#why do parrots feather pluck

[post-punk-revival]

Hi bird therians! I'd like to present the following list of definitions of avian terminology; instincts and anatomy. Specifically, terms for things that many birdkin may already be aware of due to their own shifts, but not know the word for or even that it's a real and normal thing. Why do I make that assumption? Because my own mind was blown every time I discovered one of these words, the way things I would do or phantom parts I would feel suddenly made sense. So I hope to induce the same reaction in at least someone.

Behaviors

Mantling is mostly a bird of prey thing, the action of leaning over a kill and shielding the spoils with your wings so as to defend it from thieves. I can do no better of a description than a photo, included at the bottom of this post and for raptors it will probably spark recognition.

Rousing is the word for that "slowly fluff up the feathers and then shake the whole body" thing that birds do. Yes, it does have a name! Birds do it when relaxed or just chilly. It is not a threat display. I experience this as like an near-involuntary action -- like scratching an itch or sneezing -- and because I'm not actually raising physical feathers it feels kind of like shivering. But it sort of feels frustrating that I can't seem to achieve it. Like when a sneeze goes away.

Feather-plucking (pterotillomania) is a maladaptive habit birds in captivity develop when they are stressed. You see it most often with parrots, because they're kept as pets more than other birds and are also extremely intelligent so more easily understimulated. Sometimes this does feel like being a bird in captivity and a lot of you might experience this instinct without knowing what it is your brain's asking to do because you have no feathers. Calling it pterotillomania is helpful to me because I have actual dermotillomania and if my body had feathers I'd be plucking them.

Anatomy

Nictitating membrane. Starting with this because you may already know it by now. The third eyelid of birds, translucent, drawn sideways across the eye so that you can keep it moist while still being able to see. Also, as you may know, relevant to cat therians!

Crop. Part of the digestive tract of a bird in the throat where food is temporarily stored before being digested. If you had these shifts it would feel like, according to Wikipedia, basically an enlarged portion of the esophagus.

Keel. An extension of the sternum, the structure to which flight muscles are attached. If you had these shifts it would feel like a thin bone going beneath (or I guess on a humanoid body plan, in front of) your ribcage.

Cloaca. In the interest of not having to mark this post mature, I will not define or describe this one. I encourage you to look it up. Mammals are already working to reduce the stigma surrounding these types of shifts and instincts; we can do the same. There is no shame in it. You're a bird and birds have these. Accept it.

Birds do have sensation in our beaks. There are nerve endings in the beak. Not as much as, say, human skin, but yes, birds can feel touch on their beaks. If you can feel your beak, great! That is anatomically correct, and it certainly does not make you fake!

And now for your enjoyment, a mantling eagle:

[randomanimaloftheday]

Day 10#: Blue-and-Yellow Macaw

Today's animal of the day is the Blue-and-Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna)!

Photo credit: Mike Owyang

Also known as the blue-and-gold macaw, this species of large parrot can be found throughout the rainforests, savannahs, and woodlands of South and Central America. Like other macaw, they are highly intelligent, with their cognitive abilities often being compared to those of a three-year-old human child!

Photo credit: Oswaldo Hernández 

They are very vocal birds and are known for their loud vocalizations, which can be heard from around two miles away! These macaws also have the ability to mimic human speech, which has made them extremely popular in the pet trade. In fact, the blue-and-yellow macaw is one of the most common birds in captivity and is considered to be the most widely available of the larger species of macaw. However, I wouldn't recommend getting one as a pet unless you're willing to have what is basically a super-intelligent flying toddler with a powerful beak and a passion for screaming living in your house for 35 years.

Photo credit: Allison Hales

In the wild, these macaws have a very wide range and are listed as least concern, though in some areas they have almost gone regionally extinct due to habitat loss and poaching from the exotic pet trade. They use their powerful beaks to crack open the shells of seeds and nuts, and in captivity, they need to receive constant attention and enrichment or else these powerful beaks can turn into tools of destruction. While they are primarily herbivorous, they have been reported to eat snails and insects on rare occasions.

Photo credit: Ryan Candee

These birds are highly social and form extremely close bonds with their flock members. In captivity, they can also form close bonds with their human keepers, however, as I stated before they are extremely intelligent and require a lot of time, care, and attention. If they're not properly taken care of it can lead to a lot of problematic behaviors that negatively impact both the bird and the owners. Bored macaws are more likely to destroy things and if there's nothing to destroy they can begin plucking their own feathers out! This can also happen if the macaw is in an overly stressful environment.

Photo credit: snake.discovery on Instagram

Sometimes, if caught and corrected in time by providing proper care and enrichment, the feathers will regrow. However, often this behavior isn't corrected in time and the feather follicles end up being damaged beyond repair and the feathers never grow back. This is what happened to Cheyenne from Snake Discovery, though that was because she was living in a very stressful environment in her previous home before being rescued. However, because she had been plucking for so long she continued doing it even after being provided with the proper care. That's why she's usually wearing a cute little sweater since it prevents her from plucking and also helps keep her warm. This is why you should always do your research and make sure you have the time, resources, and willingness to take on a new pet before purchasing it. DO NOT IMPULSE BUY ANIMALS! ESPECIALLY MACAWS!!!

[evil-siphonophore]

I have 1 knawing ick about Yellowjackets that's so miniscule and unimportant and I've never seen anybody bring it up. Now, I have never had a bird before. But as a member of the Weird Pet Community, I know a little bit about why most people probably shouldn't get a parrot. Misty, god I love her, but she is a terrible parrot parent. I don't expect the production team to be experts on exotic animal care, I'm certainly not, but oh my god they picked one of the most incredibly high-maintenance animals on earth for her to have and the most unrealistic thing about this show is that Caligula hasn't plucked out all of his own feathers from the stress of being left alone in that tiny cage while Misty is off doing Plot Things for days at a time. It's not like she has anyone to call to come watch him while she's off following Natalie around or investigating Lottie's cult or sleeping over at Shauna's house (except Walter I guess). And the thing is she's actually characterized as being a very attentive caretaker of Caligula. Her and Walter are both diligent about his hygiene routine, something that gets overlooked by pet owners all the time. But African Grey parrots are so incredibly intelligent and curious and they need more than their physical needs taken care of! They need near constant mental stimulation and company and can suffer from extreme anxiety if they're not doing things to challenge their brains regularly enough. These things are As smart, As active, Louder, and More destructive than a human toddler. In real life it becomes almost a full-time job in and of itself to keep them occupied and healthy. I feel like this would put a lot of limitations on Misty's scheming irl, which is probably why they didn't include this, but it still bothers me that we barely see any of this part of her life that probably (if she's doing it right) takes up like half her day every day. Idk, maybe Caligula is just chill like that and likes sitting in one place for days. In conclusion Caligula should be harness-trained and go with Misty on like 20% of her nonsense.

[flock-talk]

I was just wondering if you could tell me more about Newt's food allergy: what his symptoms were specifically, why you suspected an allergy, how his diet change has improved his symptoms, and what diet you ultimately settled on? I saw in a video that you were feeding Tops to avoid the soy he is allergic to, but that you still needed to figure out how to supplement it with enough vitamin D, which it doesn't have.

I ask because I also have a maroon bellied conure, and he just recently started plucking his down feathers for reasons I can't explain (good diet of mainly harrisons and veggies, big 6ft long by 2ft wide cage with various toys, gets daily oit of cage time and attention, and saw an avian vet who said he's perfectly healthy). He has also been producing an unexplained (two avian vets found nothing wrong) sniffling noise off and on (accompanied by sneezes occasionally) that doesn't seem like a vocalization or mimicry attempt.

A couple people on a parrot discord suggested that it could be a food allergy and pointed out that your mbc also had a plucking (and sneezing) issue that ended up being due to a food allergy. The fact that the only internet-famous member of his species just happens to have had similar issues is making me strongly consider that the causes may also be similar, so I am interested in hearing more about the situation and how you have been dealing with it.

Thanks!

Sorry your bean is going through it! For Newt he had on and off plucking as well as massive dry sneeze fits

Unfortunately parrot allergies are so understudied that it doesn’t seem anyone really knows what symptoms really are or aren’t indicative of it, no one seems to be exceptionally consistent and most symptoms that Could be allergies can also be 100 other things so it’s quite hard to A) get a vet to consider the allergy option and B) test for it

Food allergies are quite uncommon (or perhaps it’s just so understudied that many allergy cases are misreported) so it’s generally advised to rule out all other options first since they’re typically more likely (which sounds like you’ve already done!). Vets will go down the checklist, do a fecal and some bloodwork, take a good look in their nares and throat, might run a course of antibiotics just in case anything else is cropping up (allergies won’t usually suddenly get worse quite like a bacterial infection, yknow, so they’ll want to knock those options well out of the way before waiting for them to get worse)

I tried /everything/ including every (reputable) holistic route as well: adding bee pollen, decreasing protein, increasing humidity, precise temperatures, increasing omegas, everything that could potentially help to reduce dry skin or hormonal influences to address the plucking issue. And same for the sneezing - every recommended vet option, scoured my house clean, isolated him from anything that /might/ somehow be releasing fumes or mould I can’t see, humidity again, steam showers, nasal flushes, you name it

If you’ve tried everything else the current best way to determine if something is a food allergy is through an elimination diet. You essentially remove every single food item from the diet except the ones that are vital to life and are of a low likelihood to produce allergic reactions. (Common bird allergies are soy, wheat, floral pollens, and spirulina from what little I was able to dig up back when this was happening for us).

This means no treats, not a fleck of anything outside of One low-allergen pellet (for some birds it may need to be a seed mix, if a single pellet is still producing reactions) and low-allergen produce. I noticed changes within a couple of days but I’d say up to a week of complete elimination to confirm if there’s improvements within their symptoms or not. If their symptoms decrease but don’t cease entirely bring your findings to the vet for more support, wait more time to see if it decreases more, or thoroughly evaluate the current ingredients to determine if something else might be less irritating for them. If their symptoms cease/ are quite low you can add a new food in, wait a week, and see how they respond. If there’s a consistent spike in symptoms that’s probably an allergen, if there’s no change the food is likely safe. Keep adding foods over time until you’ve manifested your own list of foods that aggravate symptoms or improve them.

You can bring that list to your vet who might be able to simplify it for you (for example they might have a wacky long list that makes no sense but in reality all the foods have a common genus, or common pesticide usage, or naturally occurring pesticide produced by the plant they could be reacting to, the vet team might be able to help it make more sense). Or maybe you get lucky and have only a couple of allergens you can easily track and remove from the diet

In Newts case it was soy, which seems to be quite the common parrot allergy to have that potentially stems from the fact that soy is toxic to birds if not properly cooked/ processed. I imagine some birds are just more sensitive to that so what counts as “properly cooked” just isn’t proper enough for them. But again. No studies on parrot allergies to really confirm that theory with

For us I was able to remove any pellets that had Soy by using TOPs pellets during the elimination diet. Once he was stable I was able to very gradually introduce pellets that had less soybean overall or used more thoroughly processed soy- caitec oven fresh bites.

But during the recovery phase he would react very strongly (lots of sneezing) if he was fed anything by Harrison’s (which uses whole toasted soybeans, instead of the more processed soybean meal that caitec uses - meal is the byproduct of soybean oil collection so the meal is not only heated and baked but has less oils present than the whole soybean would). I have a post on here during the process where I offered him literally 10 of those micro tiny pellets Harrison’s makes that all together would be the size of Newts eye and within minutes of eating them he was sneezing up a storm. Now, nearly a year after this, I’m able to offer him two Harrison’s pepper adult lifetime pellets per day without issue.

For us it seems like the break from those allergen heavy foods gave his body what it needed to calm down and be able to tolerate smaller doses without issue

Being able to have those other pellets in combination is really what’s helping us fill that vit D gap, if I wasn’t able to add them back in I would be working with the vet team and getting him on a D3 supplement most likely as well as picking every produce option high in D as possible

[bluejackals]

ken beats parrot up 1/? (he doesn't actually beat parrot up in this part sorry)

summary: based on @saiintofdiirt's little thing where parrot finds out about clonefies, a continuation of after parrot makes up with wifies. this is just writing practice tbh

word count: 872 I think

Ken and Wato have just taken their first bites of their chicken quesadillas (sue them, they’re still pissed) when Ken’s comm pings. 

[Wifies]: it went well 

[Wifies]: I’m going to stay with him

Ken heaves a sigh. Wifies is too kind. 

Next to her, Wato shakes their head. “I knew this was going to happen, but I wish he’d be a little less nice.” 

“I agree,” Ken mutters. But he has more important things to do than continue to fantasize about tearing out Parrot’s throat, so he picks up his comm.

[_Kenadian_]: okay

[_Kenadian_]: what are you doing now?

[Wifies]: Eating

[_Kenadian_]: alone?

[Wifies]: no

[Wifies]: Parrot’s here

[Wifies]: actually he just left briefly he said he had to do something for a few minutes 

Ken’s comm pings again, but it’s not a message from Wifies.��

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Ken says. Parrot has just messaged him. Seriously? He left Wifies to send Ken a message? 

“I don’t think he ever stops talking,” Wato says, taking a giant bite out of their quesadilla. 

[ParrotX2]: Hey

[ParrotX2]: I know you’re still mad at me, so meet me at the final chunkban prison on Unstable tomorrow sometime between 8 am and noon

“The hell does that mean?” Ken’s anger is not chased away by their confusion. In fact, it just makes them angrier. 

[ParrotX2]: You wanted to kill me, right?

Oh. Oh. Ken feels adrenaline building in his veins. Parrot, despicable or not, probably isn’t lying. He knows if he lies, Ken will just tell Wifies, and where would that leave him?

Wato finishes off their quesadilla. “Have fun. Give him hell from me.” 

“I will.” 

Another ping. 

[ParrotX2]: Don’t tell Wifies. I assume you wouldn’t but just in case

“Bastard,” Ken says. 

–

The next morning finds Ken decked out in full enchanted netherite, making her way to front of the former prison’s entrance. She doesn’t know any specifics about Parrot’s…arrangement and she’s not taking any chances. Her inventory is chock-full with shulkers—deadly things, potions, supplies. 

Wifies won’t be here. He messaged Ken earlier, saying something about a new arg someone had told him to check out. The timing is incredibly convenient, but Ken isn’t complaining. They know Wifies wouldn’t exactly want this. Wifies might not even understand why Ken wants this. 

Parrot is already there, also in full netherite, but hands empty. There’s a spot on his left wing where the feathers have clearly been worried at and plucked. It makes Ken feel a bit happier. 

“What do you want?” Ken asks. “You were a bit…vague yesterday.” 

“I know you wanted to kill me the other day,” Parrot says. His eyes are clear, sharp blue. A stark contrast to how troubled they were. “I’m giving you a chance to.”

“Why?”

“Wifies is too nice. I’m not…a masochist, but I know I messed up bad and you have some, like, pent-up emotions, right?” 

Oh, what Ken would give to get a look inside Parrot’s brain, no matter how annoying he can be. What the hell goes on in there? Nobody normal says that kind of thing. Though wanting “normal” from a former Lifesteal member might be too high of an expectation. 

“This will be the only time I agree with you. Wifies is too nice, and I do have ‘pent-up emotions.’ I’ll have you know—I don’t usually want to hurt people. Wifies will back me up. But you just piss me off so bad I have to make an exception.” 

Parrot nods, like this is expected. It grates on Ken, how calm he can appear when he’s not having an emotional hurricane. “Okay. I believe you. I’m not gonna let you permakill me on this server.” 

“Then what do you mean by kill?” Ken snaps. 

“Simple.” A totem materializes in Parrot’s hand. “You get to pop this.” 

This is definitely not sane or normal behavior. This is decidedly Lifesteal behavior. Ken is fine with that. “Right here, right now, out in the open?”

“Obv—no,” Parrot replies. “Follow me.” 

He’s off before Ken can complainabout how much he’s controlling the situation, so Ken has no choice but to follow. They fly into a cave system, then to the entrance to a room inside it, closed off with an iron door. Parrot opens the door and puts a hand to the pillow of the white bed in the corner.

Ken takes a look around the room. It’s simple—just blackstone and deepslate and some obsidian, lit with some torches. He supposes the dark blocks are to make concealing any leftover…mess easier. 

Parrot takes off his helmet, leaving the rest of his armor on. “Oh, one last thing. I said you could pop the totem, but if you try to cut my wings off as part of that, this offer is done and I’ll kill you.” 

 “What the heck?” Ken actually does forget to be angry this time. “What—that’s—what the hell?”

Parrot raises an eyebrow. 

“I mean, why would you think I would even think of that?” Ken wants to rip out all of her hair. “That’s cruel.” 

“Just in case,” Parrot says. “That’s all.” 

The rest of his armor disappears, leaving just him in his bomber jacket, with nothing but his totem. “Go for it.”

[tauforged]

now how exactly do we know that the reason all these parrots started plucking their own feathers is because they’re stressed that we put them in a smaller enclosure and aren’t feeding them as much? personally i think we should consider the angle that there’s something inherently neurologically abnormal about the birds doing this. happy healthy birds don’t pluck their feathers like this, and if you ask me i think these enclosures look perfectly fine so that can’t be it. here we had some bird psychologists do a study and it turns out all of the birds who were plucking have differences in their brains — yes of course long term stress has effects on the brain but this is DIFFERENT. you see it turns out the birds all have a mental disorder that makes them act stressed in situations that are totally fine, which we’ve just discovered in this study. we’re calling it ‘irrational stress disorder’. we’re also incredibly lucky because this disorder can be medicated, so we can just give these birds some pills and they’ll stop that pesky feather plucking! put them back in the enclosure they were in before where they weren’t plucking? oh don’t be ridiculous, these birds have a serious mental condition, their brains are chemically different, the only way we can help them is with medication to fix the chemical imbalance. it’s all in their heads. the enclosure is perfectly fine. now that the parrots aren’t plucking on exhibit and we’ve moved the ones that still look scraggly behind the scenes so nobody has to look at them. it’s not their concern why the treatment isn’t working on these birds, they must just have something wrong with their brains. but now that that’s handled, we should increase the price of admission to this zoo while we’re at it. cmon, we’ve earned a little kickback for solving this bird mental health crisis— what do you mean the birds aren’t vocalizing anymore. this is horrible— for us, i mean. nobody wants to pay to see parrots that won’t make any noise. call in the bird psychologists it’s an emergency

[petlover121]

Is Your Bird Shedding Too Much? These Grooming Supplies Can Help

Feather shedding is a natural process for birds known as molting, but when it seems excessive or unusual, it could be a sign of stress, poor diet, or lack of proper grooming care. As a responsible bird parent, recognizing the signs and taking action with the right bird grooming supplies can greatly improve your feathered friend's health and comfort.

In this blog, we’ll explore why birds shed, when it becomes a concern, and how the right pet bird grooming supplies from trusted sources like Kwik Pets can make a big difference in your bird’s well-being.

Why Do Birds Shed Their Feathers?

Molting is the process by which birds replace old feathers with new ones. This happens naturally once or twice a year and is influenced by factors such as:

Seasonal changes

Hormonal cycles

Light exposure

Nutrition

During molting, you may notice feathers falling out, decreased energy, or even minor irritability. However, if your bird is shedding continuously, developing bald spots, or plucking its own feathers, these may be red flags.

Common Causes of Excessive Feather Shedding

If molting becomes abnormal, it could be due to:

Nutritional Deficiencies: Lack of essential vitamins and proteins.

Lack of Grooming: Dirty feathers can trap bacteria and irritants.

Parasites: Mites and lice can cause birds to scratch excessively.

Stress: Environmental changes, loneliness, or boredom.

Underlying Illness: Skin conditions, liver problems, or infections.

The good news? Most of these issues can be managed or prevented with the right bird grooming habits and tools.

Bird Grooming Supplies That Can Help

Proper grooming plays a vital role in keeping your bird’s feathers healthy and reducing unnecessary shedding. Let’s look at some essential bird grooming supplies to help manage feather loss effectively:

1. Bird Bath Sprays

Feather sprays help keep feathers clean, moisturized, and free from dust and dander. They also soothe itchy skin, reducing over-preening.

2. Misting Bottles

Gentle misting mimics natural rainfall and encourages preening behavior. This helps birds naturally clean and realign their feathers.

3. Beak and Nail Trimmers

Overgrown beaks or nails can lead to behavioral issues and self-inflicted feather damage. Regular trims prevent accidental feather pulling.

4. Preening Toys

Birds preen to maintain their feathers. Chewable, soft toys encourage healthy preening and reduce boredom-induced plucking.

5. Grooming Perches

Textured perches help trim nails naturally and keep feet healthy. When placed strategically, they also encourage movement and grooming behavior.

All of these pet bird grooming supplies are available at Kwik Pets, an online store known for high-quality pet care products. They offer a wide selection of grooming essentials for parrots, parakeets, cockatiels, and other bird species.

Don’t Forget Nutrition!

No amount of grooming will help if your bird’s diet lacks the nutrients needed for feather health. Make sure your bird’s food includes:

Protein (especially during molting)

Vitamin A, D3, and E

Omega-3 fatty acids

Calcium and minerals

Many reputable brands of birds food and supplements can be found on Kwik Pets, where quality meets convenience.

Bonus Tips for Managing Feather Shedding

Keep the cage clean and stress-free

Use full-spectrum lighting indoors

Provide daily interaction and stimulation

Monitor temperature and humidity

Visit an avian vet if shedding persists

Final Thoughts

Feather shedding in birds is natural—but only to a certain extent. If you’re noticing more feathers on the cage floor than usual, it’s time to take action. The right bird grooming supplies, good nutrition, and proper care can help your bird maintain a vibrant, healthy plumage year-round.

Explore premium bird grooming solutions and pet bird grooming supplies at Kwik Pets, your trusted partner in bird wellness.

FAQs

Q1: How often should I groom my pet bird?

A: Most birds groom themselves daily, but they still need your help with nail trimming, misting, and beak maintenance every 2–4 weeks depending on species and activity level.

Q2: Are feather sprays safe for all bird species?

A: Yes, but make sure to use sprays specifically designed for birds. Always check labels and avoid any product with alcohol or strong scents.

Q3: Can I use regular nail clippers on my bird?

A: It's best to use bird-specific grooming tools. Regular clippers can cause splintering or injury. Look for safe grooming kits at pet stores like Kwik Pets.

Q4: What should I do if my bird is plucking its feathers?

A: Feather plucking can indicate stress, boredom, illness, or parasites. Consult an avian vet and review your bird’s environment and grooming routine.

Q5: Where can I buy safe and effective bird grooming supplies online?

A: Kwik Pets offers a wide range of bird grooming tools and accessories from trusted brands. Their selection is tailored to meet the needs of pet birds of all sizes.

[theforlorne]

An Important Pitstop on Your Way to the Promised Cat Wonderland (DK West x Reader)

🐑 ♡ Thank you Sycamore for beta'ing this, even if you aren't in the fandom ♡ 🐑

DK West has decided to take you to the secret cat hideout, but he sees something along the way that catches his eye.

Teen and Up Audiences, No Warnings, F/M, M/M, Other/M, Tag(s): Fluff, Established Relationship, Gender Ambiguous Reader, Oneshot, DK West Style Forgetfulness, POV Second Person, Pre-Date Shenanigans

Find it on ao3 ♡ WC: 1,487

Vinyl City was not a place you were accustomed with, although a certain radiance from the place and its people alike captivated you. Likewise, the tour you received from your lover was top of the line. The prime, real deal talk to make the city shine. Heck, it didn’t even cost you a dime. Since then, West had stuck around the city, and where he roamed, you did. It was inevitable that the time you would spend there was limited, tied up in the ebb and flow of enjoyment. Enjoyment was the biggest factor after all for being anywhere. And you didn't mind. ‘Life is too short’ as some would say.

Yet a weird mood had taken West since you had arrived. Whilst it had faded, lingered, and lurked to its own beat, you didn’t let it bother you. You knew the area held memories for West. That was why you had asked if he was okay. He had told you everything was 'rolling on just fine', and with your reassurance that you would be there, you left it at that.

One other thing you had noticed outside of this odd mood, was the amount of stray cats in Vinyl City. They were everywhere. Your hands had been blessed with thirty four exact instances of being able to love those adorable creatures. So, when West asked if you wanted to go to the super secret cat hideout he knew about, you leapt at the chance.

“Sunshine, you will not believe with your eyes!” West had exclaimed with all the intrigue of a fortune teller. “Each cat - they all remember me.” He seemed proud about that last part. From what you gathered, he had amassed a feline following all to himself.

You were, of course, sworn to secrecy about this.

You bounced alongside West. Tins of tuna clanked in your pockets, and you allowed yourself to sway with each step. It was hard not to as West danced beside you. He had started humming. Then he mixed in some grooves and there you were. Walking was a thing of the past. That was, until you stumbled.

“Kau okey?” West managed as he steadied you on your feet again. His hand slid away from your stomach where he had tried to stop you from going further, and you let out a sigh of relief.

“Safe,” you reassured him, “thank you.” He inhaled a sharp breath, then let it out. Three, firm pats to your shoulder comforted you while he shook his head.

“Should have said you were so eager,” West huffed not a moment later. “Wanna ride, sunshine?” He had dipped low, steadied on one lowered knee with his hands extended behind him. It wasn’t your first rodeo, and you knew what you had to do.

“Oh yeah honey!” you cheered. In your enthusiasm, you almost stumbled again, but you managed to make it onto his back alive. Hands cupped your thighs at first. You steadied yourself, then his hold slid towards your inner knee as you were lifted into the air. Your arms were slack around his neck, but you gave him a short squeeze to reaffirm your affection. He tilted his head your way with the beginnings of a smile that you knew travelled across his whole face. Secure and safe, you were hoisted even further into the air and held on for dear life.

It never ceased to amaze you how fast DK West could move when he wanted for someone so laid back. Neither did his strength, and the ease at which he carried you made you seem like a feather. A feather almost plucked from its plumage at the violent stop you both came to. A disgruntled sigh escaped your lips as you avoided a collision with that hard head of his.

“Kau okey?” you parroted, worried about him. He was silent, unmoving. He had stopped beside a wall, and on it was a poster that he stared at with deep regard. It was the same expression you had seen on him of late. The same baited breath. You wiggled from his grasp, and bumped your hip into his with a playful squeeze of the arm. Yet your focus had turned to the poster. It featured two performers. You recognised the name, even if you hadn’t listened to them before. Bunk Bed Junction.

“Hey,” you chirped. It was short and sharp, enough to grab his attention. He rubbed his neck with a grin that tried to tell you both he was okay.

“Aah, sorry sunshine,” West began. “I just forgot, no need to worry.” He stepped towards the wall. You watched, bemused as he spun around to face you with unknown intent. An improvised speech followed the opening of his arms into a wide display of grandeur.

“Sunshine look!” A hand trailed along his body, guiding your eyes to his best features. “What do you see, huh? Beauty? Fame? Success? Talent? All of the above?” You rolled your shoulders, but you couldn’t hide the obvious agreement in the guise of a smirk. He played off of this, and soon you nodded along as he reeled off even more adjectives.

“Baby you right, correct answer! Ding-ding, you got it.” West shot you a heart, his weight shifted from one foot to the other. “But let me tell you something. A secret. All of this greatness, it can’t be contained. No no no. It had to be shared, or I would be too powerful.

“So, some of my greatness - it was taken away. Rolled into something new. Fresh.” At this point, West pointed to the poster, or rather at the blue haired individual within it. “Zuke, the ruler of the underground, the drum master, the one and only brother of mine! Ewah!” After he had signed off his announcement with a hearty laugh, you found only one response to befit the moment.

“You have a brother?��

“Oh yeah. The best.” He had the best brother, but he had failed to mention him at all up until this point. Despite the shock and humour you found in the whole situation, it did raise some alarms.

“Are you,” you began, hesitant, “on good terms?” West waved a hand and clarified for you that they were. Although, he stopped. The excitement faded from his animated stance, and he strolled over to you with a dejected pout.

“Well, yeah. He says I don’t talk to him much. But I think about him. A lot. It’s just hard to reach out when there’s so much you know, sunshine?”

Live in the moment, you understood that. You understood that you could love someone but lose contact because you never seemed to have the time. Even if you did. As you looked at the poster, you drew similarities between West and Zuke. There was a resemblance there, to what degree you could debate. Still, it was cool to know. You had unlocked a tiny bit more about the crazy world of your lover. Or at least some basic information.

You definitely knew the crazier things.

“Have you ever thought about going to one of his shows?” you inquired, and West seemed torn. With a flurry of hands, he leant into his shoulder. He opened his mouth, bit back his words, then shrugged.

“I could,” he stated, “but I don’t. Maybe one day I will. I should visit.” Words failed him for once, and you watched the mighty DK West stumble. It was momentary, before he snatched your waist and pulled you into a warm embrace. But for a moment, it made sense why he had been a distant since you entered Vinyl City. There was history there between him and his brother. Even if they were on good terms, you knew things weren’t as simple as they seemed.

“I should,” West finalised. “I got my love, and I want to show you off.” Heat seared your cheeks as you nuzzled into him. He engulfed you with his hugs, and you soaked in his scent. It was thick with the hints of nutmeg that always overpowered whatever smells the streets had left on him. When you both drew back, a stark chill filled the space between you, and you longed to be closer to him again. Especially as he reached into his pocket and retrieved one of the tuna cans you had saved for the cats. The moment he cracked the lid, you made an attempt to snatch it from him, much to his amusement. He had skipped back, fingers in the tuna that soon entered his mouth.

“That’s for the cats!” you screeched, but your promise of a game was all that stood out to him. He waved the can in front of you, and you tried again to no avail. All you could do was hold onto the cans in your pocket as you chased after him to the promised cat wonderland.

[deartouya]

TIME OF YEAR — HAWKS

summary: the week following valentine's day, you start getting a gift a day. they're always sitting on your desk when you get in, never attached to any note, and always something that you'd like. then a certain pro-hero shows up at your door brandishing a bouquet.

pairing: hawks x gn!reader

wordcount: 1.4k

content: reader works in miruko's agency, fluff, stocked full of (very american) valentine's fluff and cliches, gift giving as a weird confession, best friend bakugou bc i can't help myself, mentions of food/eating.

happy valentine's day lovies !!! i barely finished this in time but ;-; it's done !! and i had to write something for keigo bc i love him dearly ;-; i hope you enjoy my self indulgence even if it's not my best work !

Working for Miruko's agency has been surprisingly mundane for a top hero agency. Spending your day filing reports and attempting to lessen the load of paperwork for her and the dozens of sidekicks she worked with. You'd grown fond of the routine, comfortable with your daily cafe runs and lunches spent working at your desk. It was nice, normal.

The past week has been weird, though.

It started with a rose. Soft and creamy maroon petals left in the center of your desk without a note or any hint of who had left it. You thought it'd been a mistake, someone mistaking your office for someone else's, but no one in the entire office building recognized or claimed it. So you found a dusty flower vase under your sink and kept it on the corner of your desk.

Next were blueberry muffins. You recognized the little white box from your favorite bakery the moment you saw it, the one nestled in a corner of the city which is almost always empty. Buttery and still warm when you finally willed yourself to open it. You couldn't help the warmth which filled your chest at the smell of them and you ate two of them for breakfast before starting your paperwork.

The rest of the week was filled with more gifts, all practical or catered perfectly to your own tastes; a pair of cashmere gloves a muted gray, a coffee from your favorite cafe just the way you ordered it, a shiny broach in the shape of two doves, a travel coffee mug not too much after your own finally worn out. Nothing that hinted at whoever's been leaving them for you.

 "Come on, Katsuki," you lament, folding yourself pathetically over your desk, "you're always at the office--you have to have seen them come to my office! And you're the only one who knows I go to that bakery every morning, you have to know!" He snorts, barely looking up from his own stack of reports to see the considerably large box of heart-shaped chocolates. The rich, fancy kind that if you ever had a craving for you would've had to save half your paychecks.

His eyes seem to get stuck on the ribbon holding it shut, on the sliver of something soft and red poking out. You pluck it out, expecting a sticky note or card--anything but a feather the size of your index finger.

"Is this supposed to be a hint?" Katsuki only stares blankly at you, something akin to amusement warming the red of his eyes as your annoyance mounts, "do they have a pet bird? I don't think I know anyone with a parrot--except for that one guy from tech but his is blue."

Katsuki rolls his eyes, dropping his pen and shoving his chair away from his desk, “and why would he leave a hint? If he wanted you to know who he was he wouldla left a fuckin’ note on one of of ‘em.”

“I don’t know! I’m tired of not knowing,” you collapse back into your chair to stare forlornly at the ceiling, “no one in the building will admit to leaving them and we both know that they’re awful liars.” You’d tracked down nearly everyone who worked on your floor to ask about the gifts, even cornering an extremely nervous Midoriya in the elevator on your way home. None of them admitted to it. And none of them paid nearly enough attention to know where you bought your muffins or coffees from. 

“You’re overthinking.” 

You huffed, arms crossed over your chest as Katsuki returned to his paperwork. “I just don’t know who’s doing it, no one’s seemed nervous around me and I haven’t gone on a date in months.”

“Might make you less stressed,” Katsuki snips, a flash of canines when you chuck your now emptied coffee cup at his head—which he blocks easily with a laugh. 

“I’m serious, Katsuki. I’ve never had someone all that interested in me—let alone this interested. I just want to figure out who it is.”

He softens just a little, sighing and dropping the empty cup in the bin beside him. You know you’re being childish, pestering him all week over something as trivial as a potential secret admirer when you both have stacks of paperwork and endless reports.

“I’m sure you’ll find out soon.” That look’s back, something passing slowly over his face—like he’s considering his words carefully, hiding what he knows, “Valentine's day’s tomorrow—maybe he’ll show up then.”

You don’t notice anything weird until you get to your office. Oblivious with the expectant stares of your co-workers, the raptness in which they watch you hurry to your office, the way they all look at eachother. Until you’re confronted with an incredibly familiar and out of place set of eyes, “Hawks!”

He starts at the sound of your voice despite facing the door, fingers tightening around a bouquet of budding peonies and wings ruffled and restless behind him. He looks out of place in your office—large and imposing, standing awkwardly in front of your desk and feathers twitching behind him.

Pictures could never do Hawks justice. He’s always prettier, brighter—the warmth of his hair and the flush of freckles across his nose—in person. He’s larger than life, all wide smiles and crimson wings, and no amount of photographers can capture all of him as he is. Breathtaking. But now, he looks nearly skittish.

Hawks smiles at you then—nervous and disarmingly ill-practiced for someone whose job is half made up of practiced smiles—and brings the bouquet just a little closer to his chest. “I saw these while I was on patrol… it’s that time of year, isn’t it?” His voice is quiet, something soft and tender that makes you feel warm all over.

Everything hits you very suddenly—the feather, the knowing way Katsuki had behaved when questioned, every pricey gift that had been left. Hawks visited the agency all the time, visited you in your office and had taken you for coffee at the very cafe your gift came from. He’d also put the final nail in your travel mug’s coffin, knocking it off the edge of your desk the last time he’d visited you with a teasing feather. Of course it’d been him.

“You left the gifts. You’re my secret admirer,” you say dumbly, sounding quiet and childish even to yourself. 

But Hawks flushes, chin tucking into the plushness of his collar and failing to hide his wide and boyish grin, “I did—I am.” His hand—noticeably bare and warm—cups your own, transferring the bouquet of soft pinks and reds to you. “And these made me think of you when I saw them in the shop—you said peonies were your favorites.”

You flounder under the weight of his grin, the sweetness of flowers, the heady smell of his cologne, and the crispness of wind which always surrounds him. You’ve never been this close to him, always had a buffer in the form of mutual friend or coworker to soften the interaction. It’s overwhelming to be this close knowing he likes you. Knowing he pays such attention to you.

A swell of emotions overtakes you, grin so wide it aches and his own seems to mirror it. Hawks is warm, a slow gentle heat which seeps into you and melts against your skin from where his hands are skating up your arms. It’s dizzying and you find yourself leaning into him, overcome with the sudden urge to kiss him, to be even closer, to curl your hands into the softness of his collar and pull him into you.

But you don’t.

His wings twitch again behind him again, restless ruffling as he lifts a hand to rub at the nape of his neck. You track the movement with a smile—it’s oddly endearing to see him acting so human, so unlike everything you’re used to seeing of him. “Do you want to get dinner after patrol?” Golden eyes flick over your face, as if looking for any hesitance—discomfort. He doesn’t find any. “There’s this really good yakitori place down the street.”

“Sounds like a date, Kei.” His smile’s immediate, blindingly bright and so wide the corners of his eyes wrinkle.

“A date,” he echoes giddily, face flushed and smile half-concealed behind his hand.

[erenspussy420]

Twst Android Au p4

Chapter: Scarabia and Owners

.

.

You stride out of Pomefiore halls with some snags of your clothes from the branches, plucking you to return to the androids you're totally not running from. You'd just rather get the move on of course. The phantom chirping of thuarmarks bills dance around your head, mocking you. The Owner follows after you, jogging in her kitten heels, the faint clicking of metal is soft, but you assume it to be whatever keys she has on her.

Out of the Pomefiore's painted hall and back to the center of the hall and towards the bright sunny hall of rolling sand dunes and bright skies. The magic of Twisted Wonderland is unique, gifted to plenty but not to everyone. Most like you have no magic but can still sense and use magic infused items sort of a consolation prize.

Magicians from hermit humans and boisterous ones, to the magical fae who ruled the spaces of darkness and lights, to the mermaids who from the warmest lf waters and chilliest of oceans floors can use it freely and make wonders. Wanders and wonders that leave you breathless and envious of what can be done.

And now the brilliance of Raven Works magicians and technicians whose androids have left you wanting ... .and earnest to see more than what your friends from college had shown you

Even the hall has its soft winds gracing the loose fabrics of your clothes, the rustle of the Owner's skirt, as she strides past you in the hall, waving her hand," And here my dear customer is the hall of Scarabia. Our models of the beautiful Scalding Sands. "

You nod as you watch the walls of the hall, have grains of sand fly in arcs, as you turn the corner of the hall, the head of the old Sultan's Palace, peeking over the green leaves of palm trees. You had to admit, Raven Works really do live up to its hype. At the end of the hall there are no heavy doors like Pomefiore androids had. There instead were large heavy red curtains open and tied by heavy braided tassels, soft longer fabrics strewn across the ceilings with floating glass candles. As you wonder in bright eyes, the Owner giggling as she follows you a little sing song tone.

"Beautiful right? The androids today in our display are just two. Two legacies of our Al-Asim and Viper collection. Now I see that question in your eyes," The owner tuts tuts as she guides you past the dancing fountain. You follow, amazed how so much can fit into this building, but once again magic has done its course."Why just two? But of course the Grand Vizier and the dear Sultan whom he served."

Soft scent of sandalwood and jasmine wafted across the room, soft smoke curling around your jaw. You let out a soft sigh feeling more relaxed when you left the Pomefiore hall.

Before you could even say anything, the Owner led you into a space where two glass cases stood erect, facing each other. Unlike Pomefiore androids, these two were kept at a distance. Throwing her hands out with a grand laugh,"Tah-dah~!"

 An android with short white hair, tufts sticking out with gold sheen in his hair, stood under the sunlight filtering into the room. His clothes were a pallet of rich hues of red and gold, black making them more bright. Wrapped around his head a red turban-like headband with a red parrot's feathered edged with an azure blue. Gold round beads embroidered and dangled over the fabric, with red like gems that you dearly hope were fake– were sewn on. On its side, the headband tied into a large neat bow. The bow's tail was long, draping over the androids collar and shoulder like a scarf with gold stitches like hearts.

And that's just his head band. You haven't even gotten to his gold large earrings, his gold choker, gold so much on him or the white henna so carefully painted, stark against his skin. This android looked expensive and ornate, this…hm…

"Where is it," you murmur. 

You peer down at the information plate next to the android. Kalim Al-Asim Unit. Oh, this was one of the legacies then. Looking up at him, he seemed to be as tall as the Riddle and Epel Units- short statured and wiry build. Unlike the fair skinned androids, you look back to the other and see he too like Kalim were darker skinned, a warm rich brown tone Kalim had compared to the other. 

Looking over at Kalim, you noticed he seemed more…more…softer somehow. Where the other units do appear human and well crafted, but the Kalim Unit had this warmer feeling, more friendly which is weird seeing he is an android. More sweeter, the neutral set of his mouth curls at his lip. The shape of his eyes would be kind if you could see them open, you weren't much for eye contact but at this point you had the need to peer into them. The dark brown eyeshadow even brought out the shape of his eyes.

In the sunlight he glitters with his gold.

Breathing, you leaned back and waited for the Owner to start talking.

And waited.

And waited some more that you wondered where she went.

Taking a glance around you haven't yet heard the Owner say anything about the Kalim Unit. Glancing back again you see her look adoring the taller android standing in his case behind the curtains shade.

Oh right, the Owners bias.

'A real big fan then', You think as you come closer to it.

Taller, and much sharper features than Kalim's soft looks, the plate name read Jamil Viper Unit. His eye shadow is reddish in tone, and a mouth set firm. He was lean, with a muscular frame like that of a dancer with more definition in his arms. His clothes matched Kalims but a much shorter black vest with a hood than Kalim's longer tailed coat. And baggy black pants with red flames over their legs reminding you of your male cousin's obsession with flames on everything.

Snickering a bit, you look over at him and you have to give it to the Owner. He's beautiful in a more mysterious way. Where the Kalim Unit was warm and sweet, the Jamil Unit is more...cool like. His gold choker, and his dangling red gem earrings suit him, and are less ornate than Kalim's. Gold bangles and a snake like coil around his arm matching the gold tassels and bells in his hair.

And his hair, no wonder the Owner went on and on about it. Long black and silky, half the side of his hair was done in long braids that tied into a low ponytail and over his shoulders. His hair was longer than the Leona Unit's and much more sleek too.

Looking back to Kalim and then to Jamil, you compare how they were like night and day. More so than the other dorms. You felt a little bad comparing them but out of the other androids they were the only ones of their dorm.

Engrossed with your thoughts you didn't hear the familiar clicks of heels.

"Gorgeous right?" Came the voice in your ear.

Screeching you turn to the Owner with your hands thrown up ready to throw hands 

"Stop that! I thought you were still drooling over the Viper Unit," you huffed.

"I finished!" The Owner admittedly easily, she looks over to you through her pink mask, her eyes round yellow dots,"So how do you like them?"

"Well I don't know anything about them yet," You tell her," You haven't even said a single word about them!"

The Owner looked at you blankly until she slapped her cheek in shock.

"Oh dear! Where did my mind go! Right, right, come with me!" The Owner heels click-click on the tiles back to Kalim with her hand slapping the glass.

"This cutie here comes from Al-Asim legacy, as I had said before, those androids tend to be more flashy and more financial oriented from saving and to investments, quite the money makers but please let it be known we here at Raven Works work tirelessly to make sure those are up to date," She said in a matter of fact tone, she leans close to you," however what makes them more famous as they are quite the grand party throwers around. If you hate the idea of creating one then leave it to your Kalim Unit, quite the ball of sunshine."

The Owner sounded fond of Kalim's android and tapped the glass more gently. Unlike you, she had her gloves on and winex at hand so she can touch as she likes. She then adds,"However with the Kalim unit, is more companion than planner if I'm honest. Quite the social butterfly like our Cater Unit."

However there was something that was bugging you."Isn't there a family like that in the Scalding Sands, Al-Asim's? I heard they're pretty rich, like real real rich."

You weren't even joking they could buy out islands and countries and still will never make a dent. Rich enough it would make anyone sick. The posts on Magicam from some particular members of such an elite family would make you weep as you open your bills for the month. 

The Owner hums and makes a sort of noise that reminds you of a cat being forced against its will.

"Yes actually, however due to the android being simply an ... .inspiration, there is no connection to that of the Al-Asim’s. As are all of our Units, inspirations of past figures like our Great Seven. Anything that reminds of such is simply a likeness and not truly that person based on," the Owner answers in a tone that is rehearsed and nothing like her bubbly voice, oddly it sounds rather masculine.

Not that you were going to point it out.

"Riiight," you drawl, and change the subject by nodding to the Viper Unit," so uh what about him?"

The light in the Owner's eyes returns tenfold as she giggles and holds her cheeks. With a quick click of her heels, the faint noise of keys, the Owner claps the sides of the unit’s case with a loud squeal,” So this guy! This guy right here! One of our best bodyguards around!”

“Body guard?” You parroted, eyes wide as you look at the resting unit,”I thought all androids are like that?”

“Sadly, that’s not the case for most androids, while many are certified for human companionship and health, many are not made for the purpose of guarding or fighting. While it is a courtesy to all, your androids will protect you in extreme circumstances.   Few androids have been certified for such positions such as the Rook Unit, the Leech Units, and our Jamil Unit here.”

Her white gloves touch over the glass again, a shimmer of magic gloss over the android,” As you can see, this unit is well guarded from theft as it is a very valuable unit. Not only does it have a guarding mode, but as well as a caretaker. Ever need a gorgeous house husband? Look no further, the Jamil Unit is the best around!”

“Best and expensive too,” You mutter.

“Exactly!” The Owner nods,” Well my dear customer this ends our tour, now if there is any android you have interest in-”

Whoa! You shake your head quickly at the Owner, shake your hands at her and you say,” Wait, I heard there are two more floors here! Can’t we see the other androids? You can’t just try to sell me a unit if you haven’t shown the others!”

No way at this point were you going to leave! There were two more fours and you knew that. Seeing so many units and the halls of the rooms, you didn’t want to leave yet. Not even if you had seen Vil, being so close to him sate your desire for now for the android, but the rest. The rest you want to see…

The Owner hums and touches her chin tapping it with her gloves in thought,”I don’t know if I can. My Boss would be so–”

‘Wait she isn’t the Owner?’ You were surprised but shook your head. Focus! 

“But I want to see the others! Of course I be…uhhh….willing to take a loan,” You gritted the last words out with some pain.

The manager, downgraded from her reveal, still hesitates.

Then out of nowhere a loud gracious caw came from everywhere and nowhere. Boisterous and loud, dripping with a tone that triggers your past life.

“Dear precious customer! We at Raven Works would be so proud to make sure you are financially ready to take an android home today!” A loud bang and dark feathers in a whirl snap at the air, your arms holding up to shield your face as the air dies down. You slowly open your eyes, your hair a mess, taking in the sight before you a tall pale man dressed in a long dark feathered cloak. His dark wavy hair touches his jaw, his pointed low ears show his fae blood. The clack of his cane against the tiles, a bundle of mirrors on his dark slacks and even his dark top hat. But what brought you to him was his dotted yellow eyes peeking down at you from behind his long beaked mask.

You peeked over to the manager and saw she had bowed lowly to him. Her hands pressed down on her skirts as her hair threatened to topple out of its bun.

“Master Crowley, may I say how handsome you loo—oo…k,” her voice dulls and she stays like that still.

“H-Hey!” Concerned, you touched the manager’s back but immediately drew back your mouth gaping. Her body! It was hard as steel! Even the soft cloth of her dress didn’t hide the undeniable steel beneath it. 

“Well! Well Customer! You seem to have gotten acquainted with our dear little manager unit,” The man dubbed Crowley, caws in delight his nails were decorated with golden talons as he brushes the fake hair of the manager fondly,”One of our earliest androids now retired. Quite the lively one but rest assured our newer lines are more warm! Life-like and as obedient as they could be!” 

Your brows furrow as you look at your previous tour guide,”Uh, is…is she going to turn on again?”

“Hm? Oh yes, yes,” He waves his hand casually at the manager as he now turns to you with a delighted look,”Now I hear you want to see our newer lines! I’d be glad to show it to such a willing and dedicated owner such as yourself!”

He strides by you, not waiting for you to catch up as he leads out of Scarabia’s grand case room. You jogged after him, as he talked and talked about loans and interest rates and how long it would be for approval and of course choosing and delivery. You leave behind the grand room, and leave the androids behind.

[flock-talk]

Hey if you’ve been struggling for years with a bird who plucks here’s your friendly reminder that it’s probably not your fault.

Whether you adopted a plucker or your bird started plucking while in your care there’s a myriad of reasons why they may still be plucking. Sometimes it’s a “simple” fix of altering daylight hours, medication, enrichment or diet but a lot of the time it’s a lot deeper than that and a lot of the time it becomes habitual.

A lot of captive parrots end up falling in to the plucking loop simply because they weren’t allowed to be preened by their parents when they were young. When they normally would experience a release of endorphins from normal regulated preening brought on as a chick, many birds who weren’t parent raised lack that endorphin response and as a result can’t regulate their preening. This causes over preening, tattering the edges and more severe plucking. There’s no currently understood way to change that.

Feather plucking on its own is a self reinforcing behaviour. When the feather is pulled and they feel pain their body will release endorphins which unfortunately become some level of addictive. The bird will continue to pluck long after the original cause for plucking is gone simply because the endorphins released by plucking motivate them to repeat the process.

If you’re still struggling with a bird who plucks and you’ve tried everything under the sun to help them stop - it’s not your fault. Your care isn’t subpar. You’re doing great, and your bird is so lucky to have an owner dedicated to helping them every single day.

[fivepebbs]

oh i have Thoughts..... this is all sourced from my own bird just so you guys know i've got real life evidence of all of these things. Trust me im a bird scientist but specifically for my own bird

birds spend a whole lot of time preening their feathers. thus i propose: Gabird preening like all th time. after a fight? Preening. after he wakes up? Preening. after the holy light is stripped out of his body? Preening!

generally, only mates will preen one another's wings/anywhere the bird itself can reach (this is why bird owners should NOT pet their birds on their backs!!!! psa!!!!), but places they can't reach are pretty okay for friends and it's a bonding/social/whatever. you understand. in conclusion: ferryman cleaning the feathers gabriel cannot reach. you see my vision i Know you do

gabriel... armor... cannot reach feather... cannot preen... sad

maybe the council (who sees gabriel as a tool of sorts rather than his own person) is just like 'boy you will wear the armor it is the will of god' and he is like 'but my skin......... my skincare routine... oh....'

alternatively: feather plucking is like The Most common sign of abuse/neglect/depression in parrots. and gabriel is by no means in a good mental space. you understand

th Feathers. you cant see bc his mask but the feathers on his cheeks puff up when he's angry (my bird) and he spreads his wings out to make himself look big

hes so warm hes like a space heater. feathers r very good insulators my bird is also like a space heater

Yes. he also flaps his wings when he's falling asleep. not not Big Flags, more akin to like your leg twitching? my bird does it when she's getting comfortable

he gets Flat And Long when he sees something he wants

i'm delririous and it's 1 am but these are my....: thoughts.........

Super ultra late to the skin/suit debate but! Secret fourth option:

He's fluffy; he just flattens down the fluff on his exposed areas because it's Stylish and it happens to look like cloth

gabe feathers.................. approved.

[yeahimaloser]

Hi lovely! I adore your writing style and noticed you were taking requests. This is my first request ever so if it comes off a little awkward please forgive me! 👉👈

I was hoping for a scenario where Hawks has been wondering why y/n has been skipping out on get-togethers with him for the past week or two. He gets curious enough one day that he just-so-happens to patrol the area where you run off to after you reject another date with him.

He finds out that you have been going to an outdoor avian clinic and taking classes on how to pamper/massage or preen bird wings in order to surprise Hawks for your anniversary coming up.

But not like totally before Hawks confronts you and blurting out “Have you been cheating on me with a parrot?” 😂

Thank you! I hope this all makes sense. Hugs and kisses!

Hello there!! You are so sweet! and you didn’t come off awkward at all! <3

I am so sorry I didn’t actually mean for this to become an angst fic in the beginning ;-; 

but it is fluffy don’t worry!

warnings: avian Keigo (Keigo having bird like tendencies)

Also I schedule this to be a bit later than I normally post, I’ll most likely be asleep when this goes up so I just wanted to say to everyone thank you for reading!!

word count: 3.3k

------

He tapped his foot against the floor of the restaurant, his patience deteriorating every second as he stared at the door.

As the fastest hero, Keigo never really had any patients for just about anything. One thing he hated more than anything was people being late, he moved fast, he wanted people to move fast with him.

All he wanted to do was go on a nice date night, have some dinner, and go home and watch a movie or something. He just wanted to spend time with you.

You normally never skipped out on dates, so why now? 

He had noticed your absence in the last few weeks, more and more you would skip out on him. 

The anxiety bubbling in his heart was starting to spill over, seeping into his attitude in daily life. In his head, he wondered if maybe you were trying to signal to him that you weren’t interested in dating anymore, that maybe you were just silently drifting from him. But he loved the 11 months he got to spend with you, he’d never experienced anything like it. It was fresh, new, loving, he didn’t want it to end. Those thoughts had made him feel miserable for the last week or so, but he was still confused by you. Although you skipped out on dates and such, you still acted so lovingly towards him. You would still come home and snuggle up to him, you would still run your fingers through his hair at night, you would still talk mindlessly about your day, as though nothing was remotely bothering you.

So, maybe you really were busy, perhaps he was just looking too much into the issue.

But still, getting stood up for the 4th time in a row would make anyone a bit upset. 

He left the restaurant, paying for the drink he had ordered, and went on his way home.

Maybe it was a side effect of his quirk, but when he had these sorts of thoughts his wings would get all twitchy. He had done the research and found that when birds were in a high-stress situation they plucked at their feathers. The article also said that when a person that said a bird was attached to someone that abandons them, they get even more stressed and irritated. Which he supposed made sense. He would never admit it to very many people, (and if the press got a hold of it he would honestly shoot himself) but he had some bird tendencies.

Not big ones, just small ones.

He would bob his head in time with music sometimes, his pupils would dilate and contract when he was concentrating on something, he would mindlessly coo and cluck randomly as well.

Luckily, the commission taught him to control his bird-like tendencies, they told him that some of his bird traits were “off-putting”. But he really wasn’t sure what they were talking about, animal quirks weren’t uncommon, but he didn’t complain, he didn’t mind the help. 

But since he’s been dating you, he found himself getting more and more of these tendencies.

A few times, he would find random shiny objects and give them to you, he acted all excited about it too, saying, “I saw it and thought that you could keep it! It’s super pretty so, I don’t know, I thought you’d think it was cool.” After he said that, you just took the objects and told him he was so adorable. 

Another time, when you two were just out and about, he had seen you talk to someone with a similar bird quirk to his. He didn’t even know what came over him, but he squawked at the man, effectively freaking him and you out.

He apologized profusely after that. 

There was one bird-like quality he didn’t mind all that much, and that was the preening of his feathers. It was honestly so relaxing, the dirt and dust from flying seeped into his feathers, so he always found himself soaking his wings in water and then rubbing them with a special kind of oil.

There were some days, however, were all he could do (or all he had time to do) was take a warm towel and gently rub off his feathers. 

And lately, he had found himself going overboard with his preening, pulling more aggressively at his feathers, sometimes even hurting himself. He suspected that it was due to the stress of worrying about what was wrong with you (or him).

He hated all of it, loathed it even. Worse was how hard it was for him to broach the subject with you, whenever he got close he always wussed out. In his mind, even though it bothered him, he didn’t want to lose you. He was so scared that if he brought it up he would hear something he dreaded, and you two would fall apart. 

He loved you so much, he wanted you to stay with him. Another bird trait he learned, some birds mated for life, and he would be lying if he said he didn’t feel that way about you. He just...he didn’t want to lose you.

There was one possibility that was the worst, and yet the most likely. You had been cheating on him.

He really didn’t want to admit it, but it all sort of added up.

You skipped out on dates so you could go out with this other person. When you would become affectionate with him could be a sign of guilt, he read about that online. And the way you wouldn’t see his texts or missed calls when he knew you were on a lunch break, maybe you were seeing someone else. 

Was he a bad boyfriend? He thought that he had become better at this whole relationship stuff, maybe not perfect, but he was getting there. He knew he was hard to deal with, he wished he could be better for you, he really did. He knew he was busy a lot, tired from work, he knew he wasn't the most affectionate guy, but he wanted you, he wanted you so much it hurt.  Keigo thought that you loved him because he really loved you. 

The thought of having to let you go crushed his heart crushed his spirit too. He really did care for you, he knew that you were the one for him, so the thought of you not returning that feeling hurt him.

He flew through the night sky, looking down at the lights of the city. Normally, a sight like this would have made him smile, made him feel like he was on top of the world.

But his wings just felt uncomfortable, the wind blowing through them just increased the feeling. 

He just felt… done. Like the whole world felt heavy to him. Maybe he really was overthinking everything, but he couldn’t help it, he was made to be observant. 

He knew he had a strange habit of over-complicating things, but it was just his nature he supposed. A trained government agent always has to look into the fine details, at least, that's what he was taught. So, with your absence, he found himself becoming more and more paranoid.

He brought it up to his side-kicks and hero friends, and they all said the same thing; he was just being paranoid. They told him that, “sometimes in relationships, things get a little rough, it happens.” But Keigo couldn’t help but hate the whole ordeal.

He sighed, flying faster to his home.

One time, he had tried to follow you on your lunch break. He supposed it was pretty stalkerish, but he was getting desperate. All he needed was reassurance, just to know if you were actually busy or if that had been a bullshit excuse. He told himself it wasn’t a huge deal, he was just making sure you were doing ok.

...ok maybe it was a bit of a breach of privacy.

He had perched himself on top of a building near your workplace. Keigo had made sure that you wouldn’t be able to see him as he followed you, keeping out of sight as best he could.

His initial thought was you would go to a coffee shop, maybe some sort of expensive restaurant if you were meeting someone. 

Yet, to his surprise, he saw you scarf down a sandwich as you entered an animal clinch.

Were you cheating on him with an animal clinch employee?

He wanted to confront you then and there, but from where he was, he didn’t have any reason to.

It looked innocent enough, you were just going to an animal clinch.

He immediately felt guilty. There was no reason for him not to trust you, you had done nothing wrong in this situation. Maybe you really were working overtime and he was just overthinking everything.

He shook his head, sighing, he unfolded his wings and flew off the building he was perched on.

That was a week ago, it was after the third time you stood him up. And now, although he didn’t have any proof of you cheating, he still felt like he had a reason to confront you. He just felt sick of worrying and overthinking everything, and in all honesty, you weren’t helping the situation. Every time he asked you about it, you always came up with some sort of excuse. 

He landed on his balcony with a loud thump, not caring all that much about the noise. 

As he entered his home, he lifted the hem of his shirt off his head, throwing it on the floor unceremoniously. Walking over to the bathroom, he filled a special bowl full of water and made his way back over to the bed.

It was probably a bad idea to preen himself when he was so aggravated like this, but he wanted to do it, his wings felt so uncomfortable. 

His right-wing raised a bit as he sat down, pulling the feathered stump closer to him.

But before he could even graze the feathers with a damp cloth he had, he heard the front door open and close.

Before he had even realized it, he was already zooming down the staircase of his luscious penthouse, knowing full well you were already inside of his home.

“Hi honey,” you slipped your shoes off, not looking at him yet. “How was your day- Oh,” he crossed his arms over his chest, he was sure his expression was one of utmost anger. 

“Where were you,” his tone was irritated, his wings twitched behind him.

“I was working. Baby what's wrong,” he nearly rolled his eyes at your concerned tone.

“Don’t baby me, you stood me up,” he huffed, “again.” 

He didn’t miss the sorry expression that flashed on your face, “Kei, I’m sorry, I really am. I’ve just been so busy lately. I know I haven’t been fair to you, but I’m not doing anything tomorrow! Look I’ll even make dinner for you, ok? Really, Kei, I’m ”

“Y/N,” here it came, “if your gonna break up with me, just do it already

Well, that certainly shocked you (and him if he was being honest). Your whole expression fell into one of confusion, your eyes looked up at him with genuine hurt.

“What? Keigo what are you talking about? You’re not making any sense, why would I want to break up with you?”

“I don’t know Y/N?! Why have you been avoiding me for so long!?”

You sighed, “Is that what this is all about? Well,” you pulled out some sort of form, reaching it out to him, “here, I wanted to surprise you on our anniversary, but I don’t want you to think that I’m doing something dishonest.”

He snatched the piece of paper out of your hand, maybe a bit too harshly. He looked at it and was immediately confused.

It was information on a class about… how to preen birds?

He gave you a confused look, to which you gave him a light smile, “I see how frustrating it is for you to preen them, so I wanted to help out. I saw that I could learn how and thought it would be a cute thing for us to do together.”

He stood in shock for a few moments, letting the guilt wash over him. 

“I-I’m so sorry.”

You chuckled a bit, “Don’t be, it was wrong of me to leave you high and dry on dates, I just had to work overtime in order to get these classes in.”

Now, he felt twice as guilty.

This whole time he had thought you were drifting away from him, and worse, he thought you were cheating on him. He felt sick. His friends were right, he really was overthinking the whole situation. And worst of all, you were working overtime to do something so nice for him, and here he was, yelling at you.

“I-I’m so sorry, Y/N. Jesus,” he shook his head, “I’m an idiot. You were off doing something so thoughtful for me, and I was being a prick, yelling at you. I’m sorry honey. Is there something I can do to make it up to you?” 

But you just chuckled, “Keigo, really, it’s ok. I should have at least done something to convince you, or rescheduled our dates. It’s ok honey, don’t feel bad.”

You moved in to give him a hug, which just happened to be the moment you realized his shirt was missing.

“Uh,” he saw your body straighten up, and your face makes a flustered expression, “why is your shirt…”

“Oh, well,” he scratched his feathers nervously, “it’s kinda funny, I was just about to preen my wings. So I have to take off my shirt in order to get the water to the back. Kind of a weird coincidence, huh.”

“Well,” you looked at him, eyes softening, “can I help?”

Keigo was sure his heart had frozen, after a moment or two, he answered, “S-sure.”

-----

You pulled a stool for him to sit on as you sat down on the bed.

Keigo wasn’t sure why, but he felt so anxious. To tell the truth, he never really had someone preen his wings before. He would always do it himself, it was an annoying effort sometimes, but the commission was very big on him looking good for the public eye.

His wings weren’t super sensitive, but the light touches of your fingers running through them felt like pure heaven to him. The sensation was like having someone giving a message, but… different. It felt nicer, more loving, more slow and nice.

The whole sensation made him shutter.

“Is this ok,” he didn’t miss the anxiety in your tone.

“Yeah,” he said, breathlessly. “Perfect, keep...keep doing that babe.”

The little pulls of his feathers relaxed him more and more, making him seep into the back of the stool he was sitting on.

When you had started to add water to the mix, he didn’t notice his cooing.

“Kei?”

“Hmm,” his mind was so far gone in the relaxation of your hands that he barely registered your voice.

“Are you cooing,” you had to suppress your smirk as his body went rigid, as well as his wings.

“I,” his face was almost as deep red as his wings, “s-sorry.”

You giggled, “Don’t apologize,” you pressed softly into the apex of some of his feathers, “if it feels good, it’s fine if you coo. I won't judge you.”

Softly, he let out a few coos, but he didn’t want to freak you out.

But soon, he realized he couldn’t keep them in, you were just doing so well. 

You moved softly to grab his feather oil, “Uh, so how does this even work? Do I take a few drops and run them through each individual feather or something?”

You’ve seen him preen his wings before, but until recently you had just started to pay attention to how he exactly did them. You had noticed that the oil he used on his feathers gave a shine to the red plumage, but you had noticed he was a bit cautious with the serum.

“O-oh,” you didn’t miss the light stutter and the soft up-take of his voice, “Um, if you want you can just put a few drops in your hand and rake them through. You don’t have to do each one if you don’t want to.”

You thought for a moment, “Alright, I think I’ll just do each feather. I wanna get this right after all.”

And, honest to god, Keigo gulped.

You’ve never seen him this relaxed and yet so tense, you would have thought he was drugged. You would be lying if you didn’t enjoy it though, the way Keigo melted into you, it was weirdly adorable.

“Yeah,” he let out, “yeah ok.”

After that, it was like Keigo could barely talk. 

For a moment, you considered something. When you and Keigo had started to date, you had noticed how he was a bit touch-starved. He craved affection, whether he was aware of this or not, you weren’t sure.

But it made sense, his childhood past, and plus, this was his first real relationship. You wondered if Keigo had ever been shown so decent, honest love before.

Perhaps his bird instincts also played a part in how affectionate he could be. You read once, that when male birds became attached to their mates they tended to get affectionate as well as loving. Plus, some birds preened their mates as a show of love, you wondered if what Keigo was doing was just his way of showing how happy he was with you preening him.

After you were done, Keigo’s head was light and tired. The whole experience for him felt magical, he wasn’t sure why though. He preened himself a bunch of times, why was this the first time he felt this way?

But Keigo’s head couldn’t really process the question at the moment.

“You wanna go to sleep,” you asked, bringing your hands lightly over his shoulders, kissing his forehead.

He let out a small, “Mhm,” as he stood up. You had to help him to his bed because of how wobbly he was.

After you carefully helped him into bed, you turned to go to the bathroom to wash your hands, but Keigo dragged you down.

“No,” he whined softly as you tried to get out of his grip, “cuddles.”

(You couldn’t lie, this had to be the most adorable thing you’ve ever seen him do)

He nuzzled into you, his body flushed against yours. 

That’s when you heard it, the little chips. You didn’t say anything, scared that if you did he would stop. You played with his hair as he chirped into your neck, his wings shivered a bit.

You decided to ask him, “Hey, Kei.”

He hummed lightly.

“I’ve never seen you like this, does it have something to do with your bird instincts?”

Keigo thought for a moment, “Maybe,” his voice was light you noticed, “it could be. Kinda just something I experience because that’s what birds do with their...mates.”

You chuckled, running your hands through his wings again, “Maybe it’s because you're also, like, really touch starved.”

“Oh yeah, maybe. I mean,” he looked at you, like a lovesick puppy, “you are my first time in a real relationship.”

You laughed lightly, going back to lightly stroking his hair and feathers.

“Hey Y/N,” Keigo’s voice was tired, and yet, it was soft.

“Yeah honey,” you asked in an equally gooey voice.

He nuzzled in closer to you, giving you a soft, yet deep kiss, “I love you.”

[is-the-parrot-video-cute]

hi, i dont mean this in any sort of disparaging way to you or this person - are hideaki utsumi's bird videos actually cute? i saw you say you like the way he interacts with his birds but i feel uncomfortable watching his videos; the cages are way too small and empty, with bent and warped wires, and his bird kiwi has a very overgrown beak and obvious plucking issues. gumi seems upbeat but all the others seem sort off off/uncomfortable/bored to me. i never see any bird toys in his videos or anything for the birds to do. hopefully this makes sense... ive never interacted with parrots myself and only have knowledge from online research so i hope i am wrong. thank you very much for your time

I agree the cages are probably too small, but from what I understand his birds spend most of their time out of their cages, which is probably why there isn't a lot of toys in the cages. Though we don't really see enough to really know. Though I'm not sure where you got the idea that Kiwi was plucking. He appears just fine to me. Just because a bird has scruffy feathers doesn't mean plucking is involved. Kiwi doesn't have bald spots, and we don't know how old he is or his medical history. Macaws also have very long beaks compared to most other parrots. In my opinion, all of Hideaki's birds appear happy and healthy, and displaying normal behaviour.

[illuminamint-writes]

Summary: After receiving a curious message in code in the mail, Grian finds himself slowly turning into a bird.

He stares at the feathers for so long that the gore clinging to them congeals and begins to dry out. There are just so many. It’s almost as if he’s fallen into a pit of thorns and turned himself into a human porcupine, small tufts of fluff catching to the pines like dust bunnies.

“Okay,” Grian mumbles, as Professor Beak finishes with his left arm and begins digging the feathers on his right free from his flesh. “Okay so it’s not allergies…”

He’s no ornithologist, nor is he a doctor, but Grian has enough biological expertise to know that players do not typically grow wings and that they share no close evolutionary traits with birds. Which leads him to wonder: What the fuck?!

Why is he breaking out into feathers?

And why—no, really, why—is he letting his pet parrot shred through his skin to release them? He should be plucking them free, or… or typing a message into his communicator for Xisuma to come deal with this. He shouldn’t just be watching.

‘It’s not too serious,’ Grian tells himself, although he isn’t convinced. ‘At least I’m not losing any hearts.’

[Read chapter two on Ao3!]

[petlover121]

Is Your Bird Bored? These 7 Bird Treats Will Instantly Perk Them Up!

Birds are naturally curious, intelligent, and social creatures. Whether you own a parakeet, cockatiel, or a colorful parrot, keeping your feathered friend engaged and mentally stimulated is crucial for their overall well-being. One of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to boost your bird’s mood is through bird treats—but not just any kind.

In this blog, we’ll explore 7 of the best bird treats that do more than satisfy cravings—they provide stimulation, enrichment, and bonding opportunities. Plus, we’ll share expert insights and product tips from trusted sources like Kwik Pets, a go-to destination for quality bird supplies.

Why Do Birds Need Treats for Mental Stimulation?

Just like dogs or cats, birds can get bored—especially pet birds who lack the constant stimuli of the wild. Boredom in birds can lead to:

Feather plucking

Screaming or aggression

Loss of appetite

Depression or lethargy

Bird treats can be a powerful tool to engage their senses, encourage natural behaviors like foraging, and support training routines. But the key lies in choosing nutritious and enriching options.

7 Bird Treats That Will Instantly Perk Up Your Pet

1. Foraging Treat Balls

These interactive toys contain hidden treats inside and encourage your bird to think, explore, and peck. Foraging mimics wild behavior and keeps your bird entertained for hours.

Why it's effective: Combines food with mental activity.

👉 Find them at Kwik Pets along with refillable treat options.

2. Freeze-Dried Fruit Bites

Many birds love fruits like papaya, mango, and bananas. Freeze-dried versions retain nutrients while providing a chewy texture that birds adore.

Tip: Use these as rewards during training or place them in puzzle toys.

3. Seed and Nut Treat Sticks

Classic yet effective, treat sticks made with natural seeds, nuts, and grains are among the best bird treats for encouraging pecking and movement inside the cage.

Look for Kwik Pets’ collection of low-sugar, high-fiber options with added vitamins.

4. Millet Sprays

Millet is a favorite among small birds like finches and budgies. Hanging a millet spray gives your bird both a treat and a mini workout.

Pro Tip: Offer sparingly to avoid excessive carbs.

5. Veggie-Based Biscuits

These crunchy snacks made from spinach, carrots, or peas can add diversity to your bird’s diet while supporting beak health.

They also double as enrichment when broken into smaller pieces and hidden around the cage.

6. Birdie Popcorn

Yes, you read that right! Bird-safe popcorn (unsalted and unsweetened) can be a fun occasional treat.

Available at Kwik Pets, these treats are often infused with flavors like herb or fruit essence to add an aromatic punch.

7. DIY Fruit Skewers

Fresh fruit skewered on a stainless steel rod can be hung in the cage for a stimulating and tasty snack. Add apple slices, grapes, or strawberries in rotation.

Note: Always remove uneaten fresh fruit after a few hours to prevent spoilage.

What Makes a Good Bird Treat?

When selecting bird treats, always check for the following:

Natural ingredients (no artificial colors or preservatives)

Species-appropriate formulation

Low sugar and salt content

Added vitamins and minerals for health support

You’ll find plenty of reliable options when shopping from trusted stores like Kwik Pets, known for offering the best bird treats curated for different species and dietary needs.

Expert Tip: Use Treats to Train and Bond

Treats are more than food—they’re tools! Use them to reinforce positive behaviors like:

Stepping up on command

Flying to a perch

Mimicking words or sounds

Accepting new cage accessories

Training with treats builds trust, reduces anxiety, and strengthens the bird-human bond.

🛒 Where to Buy the Best Bird Treats?

If you’re unsure where to begin, Kwik Pets is an excellent place to explore a wide range of bird treats suited for different bird sizes and species. Whether you want natural seed sticks, chewable bars, or training treats, their selection is backed by quality and trusted by bird owners nationwide.

Visit Kwik Pets to Explore Bird Treats 

Final Thoughts

If your bird is acting bored or under-stimulated, switching up their treat routine can make a huge difference. Try rotating between different bird treats to discover what your pet enjoys the most—whether it's foraging toys, millet, or fruit snacks.

FAQs About Bird Treats

Q1. How often should I give bird treats?

A: Bird treats should make up no more than 10% of your bird’s overall diet. Use them 3–4 times a week or during training.

Q2. Are all fruits safe as bird treats?

A: No. Avoid avocado, apple seeds, and citrus peels, as they can be toxic to birds. Stick to bird-safe fruits like apples (without seeds), grapes, mango, and berries.

Q3. Can bird treats replace regular bird food?

A: No. Treats are supplemental. A balanced pellet or seed mix (depending on species) should be the primary source of nutrition.

Q4. What are the healthiest bird treats?

A: Freeze-dried fruits, natural nut sticks, and veggie-based biscuits are among the healthiest. The best bird treats combine taste with added nutrients.

Q5. Where can I buy safe, quality bird treats?

A: Reputable pet retailers like Kwik Pets offer vet-approved, species-specific options with clear ingredient labeling.