Possible fix to maydays plucking

[VFR_Mayday]

So mayday doesn't pluck but rather bites his feathers off. I have a vet visit later this week but I was thinking what could have caused the relapse of thinking. He has been switched to roudy bush pellets but lately I haven't seen him eat anything. He never really was too keen on them. For the past two weeks I have been substituting seed in there and now everything has changed. He's singing again, happy, NO plucking, biting. He's actually preening again too. When I thought about it right as we made the transition to pellets, about a week after he started biting his feathers. If this is what solves it then I'm sold. I will of course keep the mix 80/20 but I'm going to have to substitute with some vitamins now. But should I try to ween off again if he's happy with only seed? Obviously if he starts picking again then I'm going to make the full pellet switch as it might just be pure coincidence. Anyone else on a seed majority diet? The change in his personality is amazing. Maybe this will solve it. Maybe he'll just be naked forever. Who knows. Would love to hear your guys thoughts.

[Greywings]

No vitamins needed just add some fresh veggies and fruit to his diet. You can offer a little scrambled egg,some water packed Tuna or Salmon or even a little cooked Chicken with a bone for him to enjoy.

[VFR_Mayday]

I've always been a pellet guy. My conure and ring neck are on them and have been since weening. The information out there leans towards seeds being inferior and lacking nutrients. So substituting with missing link or featheriffic isn't necessary? It would all make sense. He wasn't eating, therefore not getting nutrients, lacking nutrients, started picking due to nutrient deficiency. That's one of the main causes in pluckers. It's not from boredom that's for sure. He's with me 24/7 almost. I'm on an organic seed mix from one of the local bird shops here and most of their pet birds are on them so I know it's good stuff. Supreme parrot w/ fruit mix. He's still not picking. Fingers crossed

[Timbersmom]

If he is getting a variety of foods, as Greywings suggested, you don't need to supplement. Variety is the key. You might also consider sprouting. It improves the nutritional profile of seed.

[VFR_Mayday]

Last night we loaded up on veg and fruits. Healthier stuff than I eat. He wouldn't eat anything. Just threw it. However when I eat dinner he always wants what I have. So I pretended to eat it and he still wouldn't. Not until he saw me actually eating it and then Wanted some did he take it. The trick was actually taking bites out of it. Now he eats whatever I eat so I cracked that mystery. If only it worked with pellets like that. But I'm not gonna eat those haha.

[kins2321@yahoo.com]

Keep him happy and SLOWLY get him use to fresh veggies and proteins like we do. The key to Sophie's heart, was grilling. She LOVES grilled veggies, and eats dinner with us. Not sure, if that works for u, but dinner time has always been a bonding time for all of us. She knows if she doesn't stay at her place setting, she has to go to her birdroom. ( I have the BEST bird at dinner!) I'm not a fan of seeds and use them rarely, but have never had a bird that destroyed their feathers! I think my priority would be... not to chew their feathers, and then work on diet. Provide supplements as needed. Nancy