andy
Hatchling
Posts: 2
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Post by andy on Jan 1, 2023 11:30:28 GMT -5
Hi, my new-to-me 8 month old quaker spends a lot of time picking at himself all over the place, including his back and under his wings. I just brought him home yesterday and he seems happy so far despite still getting used to his new surroundings. His previous home was what I think was a stressful unhealthy environment. It is MUCH quieter here. He was falling asleep at 7 PM outside of his cage last night. I can't see how he ever got enough sleep at his previous home. No happy hut, no cover over the cage at night, as far as I know. Last night he slept in the top corner of his cage on a perch. He also has a little birdy body odour. Kind of smells like he just needs a good bath. What are the chances he has fleas or some other kind of parasite? Is he just preening? He is not ripping feathers out of his breast area, thank goodness.
Thanks in advance.
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Post by cnyguy on Jan 1, 2023 20:23:40 GMT -5
Welcome to you and your new QP. There are many possibilities about what could be making your parrot itchy. Does he have lots of new pin feathers coming in? That's a major cause of a parrot picking at feathers. Parasites are a possibility too, and there's an off chance of an underlying illness. If you haven't already done so, scheduling a visit with a veterinarian experienced with taking care of parrots would be a good idea. Avoid using anything meant for treating parasites unless provided or recommended by a qualified veterinarian. A bath would be a good idea too. If you have a good clean spray bottle (one that never contained household chemicals, soap or cleaning agents) you could try misting your Quaker parrot. You might also try providing a shallow pan or dish of water to see if the parrot might bathe on his own. Hope that your new feathered friend settles in well with you and you enjoy a good life together.
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andy
Hatchling
Posts: 2
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Post by andy on Jan 2, 2023 11:08:54 GMT -5
Thank you so much!
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Post by heatherg on Jan 4, 2023 12:07:10 GMT -5
Birds do spend lots of time preening each day. Those feathers are very important, you know!
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