# Bird owners:  Have you ever used a soothing spray to stop feather-picking?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-owners-have-you-ever-used-a-soothing-spray-to-stop-feather-picking/537425>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 26, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-owners-have-you-ever-used-a-soothing-spray-to-stop-feather-picking/537425 "2010-04-26T17:41:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-owners-have-you-ever-used-a-soothing-spray-to-stop-feather-picking/537425/1 "2010-04-26T17:41:29Z")

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My green-cheek conure is a seasonal picker. Roughly once a year for the last few years, he’s pulled his chest feathers out, leaving just the down, and a few months later they grow back in. This year he’s done a little more; he’s pulled out the little red epaulets on his shoulders.

At the vet’s suggestion, I’ve put some oil in his food in the past, and that’s helped a bit. I’ve also seen ads for soothing sprays, however, which generally seem to be aloe vera. I’d be curious to hear if you’ve ever tried any of these with your bird?

I know that this sort of problem can be behavioral, but it seems to be seasonal only. He’s generally a happy bird. He spends mornings and evenings out with me, and he has music and toys and a window by his cage while I’m at work.

It’s time for his regular checkup soon anyway, so I will be consulting a professional soon. I’m just trying to get some other opinions from bird owners as well.

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**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-owners-have-you-ever-used-a-soothing-spray-to-stop-feather-picking/537425/2 "2010-04-27T00:51:43Z")

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Not sure whether they work (mine seems to despise the soothing sprays so I abandoned that in favor of just water misting). You might try nice regular showers? Does he live near a heater/ vent/ some source of dryness?