Overpreening mate

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HawaiianRingneck
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:00 am

Overpreening mate

Post by HawaiianRingneck »

I have a pair of ringnecks alone in a cage. They appear to be bonded so I am hoping they will mate. I have added a nesting box for them and they both spend the nite sitting on the perch inside. During the day, a lot of time is spent with the male preening the female. The problem is, he has developed a habit of plucking out her feathers on her 2 cheeks. She now has bald spots on both sides of her head, exposing her ears. Why is he doing this and why is she letting him do this?
sanjays mummi
Posts: 2050
Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:07 pm
Location: Bedfordshire UK

Re: Overpreening mate

Post by sanjays mummi »

Birds often preen the areas the other bird cannot reach, this could be over doing it, Or a sign of dominance.
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