I'd like to hear from a person with bird experience about how to stop a bird from plucking feathers.?

Aww I'm sorry you have a plucker - I can understand how upsetting & heartbreaking this is for you!

I do know people with multiple birds so I can sympathize with trying to balance your time between the three. You do not mention if you live with anyone else - but if you do it would be great if you could get the other person/people to help out with attention for the birds. If you do have another person you might work on them instead of you spending time with the B&G - that may help the distress that the bird feels when he sees you giving attention to the other birds. Even if the person does not live in the house - it might be a good idea to get a friend to come over a few days a week and spend time with the B&G to give him someone else to look forward to seeing :-)

I cannot imagine making a bird wear a bib, I had an African Grey for 10 years before she passed away and there is no way on earth she would have tolerated me trying a piece of fabric around her - she would have just flipped out and ripped it off. My CAG was not a plucker, but I have had friends whose birds had that issue (I also bird-sat these birds) so I'll give you some ideas that helped them.

One thing you might try doing is getting some rope toys or toys specifically designed for shredding (toys made out of straw or another fiber are also great!) for the B&G - if you catch him plucking introduce the toy to him and when he starts playing with it give him lots of praise and treats. Rotate the toys on a regular basis so that he always has something new and exciting in his cage - I know with my CAG I had certain toys that were always in the cage, but adding new items (even as simple as pieces of cardboard, TP rolls, paper cups etc) always made her day more exciting. There are also toys that are designed to be games or puzzles - basically you hide a treat inside the toy and the bird has to figure out the puzzle in order to reach the treat. If you just look up "puzzle bird toys" online a whole bunch of links show up. I just did and one toy one website offered reminds me of a cash register tape (spool of paper) that the bird can pull off and shred to their merry enjoyment - I KNOW my bird would have LOVED that toy - I used to bring her to work with me and she adored the cash register with all its colored buttons and noises as well as the fun paper tape! The one online I found would be easy for you to make and you could just buy a whole package of register tape rolls at any office supply store for much cheaper then the toy sold on the website. http://nalanitoys.com/Puzzlebirdtoys.htm (the website with the register roll toy)

To help the bird stay stimulated and not feel lonely you might also try playing music for the birds when you are not around. Even better then music if you have a laptop or tablet you might place it where he can see it from his cage (but not reach - my CAG once removed ALL the keys from my laptop & another time beaked the screen) - if possible play cartoons and kids shows (every bird I have ever spent time with has LOVED cartoons-all the pretty colors, singing etc) to provide him with some extra stimuli.

I think you are correct as to the reason as to why your B&G started plucking - emotional distress - but it is also a good idea to take him to an avian vet just to be sure that he does not have any health issues that could be causing it - he could have developed a food allergy or condition that causes him to be physically uncomfortable and plucking is how he deals with it. It could be diet related as well - I know birds can be picky so there may be some nutrients that your bird is missing out on & the vet can give you a special vitamin supplement as well as diet advise. The vet may also recommend a cone - which is just like a cone you would put on a dog, but made for a bird. The cone would allow him to eat, drink & play but stop him from reaching his chest where he is plucking.

Another thing to think about - is the Amazon friendly with other people? Is there any way you could temporarily have a friend take the Amazon while you work with the B&G? The sooner you stop the plucking the better - as you have noticed many birds become addicted to it and even after whatever was causing the plucking initially is gone the bird will often continue to pluck.

I hope I gave you some helpful ideas - I hope you can work it out with the birds! For more help you might look online and see if there are any parrot clubs in your area - sometimes having a support group and people who have an outsiders view while being familiar with you is very very helpful!

I wish I could do more to help! Parrots are such complex critters & such wonderful loving little buddies to live with, I hope to one day provide a loving home to another bird friend :-) Hugs and peanuts to all!

There are many reasons for feather plucking, maybe he is stressed so takes feather plucking as his distraction? Or new hormonal changes, basically anything about the new birds or his captivity could've caused this he may even have a problem with his skin?

I suggest these methods:

Try changing his location or perch that's one useful way.

you can try covering his cage at night maybe he needs more quietness with all those other birds around it may stress him out.

Spend more time with him, spending more time with him can distract him from feather plucking.

Try bathing him or using an EMPTY and CLEANED OUT windex bottle to mist him with water. My bird cleans himself in a big water bowl and some feathers come out so he doesn't have to get into the habit of picking them out himself.

I suggest toys and if he has but isn't entertained find him more or better toys to distract him for the day.

But out of all you do to him if it does not work you NEED to take him to the vet.

Good luck~!

Don't be a loser that's owns a bird