My Scooby is plucking again →[More:] It seems to happen every year at about this time. For some reason the feathers on one leg or the other bother her enough that preening becomes self mutilation. So she plucks the feathers of the upper leg. And then she starts to chew at her skin. Eventually she opens a wound.

This has happened every year. Always in the heat of the summer, even though she's in an air conditioned house. And yes I understand that the AC might be the problem along with a thousand other variables. If it's really bad, like two years ago, the avian vet we go to prescribes Elavil in liquid form and an antibiotic.

We had hoped against hope that it wouldn't happen this year, but it did.

When it gets bad, I sit up all night with her on my shoulder. When she's asleep I know it. When she makes the move to the leg, I know it. Then I bring up my finger to stop her and she hisses at me like a little lizard. But she understands, I think. Neither of us get much sleep.

Eventually, slowly, she gets better. Little spikes show on the limb. They pop open showing brand new feathers. Everything gets better.

I love my birdy, and I want her to get better, NOW!