i have recently aquired a cockatiel from someone who had advertised him as friendly bird, talks etc free to good home, so went and collected the bird and got everything free cage, sand paper food etc, when we went to collect him we noticed he was missing feathers and was very baldy around his chest and back. We said something to the owner who said that its just what they do and that he was just growing new feathers, however after having him nearly 2 months now he is still plucking himself and is obviously hurting himself as he sqeakes in pain as the feathers come out. We have purchased some anti pluck spray and it does not seem to be working. He is scheduled into the vets but was wondering if anyone has has the same experience or knows anything that might stop him from doing this ? Thanks.

Which vet are you going to. You need to see a specialist Uk Avian Vets
Most cases are a just habit, like biting finger nails

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Unfortunately not uncommon with members of the parrot family.Cockatiels are flock birds and these behavioural problems sometimes appear when a bird is kept on it's own. More handling and affection shown to the bird may bring results.
This Australian forum specialises in Cockatiels and their behaviour...if you go on there you will I'm sure receive useful advice.

Featherz Bird Forums Australia - Home

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If you get him checked over by a vet so that you can have peace of mind He maybe needs a check up to see if he has mites which are making him itchy.
If the vet gives him a clean bill of health then you will need to change his behaviour. Feather plucking is a thing that birds can do when they are fustrated and unhappy, it realeases some sort of stimulation.
Try a routine of putting new toys and different food items in everyday.
Buy the biggest cage you can possibly afford and when you see him go to pluck then distract him with something. Do you spray him regularly as they love to have a warm spray. Does he get to come out. They are clever little things and soon get bored.
If all else fails then perhaps contact a behaviourist.

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Grandma to Jinja Dog, Mum to Tilly the Cavalier, Tattycat, Moomy, Choo, Sonic, Niven Mc Twisp and Lawna the rabbits and 1 guinea,17 budgies, 4 Cockatiels, 8 Goldfish.

we have just bought him a parrot cage with the intention of buying him a mate, however, do we buy a hand reared baby bird or do we buy a older bird from somewhere like pets at home ? also he has a variety of toys, branches, perches and mirrors to play with, also has cuttlefish and also he has millet. When i see him going to pluck his feathers i call or name or whistle to him, he is not the friendliest so it is quite hard trying to pick him up or handle him, he does come out of his cage when we leave the door open and he usually just sits on top of it, however he rarely flies around, just sits there.

How long have you had him?.

Before get another i would get him checked out to make sure that he has no mites.

Another would be good as they love company but you might find that they interact with one another rather than become tame.

When you say hand reared it can mean that they are taken from their parents and fed by hand without much if any interaction with other birds.
I would make sure that whoever you buy it off has let the parents raise it but given it lots of handling from an early age. That way they are easier to interact with humans as well as other birds.

I would not give him too many toys at once and change them regularly, by doing this it gives you chance to interact with him and he can see new shiny things.

When he comes out I would not worry that he sits on top of the cage and he will get braver and braver in time, it takes time to gain the confidence.

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Grandma to Jinja Dog, Mum to Tilly the Cavalier, Tattycat, Moomy, Choo, Sonic, Niven Mc Twisp and Lawna the rabbits and 1 guinea,17 budgies, 4 Cockatiels, 8 Goldfish.