When a bird is bleeding or chewing its skin and muscle tissue, we call this self-mutilation. It’s a life-threatening condition that requires specialized care.Self-mutilation takes on an obsessive-compulsive nature. To properly manage it, consider a strong collar, psychotropic medication and/or behavioral support.This is where my 3-step approach comes in. First, bird collars, like the self mutilation combo can interrupt mutilation and keep your bird safe. Then, you do the work to improve nutrition, health and overall well-being. And, lastly, you use positive reinforcement to teach substitute behavior.