mas

It was a very thin collar made of radiograph material - Zahzu is SO SO happy it's off, and hasn't plucked so far. She's snuggled up in the knook of my husband's arm resting her head on his chest at the moment - she's allowing us to touch her wings and back which she never did before. At the moment thinking of leaving the collar off - in the first instance we didn't want the collar, but the vet kinda didn't give us a choice and put it on while under anaesthetic - it was done with Zahzu's best interests at heart though. Our vet is actually gone off work for a few months, as he's battling cancer - please make a little prayer for him too. -Sameera

Hey everyone, This is in followup to 'plucking problems '... reason i started a new thread is that I need advice sooon!! Tonight we noticed Zahzu had chewed up so much of the collar, that she almost got her head stuck in the thing - she was already getting her feet caught (I suspect she may have even cut herself on the collar!)...so we took action and took out the collar... She was sooo thrilled and preened away for about 20mins non-stop. Now, I wasn't happy with the collar business, as she was unable/too depressed to eat by herself - so should we get another put on tomorrow or Monday? I would prefer no collar - it did ok while it was on, but it definately was getting dangerous! What do we do?? Did we do the right thing taking it off?? -Sameera

Another update and question!! ;-) Zahzu is really giving her collar a battering! She's made the hole in the middle for her head a lot bigger, and is chowing away at the material the collar is made of (x-ray material..)... it still seems to be stopping her from plucking, however I'm worried now in a week or so we are going to have to go back to the vet and get another one made! Anyway, Moved her cage to another corner of the room today - hope that is going to help her also - she seems quite settled. Any idea if giving her peacock feathers to preen is a good idea?? Also, have been finding a few odd looking feathers, so bit worried about PBFD, but get results on monday - fingers crossed! -Sameera

Ahhh! I'm so glad to hear it was just mites! You must be so incredibly relieved - very happy for you, and especially Alfie! :side: -Sameera

Hey all! Just an update incase you are wondering - had a good day yesterday! Zahzu seems really well adjusted to the collar which is amazing - I'm so surprised! I was really worried she'll never get used to it! Have had a few broken blood feathers, but nothing that needed removal... and a suspect blood feather that fell out when she flapped her wings - look like it bled and then fell out - will ask about it at the bird and reptile park where i buy her food from... despite that, no worries, she's happy chewing up a string of pasta in her cage - i had better get threading! i'm starting work on monday - so she'll be home alone half a day, so want to try and leave her in her cage as much as possible next few days. -Sameera )

Thanks guys, I have been reading up, and actually found this info out it's great to know...however, also, I've been looking up the symptoms of the disease, and I'm thinking Zahzu might not actually have it because she's not displaying the symptoms as I thought she was... Anyway, will be a long wait till next week to find out! Oh, and that link made me laugh! We were just sitting together and she was enjoying evening cuddles again - put her to sleep and she's busy climbing all over her cage bars next to me - might try to settle her down before all the lights go out! Thanks for your support and kind words everyone - will keep you all posted! -Sameera

Hey guys, Just an update: Zahzu SEEMS to be getting used to the collar...however shes pulling off the elastoplast the vet put in the middle to make it softer on her skin - little worried it might cut her if she pulls it off, however the vet seemed unconcerned about this (I called him re: the broken blood feather and the plaster coming off). Last night we managed to take her out of her cage, and she sat on my hand and enjoyed head scratches for about an hour, and seemed to be quite happy. We will presist with the collar, however the temptation to just take it off is huge! She's looking really awful, only has nice feathers on her right wing, and lower tummy...everywhere else she'd plucked - in a matter of a few days. Anyway, I'm trying to leave her alone more than usual, because next week I start doing practicals at the local hospital as part of my EVENTUALLY getting registerd to practice in Sth Africa! Yay! Trying to keep myself busy with other things so I'm not consumed with worry over Zahzu. -Sameera

Me again - Zahzu fell and has broken a blood feather which is bleeding a little - called the vets office and he is out till 2pm, which is in one hour. Am really furstrated - Zahzu is crashing around her cage, really stressed - 3 or 4 days of this is going to be torture for her. -Sameera

Hey guys, Back from second vet visit and it's bad news! The vet suspects PBFD - he said her feathers are ver brittle and were just breaking, in addition to that I've noticed many deformed feathers - so that might be the case. It takes one week for results to come back - if positive he said our options are to let her battle it out till she passes away, or put her down. Also, she mutilated herself a bit last night, so the vet said he's not giving me a choice and put on the collar. Anyway, not happy at the moment... will keep you updated. Oh, we got home a while ago, and she figured out she can reach her tail and pulled out the last remaining tail feather - so she is tail-less. Will keep you all updated. -Sameera

Thats the thing - everything takes time! Will keep thinking, off to bed now... and when hubby gets home will discuss with him and let you know what we come up with. I'm not keen on the collar, rather lets see how the medication goes over the next month or so, and if no improvements, or within that time if things get worse, then maybe we can consider it - but will also see what the vet says... he was talking about an e-collar which i'm not keen on, i prefer a tube colar if we are going to use one... night night... -Sameera

Thanks Dan and Suziqque... Yeah, it is the last resort at this stage. I've put in strings of pasta into Zahzu's cage, rolled up newspaper, magazine type thing to shread, toys with string for her to preen, wooden toys for her to chew up, straws to chew up... she has lots to keep her occupied, and she often plays. I really do need to work on encouraging more foraging, and have just spent a lot of time reading up on ideas so will get into that soon - she does already have a couple of foraging toys, but need to encourage it more when she's IN her cage - she forrages constantly outside the cage. When I'm home she's out of the cage 99% of the time - but I think this is part of the problem, because she then associates being in the cage, with being alone. I want to record my voice and hubbys talking for when I go out to play for Zahzu. I just really don't know now about this collar, and I need to have a decision made by 10am tomorrow, its just past 6pm here now... I'm worried the collar is going to affect her climbing and eating... and if it affects the climbing will she fall down more and break more feathers?? Eish... decisions decisions! -Sameera She also talks a lot to entertain herself...

Hi Makena, Was just wondering how are things going now? Have you moved? Any success in cessation of the plucking?? -Sameera

Back from the vets and it's not great news. The vet said he can't remove the damaged feathers today, because he has no assistants, so i'm going to have to take her in tomorrow! again! He said he is going to do a test for PBFD, remove damaged feathers, and he said we are up to our last resort option - and that is a collar to help her stop. He said he has never used a collar on an african grey before, but had success with an eclectus. i'm not keen on a collar, and either is hubby - but the vet seems to think it is the only option left. What do we do?? -Sameera

Well, it's only been a few days since she is on the medication - guidelines say after a few weeks improvements should show. It's only when I'm not around that she picks, or when she is in her cage and I'm here and don't take her out... when she is on top of her cage, she's happy as larry! Will see what the vet says - have printed out an exhaustive list of causes that I will go through with the vet... no blood work has been done on her yet so maybe that is the way to go. She never used to be like this, she was always such a good baby!

Thanks Dan for your good wishes Update: Zahzu was fine all through Friday, and Saturday... however Saturday night I had to go out to a function, when i came back at about 10pm, she was on the front of her cage plucking. I waited a few minutes and took her out, and sat with her till past 11pm because she would NOT settle and go sleep... when I put her back to sleep I noticed a drop of blood at the bottom of her cage. Today, I took her out first thing in the morning, for a couple of hours, however when I put her back she was back to mad plucking (so I've taken her out again). However, I've noticed she's got some yellow spots on her skin where she has plucked - so called the vet and he said they are open at 5pm (3hours from now), so I'm going to have to take her in... This is a real test of my patience, I need everyones prayers please, because it's very testing, and even harder since my hubby is out of the country for the weekend! Zahzu has a lot of 'stumps' that are spiky left from feathers she has destroyed, so I'm wondering if that is now what is irritating her and those also need removal. Anyway, will update you all when back from the vets. I really really wish here in SA there was more information provided to new owners of birds - I feel if we had gotten into getting Zahzu with more information, we wouldn't be in this mess we are in now.... anyway, at least I'm doing the best I can do now hey? -Sameera

My husband had hand fed his ringneck before, but i was a complete ignoramous! ;-) It has become one of my pet hates too - where I come from, it's actually ILLEGAL to sell an unweaned baby, and when you buy a parrot, they are tame, socialised and well adjusted... it's a big problem here though. However when I broached the subject with one place that sells birds, they had the idea that the bird won't bond with the owner if they owner doesn't hand feed - and that is nonsense as we all know. Anyway, I'm just soooooo glad I found this forum! ) -Sameera

Kinda off the topic here, but it was mentioned that, MazyAK you blow dry your bird after bathing - I've read that sometimes hair dryers can be toxic to birds... but not 100% sure! -Sameera

"I know it's probably too late now, but is there any reason the breeder had you take the Grey home before it was weaned?" - Danmcq In South Africa it seems that selling unweaned babies is the norm. When we bought Zahzu we were very unaware unfortunately, we were told to feed her warm mixture three times per day, and given a photocopied handout and told "thats all the information you will need". We had no idea how to wean her or anything, thankfully we found this forum! We have learned so much from it! -Sameera

LOL! Berna, Zahzu also picks it and eats it! She's really sharpened her nails up recently! -Sameera

Thanks for your help guys. We are addressing the bathing issue... and we have a humidifier in the room also, as it's pretty dry where we live. The past few days, it seems Zahzu just doesn't want to be in her cage, and the only place she plucks is in the cage! I can't identify what could be bothering her... nothing has changed in routine, took out a toy that could have been bothering her so will see how that goes... She has had a couple of minor injuries, no major damage though so thats good. This weekend hubby has gone out of town, so I'm alone with Zahzu, and really worried about her falling and breaking blood feathers. *Sigh* -Sameera

I was just reading this thread, and I'm wondering - does the part you put the rice in, in the rice cooker have a teflon coating??

Thanks Dan - I think I'll try only covering her up half way - thats just so some of the light is reduced in her cage and she gets a good night's rest. In the past we weren't covering her fully; however the last couple of months we have been covering her fully - maybe she doesn't like that as you said. -Sameera

I really hope she won't pluck once the new feathers are in... it seems really painful what she is doing to herself. The medication came in yesterday, and she has had 2 doses - was really thankful that she managed to take it! She was growling at the syringe at first, so my husband fed me juice from it, and i enjoyed it soooo much! ;-) after that she was willing to have a small taste, so we have crushed the tablet up, and mixed it with fruit juice and administer it that way. She seems fine now - is happily preening in her cage after being out for a couple of hours; and any bleeding she had was minimal and it has clotted up nicely. This is going to be a looong next few months I think! -Sameera

Well, Zahzu is plucking again, but it's so much worse this time than last Today, she's pulled out feathers from the back of her wings, with very thick roots, and a bit of blood came out with the feather - it's stopped bleeding, but I'm just worried about it - if it continues she might develop infections, become aneamic etc. Has anyone else had this kind of experience? It's not just the soft little feathers that she's pulling out anymore - it's quite big feathers. -Sameera

Hey guys, The past few days, we have had a lot of difficulty in settling Zahzu down to sleep. Usually, we cover her up, turn off the lights, and we go to sleep also... and she climbs up onto her 'sleeping perch' grinds her beek, preens and goes to sleep. However, the past few days, she will climb down to the bottom of her cage, and pluck pluck pluck - for fear of her breaking a blood feather, I give her a few minutes to settle, and if she hasn't - the past 2 nights i have gone and opened her cage, picked her up, put her on the 'sleeping perch' without saying anything, and covered her up - she seems to settle like this.... I was wondering if anyone had some ideas how we can prevent this new plucking spree she goes on before going to bed? In addition to that, in a week or so we will be starting our fasting month, which means we are going to be up to have munchies just before sunrise- we have a 1bedroom flat; so Zahzu is going to get disturbed most likely by the noise we are going to make in the kitchen. Since she now has a tendency to want to come out of her cage whenever we are around; I'm wondering if this happens, do we take her out of the cage at that time?? Or do we ignore her (worried if we do this she'll pluck!)...it's going to be about 20mins that we are making noise and eating - so what do we do?? Thanks guys... Sameera