Pulling Out Feathers

User Question
My parakeet was living alone with me for about a month, and I recently purchased another bird, that was about 2 and a 1/2 months of age. The hit it off immediatly. They preened eachother, ate together, bathed together, but recently my first bird is pulling out the tail feathers of my new bird. My new birds now has a few feathers but basically a stub, I'm really worried because my new bird even helps pull out the feathers. My new bird doesn't seem to mind at all.

Should I isolate both of them for a while? Will the feathers grow back? If so, how long will it take? Should I take them to the vet? I'm very concerned, because these are my first parakeets.

Lisa's Answer
Parakeets can definitely get grumpy and pulling out feathers is a way they annoy each other when they are grumpy. Make sure you have 2 of everything in the cage - 2 cuttlebones, 2 food dishes etc so there is as little room for jealousy as possible. Also make sure you get the biggest cage you can so they both have room to 'be on their own' if they want to.

I wouldn't separate them and yes the feathers definitely will grow back. If you work on making their environment as happy and peaceful as possible, they will tend to learn to get along.

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