Muse

Try to be sure your attitude does not become a self-fulfilling prophecy. They read our emotions (and at times, I fear they read our thoughts) and are very in tune to what we are thinking and feeling. Try very hard to put this in perspective and understand that for some reason, he is suffering this as much as you are, but may be just as powerless to stop it. Try to understand that he may not see this as "keeping himself up" but rather he might be trying to soothe an itch, distract himself from something that is bothering him, or a myriad of other reasons. Because we as humans do not fully understand what is going on, we have to often just cope with the behavior itself instead of going for the unknown cause. We can eliminate as many factors as we do know - dry skin, boredom, enough essential amino acids and the proper oils in diet, and so on - but for the factors we cannot discover like what goes on deep within their minds, we must apply our efforts directly to the behavior and observable symptoms. Our vet has recommended Sunshine Factor or any other good Red Palm Oil, as this is extremely beneficial for their skin. I had no problems getting Mar to eat it off a spoon, but unfortunately Megan, the one who is plucking, is my picky eater. I have been doing a lot of cooking and baking trying to sneak it into her diet. I even coated her very favorite treat - pine nuts - in it, and she threw the whole dish on the floor. It could be that stress during your illness started the plucking or perhaps hormones, and now that the feathers are growing back in, itching is exacerbating it. At that point, the best course is to try to deal with any possible itching. I have turned our AC down (since it dries the air), opened the windows more (which does let unfiltered sunlight in), taken them out on the porch (which they seem to love), misted them (which she HATES), and showered her (she also hates but oddly enough, has tolerated the last few times, so maybe it does help the skin feel better so she is putting up with it). We also were prescribed Soother spray. I am not the craziest about the quaternary ammonium component but I do realize as a surfactant and disinfectant, it may help with the healing process. My vet assured me that she has treated some extreme pluckers with this and often has dramatic improvement and has never had a problem - though she DID caution me (and it is printed on the bottle) to give a warm water bath at least once a week to prevent build up. I have long been a big fan in humans of benzalkonium chloride, which is a compound of quaternary ammonium, as an alcohol-free hand sanitizer. Not only for the benefit of not drying out the skin but also for the fact that, unlike alcohol, it has a residual action. Once the alcohol sanitizer has dried, its work is done. And I have used the BC hand sanitizer safely for years, so that makes me feel a little bit better about using the QA on Megan for what is hopefully short term. You also mentioned possibly longing for a mate. Hormones do ramp up at this time of year. Thankfully, we aren't experiencing much here inside but the outside birds are all courting and mating. They know it is the time of year for that. If that is the cause, you can at least be thankful that it will pass with the season. Just try to keep in mind that he is not doing this on purpose, or to spite you. There is an underlying cause that you may or may not be able to find. Love him unconditionally, and make him feel secure in that love without doubts or resentment. Underneath it all, he's still the same sweet bird. I know I will love Megan just as much if she plucks herself completely bare. I am not upset with her as much as I feel sorry for whatever it is that is making her feel less than comfortable. As a nurse, my first thought is how to provide relief and comfort to my little patient. I will keep you and Isaac in my prayers.

You know you live with a bird when you catch yourself telling the DOG to "step up"!

Okay, now that is funny! Now all you have to do is teach her to hold a rag in her beak and she can clean up after herself! Hahaha.

I noticed Megan's back had some bare spots. Of course this incited a panic and off the vet we rushed. The vet said it was a confusing exam. There was indeed a LOT of feather loss (the cage floor was full of small whitish feathers one day about a week and a half ago). But the vet said the appearance of the skin was not such that it looked plucked. She said it could just be an usually heavy moult. So now we have orders: 0.25 - 0.3 mL of red palm oil per day (Megan, unlike Marden, will not eat red palm oil willingly. This will be fun. Not.) Soother spray once daily (Right. I'll get right on that. As soon as I get some Kevlar gloves...) More frequent showers (Let the nightmare begin.) Lots of enrichment (which is not a change from the norm) She also recommended getting back into a bedtime routine. Megan had been refusing to go upstairs with me. I think she went up one time this past week not counting last night. I suspect my husband's early and unexpected departure the weekend before last may have had something to do with that. She normally goes to bed with daddy, who unlike mama, can go to bed when he feels like it and not when the work is done. So last night I made SURE she went upstairs with me. She lost two feathers this morning, but wasn't preening or pulling at them. One had been hanging kind of crooked since yesterday and I knew it was getting ready to fall out. Maybe this is just an extremely heavy moult? It's hard to believe that 450g of bird can control almost 450 collective pounds of humans, but this bird is a little stinker. It was weeks before someone erased the 'bird shaped' powder mark on the mirror from a shower attempt that sent her careening around the room in a panic. She does the same thing if sprayed in her cage, which is why I don't do it. She's fully flighted, and quite skilled at it so doing things she doesn't want done are extremely difficult. She actually got in the shower WILLINGLY today, and I hooked up the 'birdie hose' and proceeded to spray myself, making happy noises and lifting my arms up and going "WINGS!" She did not do the "WINGS!" gesture, but did allow me to gently mist her until fairly soaked. Problem is, the affected area is covered by the wings. I ended up the shower by running the hot water just through the shower head and steaming up the bathroom and leaving her in there for a while. I worked outside today, digging holes in the yard (aka planting things) and until around five PM, I had the AC off and the windows in their 'bedroom' open while the little birds were in the playroom. On cool down breaks, I let her and Peck out of the cages. The heat didn't seem to bother them while I had the AC off (it bothered me more than them!) and they played very nicely. I did not see any unusual amount of feathers, and only a little fluff in her cage and that is normal for after-shower very thorough preening. They've been outside twice this week, in their cages out on the porch. I hope she hasn't started plucking. I am wracking my brain trying to think of what might be the problem. She really seems to enjoy Peck's company. They get along well, even were playing with the same toy yesterday. The ONLY time he gets hatey is when she tries to get IN his cage (and eat up his food). I discourage this behavior. About the same time this started, I started a new job (which ended about as quickly as it started - long, not good story that I won't go into here....). The vet suggested this might be the cause of her stressing, but again reiterated that we weren't even sure she was plucking. I do know that since Mar died, she's been pretty spoiled, being the main focus of my attention and accompanying me around the house most of the day. I had them run extreme blood work. After losing Mar I am not willing to take any chances. Okay.... off to try to spray the little stinker. I hope when I return I will be able to type with all ten fingers. Update: The spraying did not go well, but no blood was shed. There was a towel (fleece) involved. She refused to cooperate so I gently toweled her as she screamed bloody murder. It was not easy to hold her in one hand, and get under her wings and spray her back with the other. It got done, but both of us were much relieved when it was over.

^^^^ THAT! lol

Seconded. I can't imagine the adhesive being good for a bird. I'd also be afraid of them tearing off the tape and swallowing bits of it. We used sisal (torn off because no one would step on it - way too rough!). We plan to do the next one with paracord. I have used vet wrap also.

Unfortunately, I can't be much help in this area. I do know Peck came to our family because his family is leaving the US and does not have any paperwork, or band, or records on him, and thus could not take him to Europe with them when they move. I understand the reason for some of the laws, but it sure makes it hard for those who have taken in pets that are clearly human-imprinted and need to remain with their families. You have a really beautiful bird there. I am sorry I cannot be of more help but I will keep your situation in my prayers.

Emphasis mine - I have found in working with various animals, wild or domestic, that often if you LET them know, it helps them judge where to draw the line. When Mar was little and he'd test-bite, I'd "yipe" as close to what he or Megan did when they bit each other too hard. He caught on instantly and got gentler and gentler. I know you are supposed to show "no reaction" and for some situations, this might be a good strategy. But I firmly believe that if the other creature understands they have gone too far, they will adjust their behavior. Very few of the creatures I have worked with have been directly malicious. Most bites were fear bites, or frustration bites, with a few behavior-modification bites from Megan mixed in for good measure. She is definitely a retaliatory biter. I am sure I have one coming tonight at some point for the vet visit today, and am going to be sure to be on my toes to try and avoid or at least mitigate it. But the "yipe" has worked with many of the critters I have had the pleasure of working with over the years, adjusted slightly for the native 'language' of the species, of course. After all, this is how the young learn to play together without hurting each other.

If I wrote a book like that it would be titled "The Parrots to Whom I Am a Slave" lol.

Don't take the bite as a personal attack. It sounds like Brutus is using the bite as a way to try and change your behavior when it is something he does not like. Mar got that way, especially with my husband, when he was hormonal (i.e. - doing the humpty-dance for Megan). EVERY time that started, we knew the next phase was getting bitey. He did get a bit nippy with me, but down right BIT my husband and drew blood on several occasions. These occurred sometimes just randomly, and other times at predictable moments. My husband could not put him back in the cage without using the step up stick, and even then, he risked a lunge and bite. Once the hormones went away, Mar stopped acting like a brat and all was well. I don't know if it would have gotten worse as he got older because sadly, he didn't get older. He seemed to be a sexual prodigy as Megan still really hasn't shown any signs of being hormonal. I have read different accounts but it seems most indicate between 5-10 years old is their 'puberty'. This may be what is going on with Brutus. It is that time of year. Or it could be the change in the family dynamics. He could be picking up on your being upset and depressed, and it is making him feel bad also. He could be biting out of frustration from feeling bad and not understanding why or how to deal with it. We can't read their little feathered minds so unfortunately, all we can do is guess. I definitely would try just opening the door and letting him come out instead of offering up your flesh for the step up. I am of the belief that the less opportunity they have to bite, the less bites they can give, and I am all about avoiding the bite! I know the times Mar bit me - even though it was never enough to draw blood - made it harder to trust. But eventually, when he returned to being sweet, the trust kind of fell right back in place like it was never gone. I know this sounds crazy, but have you tried talking this over with Brutus? Even if he does not understand every word, the feelings that you experience as you form the thought into words seem to be something a Grey can read easily. I had a horrid battle with Megan going back to her cage that nearly always resulted in a good bite unless I manged to 'wipe her off' on the perch and pull my hand away very rapidly. My husband couldn't do it. She'd cling, she'd flip upside down, she'd bite. I finally started explaining to her why I needed her to go back (things like "Mommy needs to go to the store" etc) and all of a sudden it was a non-issue. Keep us posted on how Brutus is doing. I know what you are going through is very difficult. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

I am not sure I can be much help. We got a shelter dog to be friends with Riley this year, and adopted Peck to be a companion to Megan. I am still so not over losing Marden. This was absolutely without a doubt the worst Mother's Day ever in my life. I don't think I stopped crying all day. Even outside, while I was working. But if your heart is telling you to get another dog, perhaps that is the way to go. I know, I am no help at all, am I?

Greywings is right. And for dogs and cats as well. It causes hemolytic anemia. I have learned to cook many dishes without onions. Amazing how even our own diets change when we have fids.

http://www.woodcroftvets.com/about-us/advanced-services/hydrotherapy/ I have long heard of its use with dogs, never with birds. This site had some good pictures of what the equipment (for dogs) looks like. I would be very interested to see pictures of the bird set up. I assume the theory is the same as with dogs (and humans) - working against the resistance of the water helps increase effectiveness of the therapy.

Excellent point! (And great justification for MBS, lol).

The cones do draw moisture from whatever you bake in them. I recommend leaving the bag open to air at first. I turned mine upside down in the bag, and let the air hit the cones and they do get more firm, though not totally dry and crunchy crisp like an empty cone would be. We put the first one on a skewer when the cone was still somewhat soft and Megan loved it. Funny how she will eat stuff off a skewer she won't touch if handed to her or put in a bowl.

Luckily, ours is a Craigslist find, not too expensive, and kind of a traditional pine style so it kind of accepts its new 'distressed' look. Megan taste-tested it within an hour of moving it in the door.

From M.D. Vaden's page on safe woods for birds: Under the list for safe woods: "WEEPING WILLOW - Salix - see Willow paragraph" Here is the willow paragraph: "Willow Someone sent me a URL for a University of Maryland University medical center page about some willows, and and how the bark contains salicin: similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). Apparently the wood does not contain the compound like the bark does. One excerpt reads: "The willow family includes a number of different species ... ... Some of the more commonly known are white willow/European willow (Salix alba), black willow/pussy willow (Salix nigra), crack willow (Salix fragilis), purple willow (Salix purpurea), and weeping willow (Salix babylonica). The willow bark sold in Europe and the United States usually includes a combination of the bark from white, purple, and crack willows" The article sounds reliable, and apparently the bark and compounds are effective for human use it they are not allergic to it. Based on that information, I would still be very inclined to use willow wood for parrot perches or bird stands. But would remove the bark. And if the branch is freshly cut, will be among the easiest to remove. I used this for hiking sticks, and in the spring, bark virtually peels off by hand. If its dry, just use a knife." I do know that an old Native American remedy for headache/toothache is chewing the bark. I am not sure how much salicin but to have a therapeutic effect on humans it must be clinically significant, and thus I would agree with his advice to remove the bark before giving to the birds.

Emphasis mine. AMEN!

It's a good thing. He hasn't answered my email yet. But it's been a rough week for him so I try to be patient. I will let you know as soon as I hear from him.

I graduated nursing school at 49. Go for it! Age is just a number and don't let that number hold you back from your dreams.

I agree with luvparrots! It seems that many of the governments there turn a blind eye and smuggling is dangerous for the birds.

I have to admit, this was one of those moments that made it hard for me not to giggle at him. It kind of reminded me of that scene in the movie ET (which my child forced me to sit through TEN times at the local movie theater) where the little boy who found ET is arguing with his bigger brother who is making fun of him and he yells a naughty term at his brother, upon which his mother is caught between scolding him and choking back a laugh. At that moment, I knew exactly how that feels.

Sorry I have not gotten back sooner. We have had some personal issues involving my husband making a very unexpected and long trip. I have sent him an email asking him for the information and hopefully he will see it and respond.

Glad to hear Cotay is okay! It's very frustrating when the fids insist on assaulting each other. It's so hard at times to keep them apart when they do their darnedest to get to each other.

Looking good! You know, I have to wonder about that sunlight thing. That is one thing wild birds get in abundance and they do not pluck. It might be worth a try!