This is especially true of cockatoos that are used to a lot of attention. The more intelligent the birds, the more susceptible they are to boredom. Providing these birds with a variety of interesting toys, companionship and plenty of attention will distract them from having to amuse themselves by plucking their feathers. In addition to relieving boredom, running in the wheel gives the bird exercise. Our lovebirds and parrotlets relish racing around in or balancing on top of their wheels.
Some birds react positively to music.
Our birds sing and chatter along with the radio. We believe that silence can cause stress, especially for a single bird left alone all day, and that the company of a constant level of sound, such as a radio, can relieve this stress. Variety is the spice of life. This holds true for your bird's diet, but a drastic change can be stressful to your bird. Changes in diet, such as converting a bird from a seed mix to a pelleted diet, are best made over a period of time so that your bird will learn to recognize and accept the new foods.