lone female with the m-f Blueberry-Cricket pair. If I split them up and keep them alone, they will be miserable without their best buddy. (some day, in the future, if I get my bird room, we might get them both "husbands" and separate quarters, and go into the parrotlet business. but can't happen now.)
As long as Jellybean isn't being plucked completely bald, and doesn't seem to mind at all, is it okay to let this go on and just keep watch?
Is there some way to convince Gumdrop to back off?

If Gumdrop is #4 in the ranks, and gets last pick at fresh greens and treats, could she be exhibiting a nutritional deficiency that she's trying to fix by going for her sister's feathers? Planning to make a second "treat food station" in the cage, as soon as I can get to the store for parts, to help even things out. She is not restricted from their main food, there are two separate cups on opposite sides of the cage, and each pair of birds does visit each side during the day, I've watched for that.

Any ideas?

[finchmix22]

Gosh, I am not sure as hookbills are not my strong point, but I'd look at droppings to make sure she is not sick. If she's not fluffed and seems alright otherwise, I'd be inclined to watch and wait, but if your gut tells you something is wrong, you could separate the female pair for a few days and see if anything changes. Hopefully, someone with parrolet experience will respond. Good Luck.

[Ginene]

Nerien
Maybe once they're moved into the bi-level cage, things will settle down. Do you have Feather Fast? I sprinkled it on the egg food of my finches who had feather issues. It helped with feather growth and overall appearance. You can try that...

[cindy]

Parrotlets....I have had as many as ten at one time, their personalities vary per bird, some are very docile and sweet others get set off by the slightest thing. They will bully, and they will feather pluck to prove dominance.

They yelling at each other, you and objects is normal. We had one that no matter what she was doing she would stop and lecture you if you had a green garbage bag in your hand, no clue why it just set her off. Rummy yells at his toys almost like a rant.

Right now if they are older than a year they may be going into some sort of hormonal breeding mode, they are mature enough to breed. They can become territorial in regards to perches toys, cups. Even a single bird can be territorial over their cage, toy or food dish.

It sounds like there is plucking going on, you need to monitor this to see if it is over a single toy, get one that looks the same, place at the same height elsewhere in the cage. In cages with multiple birds it is best to have double feeders, water tubes or cups and several play stations.

I would try to see what is happening right before the bickering starts, see if the one plucked is the one wanting the object or has the object (spot, food, toy). They only do this if something is setting them off whether it is one is playing with a toy and other wants it or one is eating and does not want to share "their" food dish. If you have one swing add one or two more.

Rummy can be eating talking away, if I interrupt him by speaking to him he leaves the bowl, scolding me running up the spiral slinky to his toy. I can usually stop the "scoulding" by telling him ring your bell or I ring one and he goes to ring it. Distraction helps a lot.

The head and neck plucking is a dominance thing. You can also try making simple fans out of folded white paper, cutting the fan edges into strips and let them shred it and play with it. Ty distracting them.

You may need to watch the pair especially if they are cuddly, feeding each other, the hen from the pair may be chasing the one being plucked away as a way of defending her turf...her male.

You may also try putting the pair in one cage and the two hens in another ad see if that calms things down.