Harrison has a new online brochure out about feather picking causes;
LINK: http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/featherpic.pdf

One of listed causes is
• Aspergillosis in feather follicles

I have never heard of this!! Does anyone have any information about this?

While I was searching for info, I found some links that were pretty informative about feather picking;

LINK: Exotic Pet Vet - Feather Picking

LINK: The Basics of Feather Picking

I wouldnt be surprised. Especially from cages that arent cleaned often enough. I would imagine it could be airborne and settle on feathers and get down into the skin. Thats why I clean everyday!

I change paper and wipe down cages daily with vinegar but I only take them outside once a week to bleach & hose them down. Is this enough?

I've read many articles on Aspergillosis, but never have I read about it settling into the feather follicles. I guess it would make sense that it can settle anywhere and cause a systemic infection or dermatitis.

Susan, I don't know what is considered enough. Aspergillus spores are present everywhere in the environment, and are carried on air currents. The Aspergillus mold only requires warmth, moisture and organic material to proliferate. Having dealt with Aspergillosis I prefer to use Vanodine as a cleaner because it is one of the cleaners that does kill it. I clean and mist daily.

Guess I'll change cleaners.
I mist my birds twice a day with Aloe from my garden mixed with distilled water.

A good air ventilation system will also help, this is a must here in our home, we have so many different species in one room.
Our air units have those light bulbs that kill many ickies floating around in the air.
Our tools for cleaning:
We have always used bleach here, rinse well.
Portable steamer, cages are steam cleaned when needed.
1500 psi pressure washer, I recently added this to my cleaning tools, hooks up to the hose and does a fine job.
Our biggest concern up here in "bitter winters", can't take the cages outside for a good cleaning, so I have a sheet of rubber I place on the floor and mainly use the steamer in the winter, I apply diluted bleach to the entire cage, let sit for awhile, then steam the cage.
Entertainment:
Rose Ann makes toys with surprises in them, she will take paper towel rolls cut them into shorter pieces, place a couple of nuts within, then fold the ends in, she also provides many tear apart toys, keeping the birds busy plays a critical role in feather plucking.
Diets:
Here our birds are offered both pellets and seed, veggies, pastas, different cheeses, grilled meats, grapes, oranges, many different fruits, Rose Ann keeps track of witch bird eats what and modifies there diets accordingly.
Fresh Water is offered 2 times a day (more if there is a accident)
Vet visit:
This is the stinger when it comes to our financial problems, if Rose Ann sees any sign of feather issues, and I mean even the smallest indications, that bird goes in for a check up (ASAP).
Moulting:
We log every moult here, each species tends to moult at different times, but those times should be consistent.
Bathing:
Again each species has different needs, our Amazons are misted every 3 days, the Greys once a week as well as all the other birds.
Some birds prefer a bowl of water, others enjoy a good misting.
Vitamins are offered, for the most part, we offer veggies and fruits to assure the birds get there vitamins, but sometimes Vitamins are offered in the water and that water is changed on the same day.
Weight:
Here we use a digital scale, all our birds are checked and logged each week, if one of the birds is ill, we check the weight each day, extremely important to keep track of your friends weight.
Sooooo, I guess what I am saying is this, keep your friend clean, fresh water and a healthy diet, provide entertainment, proper air filtration, check there weight, and offer a bath regularly, and if something is seen to indicate there maybe a problem, schedule a vets visit.
Here, we simply don't use or see a need for those (chemical's) one can find on the market in todays time.
Not to run off track here but the worse thing to happen to our environment was the invention of the lawn mower bagger, now lawns are starving, chemical companies are becoming richer and our drinking water is more polluted, I use this as an example.
Most chemicals are tested on what before they hit the market?
Animals, yep, our little friends....
Please don't mind me.......I carry a fiery love within for animals

I mean no disrespect when saying............
Feather plucking in the wild is extremely rare if found at all.
When was the last time you saw a mated pair of Macaws with one of the birds plucked, how about Tiels?
Feather plucking is associated with (caged birds).
There are none of these fancy chemicals available to birds in the wild.
I completely forgot to mention (sunshine) and the need for our birds to get enough of sunshine, so many of us provide full spectrum lighting.
I once was emailed by a person that wished my support, seems she was trying to get our government to make it illegal to use bleach when cleaning bird cages as there was more safer products on the market.
Many years ago, we didn't see many of the chemicals in our drinking water as we see today, all from these new methods to help us with something or another.
Everything comes back to us in some form or another in the end, we are seeing this today.
WOW, another new product, this is going to make my life soooo much more easy, "don't be so sure of that".
How many birds where exposed to that chemical before it was okayed to hit the market????
Just something for one to think about!

I am going to email Dr. Harrison. I am not finding any answers as to 'how and why' in the searches I've done.

Thanks for the informative post Arty!

Feather Destructive Behavior (FDB) is a very complex issue that's for sure. There are many (myself included) that believe that there is an underlying often undetected disease/cause at the onset of any FDB. If the source is not found or corrected in time the FDB's easily become habit.

In my own bird we couldn't find the reason for FDB's under her wings and the inside of her legs until we ran a heavy metal test. Once her high Zinc levels were corrected she never picked those areas again.

This article is a good read;
Pathological Reasons for Plucking
http://www.zooexotic.com/PathologicalReasons.pdf

This is so interesting. I probably don't take Ruby's cage outside enough. She really is never in there except to sleep and she usually "poops" in the trash can or on her stand. I have a steamer I use, but I do not want her to be sick. I will "step-it-up!"