Stop Your Parrot Plucking! Scrunchie/Collar Training - Jasper the Eclectus Parrot

Following up from my 30-day no plucking video, I'm here to show you the scrunchies I use on Jasper, and how to train your parrot to wear them. Always have your parrot checked by a qualified avian vet and do the necessary tests to rule out any medical problems.
I purchased the blue collar shown in this video from BirdSupplies.com - $80 total with exchange rate, shipping, duty. The owner reached out to me after seeing complaints I made on Facebook, but was unwilling to help - only suggesting I buy other collars to try. After spending thousands on vet bills, there are people who take advantage of those in desperate need to help their birds. Depending on the severity of your bird's plucking, scrunchies may not work - but I did want to put a warning here from the experience I had.
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[@fountainpeninsanity3344]

That is fantastic news! I hope that Jasper can heal. He looks so cute with the scrunchies on.

[@KatieFleming]

Appreciate that! He does look pretty cute, and thankfully it's just a nighttime thing. He's been such a trooper and he's looking beautiful as ever! Thanks for following

[@fountainpeninsanity3344]

It was great to see how well Jasper did training to have the scrunchies around his neck. It’s hard for anyone to get used to wearing something where they’ve never worn something before.

[@lindacormack8657]

He is doing so unbelievably well. Congratulations. Good boy Jasper🎉🎉🎉

[@KatieFleming]

Thank you!!

[@groucrow9709]

Such a lovable and loving boy! Of my two Eclectus boys, only one feather destroys. He started around age 7 or 8, after we moved, and overpreens and plucks when I am not observing him - so at night, or when I am out of the house. I WFH so am with my Birds most of the time. Jasper seems calmer than my feather destroyer - I am not sure that he would tolerate a scrunchy or leave it alone when I am not watching. There are some great Aussie Eclectus experts, very cool that you work with knowledgable vets! (I am in US, just fyi, also have great avian vet...but not an Aussie w extensive Eclectus experience). Very happy that scrunchies are working for your love, and I enjoyed watching your training with him. Glad you found each other! 💙💚❤️💛

[@KatieFleming]

Thanks for commenting! Isn't it strange how some will end up plucking and others won't. It breaks my heart that more can't be done for them. It takes training with the scrunchies for sure. Jasper will tug at them a bit through the night but he was pretty accepting of them after the fails with the collar. Probably thought these are a lot better 😄 Also since he only wears them at night I think that helps too.

[@RyanCunningham]

They make him look fancy

[@MasBeb]

Very nice ......👍 💞 ✔️

[@fasthassan]

Nice 👍

[@fameezharoon1]

Hi Katie, I want to say thank you for sharing this. We also tried everything. But after watching your videos this is the thing that’s worked for us. Really appreciate you sharing this 🙏🙏🙏 we are day 3 into it and our eclcutis boy has finally stopped and he seems relaxed with the scruchies. Thank you again

[@KatieFleming]

I'm so glad to hear! If you find he starts again, sometimes you just need to add another scrunchie. Thanks for letting me know this worked for your Ekkie :)

[@technofeeliak]

I can totally relate to Jasper's situation. He's a good little guy who's stuck. No matter the distractions in the form of toys, treats, we all need to respond to what the body demands. We don't live in a natural way, so despite our amazing solutions in the forms of comforts and tools we're so proud of, we suffer. Does that makes sense to anyone else?

[@brokenredflag]

I love your jasper videos!! Your such a good ouner. One thing thogh, i think yellow feathers are a bad thing, if i remember corectly, i think it means to many penuts. Something of his diet. Anyway, yes is my dream pet and i wish i could care for one as good as you. I hope he thuse beter on the pluking, it is a heart braking situation. Bey👍❤️🔥

[@KatieFleming]

Thanks for watching! Yes, you're right. In some cases yellow feathers can indicate liver problems. A lot of Ekkies have different colours that pop through too, totally normal. Jasper's got a clean bill of health :) I'll do another update soon now that many months have passed.

[@sercan272727]

I may need to try this ! . I cant imagine my eclectus tolerating this but its encouraging to see that they can be trained :) this plucking is really very frustrating issue, I almost dont even let him preen(always seeing some white feathers in his mouth when he does) if I can see my parrot, but he does his thing when im not supervising. hope you can overcome this. they are a lot more beautiful when they have their green glossy feathers :)

[@KatieFleming]

Sorry to hear you're dealing with this too. It's horrible watching them do it. Jasper responded so well to the training. Give it a try and be patient with the training, it could take several days or even several weeks. They're all different. Keep me updated and let me know if you have any questions 🙂

[@roseellis6814]

Another thing about plucking that I think helps is having your bird have outside time. I have heard reports that they just have to have outside time and will give u pretty feathers

[@KatieFleming]

For some cases, yes! Jasper is a hormonal plucker, so this actually doesn't help his cause. But regardless they need that vitamin D as much as possible!

[@grethewarnich9075]

I am so glad to see this video. Took mine to the avian vet. Got a pool noodle as a collar. I have a love bird. I took it off after the third hour. My heart broke. It was simply too heavy and he needs. to wear it for at least 2 months. He started plucking again. However he has been doing it for 2 years and sometimes it bleeds. Just want to know. I have to adjust the scrunchie to make it smaller. Any idea on how small for my love bird? Just afraid it is too tight

[@KatieFleming]

I'm really sorry to hear about your love bird plucking :( I know all too well the emotional roller coaster and frustrations trying to find something that works. A love bird is very small compared to Jasper so definitely the scrunchie would be too big. Do you have a needle and thread? Maybe you could buy a regular sized scrunchie, cut it and sew it smaller. Remember their necks are still smaller than what we see (if they're covered in feathers). Feathers add quite a bit of "bulk" so when I put mine on Jasper while it can seem like it's tight, it's not, his neck is much smaller. Just make sure there's a little gap (and for you to take it off) and it will be fine. Monitor for at least 10 min when you put it on. Also Jasper sleeps in his sleep cage so he's not moving around with his scrunchie on. I don't want to take a chance of him potentially catching it on something. If you don't already have a smaller cage I'd consider it if you're wearing the scrunchies at night. Hope that helps :)

[@briarrose7016]

Mine just turned 4 years old recently and started plucking under his wings. I discouraged him doing it on his back and neck and told him "yucky" so he switched and started doing it under his wings where he thinks I won't see it apparently. He did have a mate for a year but he hated her (she attacked him and he was trained not to bite so he never fought back), so they got divorced a year and a half ago (lol) and he didn't start plucking until a couple of months ago. Took him to 3 vets and none of them could explain it since his diet and training routine are so good. Birdtricks people told me he probably spends too much time outside of his (quite large and full of toys) cage when I'm home and needs more independence due to being hand trained as a baby by the breeder and not fed/brought up by his parents. He free flies around our 2500 sq ft house (even up and down stairs) and has literal boxes of toys he throws around and forages with. But he's also inbred (found out after buying him when the breeder attempted to sell me his sister to "mate" with) so I'm sure that doesn't help. Has the scrunchie idea worked for you or does he still pluck wherever he can? Mine does it during the day whenever we leave the house, not at night, so that makes it harder because I don't want it to prevent him from eating. He used to go on hunger strikes if we were gone too long.

[@KatieFleming]

Very sorry to hear about your Ekkie plucking 🙁 Unfortunately if you give any type of attention to his plucking (saying "yucky" or anything else) is a form of positive reinforcement. Remember, it's always better to ignore unwanted behaviours and praise the ones we want. Easier said than done sometimes lol. For his plucking, if you've ruled out all possibilities with the vet it's likely hormonal. Through the day is more difficult (Jasper plucks down feathers during the day). It's worth giving the scrunchies a try. They're not restrictive and Jasper can still eat/drink/climb around his cage. (He doesn't since now as soon as I put them on it's straight to bed with his cage covered) I'd only try this if you're home with him to keep an eye on him. Just in case it got caught in something. Otherwise trying a type of collar might be better. Keep me updated, I know how difficult this is to go through 💜

[@technofeeliak]

I'm going bald. Is there a way to can grow feathers on my head? I'm only kidding. And haven't I been recommending you consider getting him a mate? And covering any spot where he's plucking with garments? I don't want to make this about me so much but... why doesn't anyone ever even consider my basic common sense suggestions? I can laugh a little, but man, it's frustrating. Especially when I back them up with links to what experts say. Anyway, I'm glad you came around to finding a way to keep Jasper from hurting himself. That's what matters in this case. Thanks for sharing this video Katie.

[@KatieFleming]

You've taken quite an interest in parrots which is great. I highly recommend watching my other plucking update videos so you can learn why a mate will NOT work as you've mentioned it several times now. I've been working with many vets and I follow expert advice, and those who own parrots who understand the full complexities and limitations. Thank you for your considerations with Jasper! He's doing so much better now.

[@technofeeliak]

@@KatieFleming I'll watch the rest of this video. My frustration is more about my situation than about Jasper as you can imagine. Because we've never met, and he's not my pet. I've got a lot going on, building furniture myself, trying to figure out where to put my energy in finding work as an illustrator and other stuff. And yes, I sincerely care and take care when I can. I also feel as you do, that it's important this little guy be happy and be a source of joy for you. You're very determined, and I'm sure you spent a lot of money to find the solutions you've adopted. Because I believe you when you say that yourself.

[@sprthrwwychnnl73]

I hope you and Jasper are doing well Katie

[@KatieFleming]

We're doing just fine thanks! Jasper's been wearing his scrunchies for over 5 months now. Had a bit of a hiccup and had to up them to 3 a night but he's doing very well 😊 I'll post an update soon, I've been so busy with work lately

[@sprthrwwychnnl73]

@@KatieFleming all good, thank you Katie!

[@stumpgrinder1000]

I wonder if the collar was actually feathers if it would be more acceptable to Jasper and others

[@KatieFleming]

Thank you for the sub! That's an interesting theory. Or maybe scrunchies with feather print

[@Simsplayer1000]

Hey do you still play tomb raider?

[@KatieFleming]

Not anymore! I struggled with the last game and never finished it, just wasn't interesting for me anymore unfortunately.