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Shah
Jan 1, 2015 23:33:47 GMT -5
Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Jan 1, 2015 23:33:47 GMT -5
Please keep us posted, Jan, we are all pulling for you and Shah!
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Shah
Jan 2, 2015 0:35:22 GMT -5
Post by Jan and Shah on Jan 2, 2015 0:35:22 GMT -5
Thanks Sharyn.
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Shah
Jan 2, 2015 1:57:35 GMT -5
Post by biteybird on Jan 2, 2015 1:57:35 GMT -5
Thanks for the update. It sounds like things are slowly improving (baby steps, right?). Amongst all your problems with Shah, I had forgotten that you yourself have not been well...hope you are feeling a bit better now. Maybe Shah picked up on this - a delayed reaction? - and if you are a bit better he might feel more secure...hope so. Chin up!  |
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Shah
Jan 2, 2015 9:05:48 GMT -5
Post by easttex on Jan 2, 2015 9:05:48 GMT -5
I'm sure Shah is appreciating all the extra time you're spending with him. I agree with your vet - plucking is much to be preferred over self-mutilation. You hate to see them plucking, and it's frustrating to not be able to get to the bottom of it, but its a lot easier to live with if you have to.
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Shah
Jan 2, 2015 16:25:45 GMT -5
Post by Jan and Shah on Jan 2, 2015 16:25:45 GMT -5
I am threatening to knit him birdie sweaters for winter if he keeps it up.
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Shah
Jan 2, 2015 16:49:50 GMT -5
Post by easttex on Jan 2, 2015 16:49:50 GMT -5
That's actually worth considering. Someone of the African grey board has resorted to modifying athletic socks to put on her plucker/mutilator. Neither of my birds would stand for me putting one on them, but hers apparently tolerates it. Some, anyway. |
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Shah
Jan 4, 2015 3:53:12 GMT -5
Post by Jan and Shah on Jan 4, 2015 3:53:12 GMT -5
It is day 2 of no biting and no plucking. Some feathers are growing back. I am cautiously optimistic but I know not to get my hopes up. I have tried a baby sock with him before but he can get his beak underneath the sock which makes it a bit dangerous as he chews on it.
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Shah
Jan 4, 2015 21:53:39 GMT -5
Post by Jan and Shah on Jan 4, 2015 21:53:39 GMT -5
Well, I am glad I didn't get too optimistic. I was out for about 3 hours today and have come home to a bitten neck (only surface and not deep) and about half a dozen feathers. Disappointing but not unexpected.
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Shah
Jan 5, 2015 4:45:19 GMT -5
Post by easttex on Jan 5, 2015 4:45:19 GMT -5
Poor little guy! It will be a great day when we finally figure out how to correct these things. My grey was a plucker when I first adopted her. She never mutilated, and she did quit after a couple years, though she still over-grooms a bit. I can't say exactly why she quit plucking. Did your vet have any other recommendations?
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Shah
Jan 12, 2015 15:11:11 GMT -5
Post by Jan and Shah on Jan 12, 2015 15:11:11 GMT -5
He keeps picking at the scab but is doing no further damage. He is getting pin feathers where he has plucked - but only on one side of his chest. I am hopeful that this will balance up in the weeks to come. He appears to be a lot brighter, more interested in things and am slowly bombproofing him. I am quite happy with his progress. He likes to stay out of the cage a lot longer now. He knows he is the boss of everything. Not sure what will happen when the lorikeet shows up.
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Shah
Jan 12, 2015 17:27:12 GMT -5
Post by biteybird on Jan 12, 2015 17:27:12 GMT -5
Hi Jan, does Shah only bite & pluck when you are out? Just wondering.
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Shah
Jan 12, 2015 23:05:33 GMT -5
Post by Jan and Shah on Jan 12, 2015 23:05:33 GMT -5
Time of day (or night) doesnt matter to him so I check him first thing in the morning, then in the afternoon and again when he goes to bed. Am hopeful he has stopped plucking. Plus he is demanding a bath every day which is a good sign for him.
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Shah
Jan 13, 2015 0:55:20 GMT -5
Post by biteybird on Jan 13, 2015 0:55:20 GMT -5
Okay, so it's not when you are actually in the room with him/are watching him (?). I'm just trying to get a picture of when he does it...as you probably are! I hope it's getting better.
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Shah
Jan 13, 2015 3:43:00 GMT -5
Post by Jan and Shah on Jan 13, 2015 3:43:00 GMT -5
It appears to be a hormonal thing or when he is extremely stressed - usually caused by the cockatiels. He is growing pin feathers on the other side of his chest - they have come through today. But he will definitely have a bald patch - it gets a little bigger every time we have an "episode". He is definitely happier and we are having lots of fun together. He has put on a bit of weight which is not really desirable. The scab appears to have fallen off today without his help and all is looking good. Will try not to get too excited.
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Shah
Jan 13, 2015 4:27:12 GMT -5
Post by easttex on Jan 13, 2015 4:27:12 GMT -5
I'm glad he's doing better. Maybe he picks up on your relief and it feeds his less destructive behavior in a good cycle? I was concerned about adding Peppy Q to the household and worried a little that Allie CAG would start plucking again, but she really took it in stride. It might help that I can't interact with him the same way I do with her. I hope it will be something similar when you get the lori. I'm looking forward to the pictures, by the way. They are beautiful birds.
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