|
|
Post by Hannah on Dec 15, 2016 16:40:17 GMT -5
Ollie pulled out a pin feather and dropped it in his food dish, he doesn't look like he's plucking, he has a few feathers gone from under a wing but that's the same wing that he had the bump on and the get siad that's how they clean up blood.
Is this a sign that their bothering him?
|
|
|
|
Post by julianna on Dec 16, 2016 14:32:27 GMT -5
Yes... pin feathers do bother the Quakers. They can be very sore for them so try to be very gentle during this time. Each pin feather will eventually drop it's shell and a new feather will emerge. I am sure Ollie is trying to help this process along. You can help as well. If he will let you, gently squeeze the pin feather but be careful... as some of them are dried and ready to break off and others are not. If you squeeze one that is still not ready Ollie will let you know very quickly.
Usually they don't need help getting rid of the pins but the ones on top of their head are a little tricky for them to reach. I find the ones around Oscar's neck are his most painful as they will actually poke his skin. Many times I have helped to break those but again... very gently.
This is a good time to offer Ollie a bath. Never force him but offer him a pan with about 1-2" of warm water (not too warm) and be sure the pan is large enough that Ollie and dunk his tail and turn around. I noticed Oscar takes a lot more baths when he has pin feathers so perhaps Ollie might like it too. They look so cute splashing around. If he wants a bath he will get excited to go in. Quakers are fascinated by water so it is okay to splash it around a little.
I think all will be well. Take care.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hannah on Dec 16, 2016 19:29:17 GMT -5
He's been going through a moult for the past few months really slowly, I spray him and sometimes he bathes after, but he'll only bathe in his water bowl.
|
|
|
|
Post by zim on Dec 16, 2016 21:21:36 GMT -5
He's been going through a moult for the past few months really slowly, I spray him and sometimes he bathes after, but he'll only bathe in his water bowl. Is he afraid of water away from his cage, or being away from his cage in general? One thing you could try is placing a pyrex dish of water on top of his cage, and seeing if he is comfortable bathing in that. Be prepared for a water mess, however! This is what I had to do to get Yoshi comfortable with baths. Eventually I was able to move the dish into the shower (after he was already comfortable with the shower area from taking showers with me [which is now a requirement of his every day]). |
|
|
|
Post by Hannah on Dec 17, 2016 1:53:20 GMT -5
He doesn't like come out and he can't fly (we think his previous owners were abusive) and he'll comd near the cage door but when I open it he runs to the back of his cage. He's alright with me approaching him and I'm close to petting him so I don't know what it is.
|
|
|
|
Post by julianna on Dec 17, 2016 14:09:21 GMT -5
Whenever you can leave the cage door open and be sure to put a perch on the door. Eventually Ollie will want to explore and will come forward slowly. If you can get the bowl of water into the cage I am sure Ollie would prefer that than using his water bowl. He can't get his little butt into the water bowl and his tail.. lol.
Just have lots of patience and things will work out. I promise.
|
|
