Feather picking or chewing can be caused by a variety of underlying medical and psychological factors. ... Similarly, a disease or injury may inspire your macaw to soothe itself by feather picking. Boredom, anxiety, stress, and sexual frustration can also lead to this behavior.

Is it normal for parrots to pluck their feathers?

Feather plucking and other destructive behaviors are quite common in parrots. Some birds may excessively chew their feathers enough to damage them, while others resort to actually plucking their feathers out. Severe plucking can result in permanent damage to the follicles, so the feathers will not grow back.

Is feather plucking bad for birds?

Feather-picking is a common and often frustrating problem seen in pet birds that can be managed with proper guidance. Feather-picking results in an aesthetic defect in birds, decreases the bird's ability to keep itself warm and dry, and may also lead to skin infections or more serious complications.