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Post by Cookie Williams on Aug 21, 2016 15:17:20 GMT -5
Hello, very new at this, please bear with my ignorance. I have a little green Quaker parrot. Have had him for 2 years since he was 6 weeks old. I call him a he but actually he may be a she. He plucks his feathers pretty bad. He talked showers pretty often, have never seen any sign of mites or insects. He is beginning to look like a tornado surviver . Any suggestions ?
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Post by easttex on Aug 21, 2016 18:20:09 GMT -5
Even though a physical condition is not usually the cause, or at least one is not found to be, I would take him to an avian vet for an exam first. A good vet can also help you try to pinpoint what may have changed in his environment to make him start plucking. It's a pretty endless list of possibilities. In the meantime, don't fuss over him when he plucks. That can reinforce the behavior. Try to ignore it, and don't show him any anxiety about the situation. My grey started plucking in her foster home, continued it with me for a couple years, and then quit. She still over grooms and does a little barbering, but it's a lot better. I couldn't tell you why she stopped the actual plucking.
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Post by beccilouise on Nov 23, 2016 14:09:26 GMT -5
I agree with Easttex, vet first. Plucking is not always as a result of mites, but can also be to do with crop infections, lack of calcium or other dietary deficiencies as well as stress and boredom. Definitely take him to the vet before it becomes habitual, and make sure your bird has a ready supply of toys that are regularly rotated in the cage (one in, one out) to alleviate boredom. Also make sure the toys are varied; some plastic to chew on, some with cardboard and paper to shred, some that you can hide treaties in, some that can be climbed on and hung off of and a few foot toys as well. This may seem expensive, but a lot of these can be made using plain cardboard, shredded (plain) paper, loo rolls, paper straws, old, (cleaned) shoelaces and clean scraps of thin kitchen towel. I used to spend a fortune on Maya's toys, and I still do buy her one occasionally, but mostly I make them now. She's just as happy with a loo roll stuffed with nutriberries as she is with a posh new toy. Maya also has AT LEAST an hour a day out of her cage and with me, and the only days she gets as little as that are when I'm super duper busy. Mostly she will have three or four hours of human company. Basically, if I'm home and awake, she's out. This might not work for you, but you can also shift your little one's cage into any room your working in so he gets a little bit of ambient company, if you don't do this already (you may well do!)
Hope this helps and your little birdie gets his feathers back soon!
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Post by julianna on Nov 23, 2016 15:41:41 GMT -5
My suggestion is similar to louise's.... he needs to be entertained. If you work... that is okay... just be sure to take him out of the cage and pay attention to him. These birds are flock birds and they usually get attention from all the birds in the wild... so now... he is depending on you.
Play with him... sing to him... talk softly... let him sit on your shoulder and preen your face. I am not sure how much time he gets out of his cage but it is always good to give them time out.
beccilouise... I think has hit the nail on the head.
Best wishes and welcome to the forum. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you might have. It is amazing what you can learn on this forum.
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Post by cnyguy on Nov 23, 2016 21:19:46 GMT -5
Welcome to the Forum!  You've received lots of good suggestions. Hope they'll be helpful and Louie will stop plucking feathers. |
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Post by biteybird on Nov 24, 2016 4:32:43 GMT -5
Hi Cookie, somehow I completely missed your first post in August, also Easttex' reply. I just want to say 'welcome'! Sorry, but I don't have experience with plucking behaviours, but Easttex, Beccilouise and Julianna know their stuff. Good luck and keep us informed as to how your little boy/girl is going! |
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Post by aaron on Nov 26, 2016 13:24:37 GMT -5
I too have little experience with plucking, but I don't think much more could be added to the advice you've already received from the others. Just wanted to welcome you to the forum! Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
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You've received lots of good suggestions. Hope they'll be helpful and Louie will stop plucking feathers.
