chigz

Hi, I dont like keeping him in a collar but I have to when he damages the area so badly that it bleeds. I used Aloe Vera in the past and will stay doing it again. Is something like this ok? http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-aloe-vera-gel-60002672 All the gels I have seems to say 100% but have a few other ingredients. Can I apply this even though it is constantly bleeding? How can I stop the bleed? Thank you

Hi all, Last year i posted about my CAG being a plucker and mutilator. We keep him in a collar to allow his feathers and skin to heal and then take it off and try and prevent him from doing it again. However this time around his has managed to damage the under wing very badly and it just wont heal. It is constantly scabbing with dried blood. We have taken to our avian vet (C J Hall) who just advise us to keep him in the collar again to allow it to heal and gave us antibiotics and inflammatory. I am very concerned as its a slow bleed that what heal. Every time he opens his wing the slightest it tears the wound open. Any advise would be much appreciated. Should I bandage the wing down to allow it to heal? Thank you

Hi Dave, Sorry I meant the one I purchased was the wrong one, not 100%, so I wont be using that one. Am going to try to source a 100% juice and gel. I dont want a quick fix but my vet has said if he continues to pick at the skin he could get an infection or even worse nick a arteray. The first time it took about 2 months for the skin to fully heal. I will try to upload some pics. My vet gave me some Tamodine and Flamazine Silver to treat the infections the first time round. I really dont want to keep the collar on, but within a week of taking it off, he reversed the 2 months of healing. Any suggestions on what I can do to stop him going at the skin? Thank you

Yes his back is always facing a wall. He tends to fly into my front room alot and sit on the window sill. I dont move his cage there as I don't use the room as much so dont want Lucky to be alone. Do you think I should give it a go?

Many thanks for all your replies. I have had to put the collar back on as he started going at the skin again and causing harm. I will take the advice on the aloe gel and juice. We bought some juice but it looks like it have other preservatives in it so I wont be using that. With regards to moving house, he hasn't really shown as signs of being unhappy, we've been here for a year now and he only started picking 7/8 months into the move. Anything I could look for to suggest he is unhappy? We have a open plan area and keep him there as we are usually there too. We have bought him lots of new toys but he just doesnt seem to be interested in playing with any of them anymore.

Hi all, I am new to the forum and would love to get some advice. My CAG recently starting plucking his feathers under both wings (last 5 months), it gradually got worse and led to self mutilation. We took him to an avian specialist who put a collar on him to stop him. Since then, the skin has healed and feathers have started to grow back even though there is still a blad patch under both wings. He gave us some medication to give him, Haliperidol. Before I started my CAG on the medication, I did do some research and I know many owners are against giving their parrots this mediciation. However I could see how miserable the collar was making him and so would like to give it a chance. He has just had the collar removed and the skin under his wings is starting to look sore again. I know the medication is not a long term solution and would like to get some advice on where I can start. We have had Lucky for 14 years and this is the first time he is showing this condition. We think it could be due to the fact that we moved early last year but cant be sure. Any advice you could give me is most welcomed. Many thanks Chigz

Hi all, My grey, Lucky, started picking his feather about 6 weeks ago under his wings. He has never shown this behavior before so we took him to the vets to get checked. Within a week of doing so it gt worse, with scabs forming. I have taken him to a avian specialist who explained this is a sign of self mutilation and has fitted with with a collar. I was expected a plastic cone but he has fitted a cast like collar around his neck. It has been about 4 days now and Lucky has become very clingy, always wanting to sit on someones shoulder. He cannot hold food in his hand as he cant reach it with his beak so we are having to either feed him or put it in a plate. He is also sleeping a lot more during the day, often not even realising that I have walked right up to him. I just wanted to get some advice as the speciliast said he would have to keep this on for around 4-6 weeks till the area under the wings heals. I am worried that he will get even more depressed as he cant really play with toys or move around very well. For anyone that has had experience with their grey wearing a cone, did it restrict your bird as it has mine? Thanks