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Post by wsteinhoff on Aug 2, 2016 21:41:42 GMT -5
Within the past few days Bishop has suddenly started chewing on things more and he's been over-preening one of his tail feathers to the point that as of today 3/4 of the feather has broken off. He doesn't seem sick and honestly I can't take him to the vet and get testing done at the time anyways to check him out. He never chewed his toys much until now. I've noticed him getting more moody too. My life had been a little crazy but it's settled down and he's started this just recently these past few days so I can't see it being caused by any of that. The only real changes are his diet and his cage cover. We've had some hot days so him and the other birds have had their towels switched for thin sheets. Since that's at night though I don't think that's it. His diet change is just him having finally decided he wants to eat more healthy fruits and veggies. If he wants to eat them and has chosen to I don't think that's it either. I'm just stumped, it's all started just out of the blue. I'm afraid he's going to start chewing more feathers. I don't know if it could be just his age like just being geriatric or what. He's 10 now and the vet says he'll probably live to be 15. That's 10 if what I was told is even his real age, he could be older for all I know. I got him when he was supposedly 4 but having supposedly had 4 owners he could be older for all I know. I thought I remember a few members here have birds with plucking or chewing issues. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.
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Post by wsteinhoff on Aug 2, 2016 22:06:21 GMT -5
Another thing I didn't think of but maybe should add is that he's also been getting in more of a "panic" lately. He's always been nervous about a lot of things, like bags or drawers opening make him freak out. But more often lately just out of nowhere he will panic and fly back to his cage. For example the past 2 baths him and Skye were taking their usual bath in the tub and he's suddenly freaked out and flown across the house back to his cage or to me if he can't make it to the cage. The fact that he is flying away also gets me because he's afraid to fly and only does it when he gets really scared of something. After he flies he'll breathe heavy and be shaky and just want to be with me until he calms down from it. I don't clip his wings to keep him from flying anymore because he doesn't like it and hurts himself by biting himself and causing him to bleed. He also can't get away if he feels he does need to.
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Post by Caseysmom on Aug 2, 2016 22:14:43 GMT -5
I am interested to hear what people think, Casey is almost 10, and I've noticed she chews some of her feathers, just the ends not the whole feather. I've added coconut oil to her meals I prepare to see if that helps. I also have been making lots of new toys to keep her busy, and rearranging them around her cage. She has directed her attention chewing to them, time will tell if these steps have helped.
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Post by easttex on Aug 3, 2016 5:10:16 GMT -5
Allie CAG was plucking when I first adopted her. It seems pretty clear that it started when her foster home was being renovated. She still freaks out when she sees a metal measuring tape, and she over-grooms, but she quit the plucking.
It's called barbering when they break off their feathers like that. With a sudden change in a number of behaviors like that, I would want to take Bishop to the vet as soon I could manage it, to eliminate liver disease and other physical causes.
Could he have mites? They can be hard to find in the daytime, as they hide in cage nooks and crannies, and then come back out at night. Try covering his cage with a white sheet and check the underside closely in the morning. Is it possible that mice are getting into the cage at night? I periodically have a problem with that and am in the habit of changing the paper and cleaning up any food residue just before covering for the night. Does the sheet you've been using provide adequate protection from drafts? Does he bathe often? I would fight the urge to add things to the water. If he gets a build-up, it could make the problem worse.
With their superior eyesight, birds can be disturbed by florescent lighting, especially as the bulbs start to deteriorate. Is he near a window when in his cage? Could there be something out there that has changed? Think of the smallest things that could have changed in his whole environment. Even if it makes no sense to you, it might to Bishop. Try slowly walking around with him, to see if his proximity to anything starts a fear response. I hate to suggest this, but is it possible that someone else in the household has done something to scare him?
If nothing has changed, try changing it. Move his cage, swap out his toys, give him things to shred, etc.
Its a tough situation, and I hope you can get to the bottom of it soon.
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Post by wsteinhoff on Aug 3, 2016 7:13:54 GMT -5
Allie CAG was plucking when I first adopted her. It seems pretty clear that it started when her foster home was being renovated. She still freaks out when she sees a metal measuring tape, and she over-grooms, but she quit the plucking. It's called barbering when they break off their feathers like that. With a sudden change in a number of behaviors like that, I would want to take Bishop to the vet as soon I could manage it, to eliminate liver disease and other physical causes. Could he have mites? They can be hard to find in the daytime, as they hide in cage nooks and crannies, and then come back out at night. Try covering his cage with a white sheet and check the underside closely in the morning. Is it possible that mice are getting into the cage at night? I periodically have a problem with that and am in the habit of changing the paper and cleaning up any food residue just before covering for the night. Does the sheet you've been using provide adequate protection from drafts? Does he bathe often? I would fight the urge to add things to the water. If he gets a build-up, it could make the problem worse. With their superior eyesight, birds can be disturbed by florescent lighting, especially as the bulbs start to deteriorate. Is he near a window when in his cage? Could there be something out there that has changed? Think of the smallest things that could have changed in his whole environment. Even if it makes no sense to you, it might to Bishop. Try slowly walking around with him, to see if his proximity to anything starts a fear response. I hate to suggest this, but is it possible that someone else in the household has done something to scare him? If nothing has changed, try changing it. Move his cage, swap out his toys, give him things to shred, etc. Its a tough situation, and I hope you can get to the bottom of it soon. If it gets worse I'll have to get him to the vet, for now though I thought I'd see if anyone here has any thoughts on it. I didn't think of mites but it doesn't seem like that, I've had to deal with mites several times with the birds outside. His cage cover right now is a white sheet that gets checked every day to make sure it's clean looking and doesn't need washed. He bathes maybe once or twice a week. Skye bathes more often and I just let him sit there with me while she does her thing and decide when he wants to get in the water too. It wouldn't be fluorescent lighting. Besides his light the lights only get turned on at night, by that time he's covered. He has his full spectrum lighting which is a fluorescent bulb but that shouldn't be deteriorating much yet. There are no mice in my bedroom or even on the second floor. That's been made sure of before. I've not noticed any mouse poo or seed hulls laying around where they wouldn't be from a bird. He is not right next to a window where he can see much out of it besides the sky. Casey and Skye are by the window and so there's not enough room for him there. Nobody in the house should've scared him. I have younger brothers but ones been at summer camp all summer until yesterday and the other I can't see doing that. Everyone likes having Bishop around even if he doesn't really like them. I'm going to be honest here I wouldn't always consider my brothers the most trustworthy people though so just in case I'll keep an eye out for anyone bothering him. I'll try walking him around and I'll move things and see what that does. Another thing that might be worth mentioning is he has been lately being much more "friendly" with his things I'd you know what I mean. I've caught him doing it many times a day and by many I mean at least 4 or 5. I guess that'd be another behavioral change. |
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Post by wsteinhoff on Aug 3, 2016 19:14:42 GMT -5
I have a theory. As I've mentioned my life had been a little crazy for a bit. During that time he wasn't able to get much attention. So to make up for it when things got better he received more attention. After a bit I couldn't keep giving him that extra attention. Now he's not liking not having the extra attention and is suffering boredom. I he chewed this morning but I filled some foraging toys for him and I haven't noticed anything all day. He's been busy foraging instead of chewing. So we'll see how things go and hope I'm right that it's just boredom. I'll have to get some more foraging toys.
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Post by easttex on Aug 4, 2016 9:49:55 GMT -5
Good, I hope that's it. We really don't know a lot when it comes to plucking, but if you can nip it in the bud, you're better off.
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Post by julianna on Aug 4, 2016 14:09:48 GMT -5
I haven't had this happen with Oscar so I don't have any comment. I think you will figure it out and Easttex has good advice.
Best of luck and let us know if you find out what it is... I am curious.
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Post by wsteinhoff on Aug 5, 2016 18:25:34 GMT -5
So far it seems that may be what was causing it. I've just caught him messing with that feather a couple times and I think that's just because he's now got this ugly messed up feather sticking off to the side of his tail. Since they like to keep their feathers clean and in order I'm assuming that's why he's doing that now. I haven't noticed him doing any of the other things now. Hopefully the problem has been resolved.
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