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I can't really answer this question, but with Zahzu we've got nicknames for her! Like sometimes we will call her cuckoo and baba, and my baby, and ofcourse Zahzu - so she says all of these names! I think she'd respond to anything we say - because it's always in the same tone of voice-and she knows that she's the only one privileged enough to receive baby talk! -Sameera

Well, a blood feather is basically just a new feather growing, that has an active blood supply encased in the 'pin' of the feather - which is like the 'stalk' of the new growing feather. The first 2 times I think she's fallen and they have gotten broken, the 3rd time I'm not sure what happened, but she may have nipped the feather by over-preening it, and this 4th most recent trip to the vet was an ingrown feather (otherwise known as a feather cyst). Zahzu had to have all her primary flight feathers removed under anaesthetic after a bad bad bad wing clip - and now the new feathers growing in don't have protection so they are exposed, which makes them very vulnerable. If you do a google image search, you'll find plenty of pictures of what a blood feather looks like -Sameera

I totally second that Kath - everyone here is soooo supportive, informative and patient! Thanks guys! -Sameera

LOL! I think a homing pigeon that isn't home anymore is in for big trouble! ;-) Sameera

That's so nice to hear When he brings you things, you can place your palm flat on the floor and say "bring it to me" and reward him with a little treat - this forms the basis for a lot of trick training you can do with him when he grows up! Enjoy!! -Sameera

Considering the pigeon has a band on it's leg - it might be belonging to someone - maybe you could call the pigeon racing club closest to you??? However, since he's been there a while - he may find your place 'home' now, so wherever he goes, he'll always come back! That's one amazing thing about pigeons and nobody really knows how they manage to navigate their way back 'home'. Here in South Africa there is an annual pigeon race, and the pigeons sometimes get sold after the race for exorbitant amounts of money - the pigeons come from all over the world to be trained and raced here - I can't recall the name of the race though! :blush: -Sameera

Well, there was a bit more blood this afternoon, so I figured the feather would have to be removed - took her to the vet (stressful drive in the travel cage:( ) and the vet removed the damaged feather - it was actually an ingrown feather - he said it was very long, and growing back curled into the skin, so in any case it would have needed removal. She seems ok, talking a little but doing a bit of plucking since we got home - but I'm paying her no attention! the vet we saw today was not her usual one, and this vet told me next time I can remove the feather myself if necessary - he said it's like pulling out a hair, but from what I've read it's pretty painful for them am I right? Anyway, hopefully, I pray, there won't be a next time! Going to talk to her regular vet tomorrow morning, and see what he says about the whole situation. Thanks so much for the help everyone - you are an amazing support network for us! -Sameera

It's pretty hillarious what they can put together on their own, Zahzu's latest is *knock knock* hello baba, how are you? Gimme a kiss *mwaaaah* !

Figured out where the blood is coming from - from under her left wing (the one she used to pluck). No more than that 1 drop came out, and there was 2 or 3 feathers on her body soiled with a tiny bit of blood. It's really a small amount of blood - no more than 2ml at most that would have come out - do I need to worry about this? Also, gave her sprouts and brocolli and she chowed into this - I'm worried we've being spoiling her with nuts and more seeds than usual, because we've been trying to increase her weight, so maybe thats why she's not eating as much pellets? She's put to bed now. Look forward to your always ever helpful guidance as to what I should do. I'm feeling if there is no more blood coming out, maybe we can avoid a vet visit? -Sameera

Well, there was a drop of blood that landed clean on the floor - and the area where the feather was removed was on her back - say, the equivalent of where the tops of our shoulder blades are - like on her back basically; which makes me think that the blood wasn't from that wound. How should I check? She won't let me look at all! Also, the feather plucking started before yesterday's visit to the vet, I was thinking it could be pain from the blood feather that was broken last? I know the vet visits are really stressful, for both of us even! But what should my next move be?? Should I force her to let me look??

Hey guys, Yesterday we went to the vet, and had a borken blood feather removed - just now, I was having a shower, and Zahzu was sitting on the back of the chair in the bathroom chatting a little, and then preening - and when I got out the shower there was a drop of blood on the floor I'm so frustrated - what do I do? I can't see where the blood is coming from - I've put her in her cage and giving her some food and going to put her to sleep in an hour or so. Also, we are starting to notice she's not eating as much as she used to - I'm so frustrated and stressed - got knots in my tummy! Oh, and it seems she's started to feather pluck again - on her crop area I guess it's back to the vet tomorrow! -Sameera

Relax and don't stress Remember Nicky can sense the feelings you are having - act happy and cheerful like nothing happened, and believe it or not, he'll soon have forgotten the whole incident. Sit near the cage and read stories, sing nursery rhymes and talk about everything and anything you can think of. Lots of laughing and fun-times is what he needs to see. Tomorrow is another day, don't worry your baba will be fine fine fine. The vet that we don't take Zahzu to anymore did that to Zahzu while he was shouting at me, and she's recovered from that....so don't stress! Focus on the positives and enjoy your new baby! Don't be worrying about anything too much. Sameera

Zahzu sometimes flaps her wings while holding onto a perch on her play pen on top of her cage - I get a feeling she does it when she's irritated with something? But I'm not sure... reason I say it's when she's irritated is because she'll flap, and then make like she's going to peck at her wing (when she was feather plucking she used to actually pluck the feathers). I'm not sure what it's about really. -Sameera

LOL! My hubby was very against giving Zahzu a bell for just that reason - the noise! But she has one anyway ;-) We all know who's boss around here! I've only ever caught her playing with it once (one of those indestructible ones), and she swings it and bangs it around rather than rings it! I hung a little toy guitar up from the side of her cage - it has beads encased in it, and she has discovered the pleasure of banging things against the cage bars too! I guess it's an outlet for frustration maybe?? Heheh..

Hi Mel, Have you ever trimmed a Grey's toenails before? You need to be really really careful when doing so because there is blood supply to the nails, and if you rupture this - it is extremely painful to the bird. We had a vet (whom we no longer go to) trim her nails - and he hurt one of her nails, and also filed her beak which was totally unnecessary. With the beak, she bumped it, and because it was filed too much, the beak bled a little - and this would have been painful for her also. An over trimmed toenail is one of the possible precursors for feather plucking too (and our bird did go through a 3-week phase of feather plucking - however there were other issues too, which are now thankfully resolved!). Also, since that not so wonderful nail file, she can't grip onto things - especially our jeans/pants when she is sitting on us, and has a tendency to fall and slip which is really unpleasant, and I'm sure stressful for her. So pleaassseee be super careful - what I'd do to have those cuts back on my hand I can't tell you! I'd prefer that than to see my baby slipping and falling! I don't mean to be such a horrible pessimist - but I learned from experience and it wasn't a nice experience. -Sameera

awwww...i want to squeeeeze her she looks so cuddly!! ;-) -Sameera

For sure - I think the medication would be an absolute last resort - and the vet is treating it as just that which I'm glad about. This molting business is such a pain - can't wait for it to be over - but I hear it can take about 5months! Eeek! Will keep you all updated - going to go warm up some birdie bread for the little madam now ;-) -Sameera

Thanks guys. Went to the vet just now, and it was a very damaged blood feather that was removed - she'd chewed off the 'feather' part, and just the 'stalk' was left - so blood was coming out the end of it, so it definately had to be removed. The vet said that she may need to go onto the antidepressants/calmatives we talked about earlier if she keeps breaking feathers. Our last 2 visits to the vet they haven't charged us - they are angels! Need to go bake something for them now. Zahzu was in such a good mood this morning before taking her to the vet - feel very guilty for putting her through all of this! She's back to her normal self now, just a bit peeved I can tell - she doesn't want to sit with me! I'm sure she'll get over it soon enough. Ps. will need to avoid those 'floating orbs of death' ;-) lol. -Sameera

Oh my goodness - that is hillarious!!! Talk about possessive! hehehehe!

Hi, This is a pretty tricky situation - you seem to be doing great in that you are able to get her to take her medication that way, when Zahzu has had to have antibiotics in the past, it's been the type that goes into her drinking water. Is it possible to mix the medicine in with some baby food (eg. carrots/sweet potato/ apple sauce) and feed it to her with a spoon? I'm sure he'll love the attention, and it'll go down better! Also, if you sign up for Flock Talk on the World Parrot Trust website, they have a great article this month on teaching your baby to turn around - will be wonderful bonding time for you with Rio. http://www.parrots.org/ is their website. Hope this helps! Sameera

Hi pmahlom, You can tell if he's still plucking if you are finding marks/sores on the skin - if feathers are at the bottom of the cage or obviously if you catch him in the act! Zahzu had about 3 weeks of being a plucker, and that was about a month ago - and she's got most of the feathers grown back in the bald spots already. Her mood is much better than the time she was plucking, she's back to singing, talking and manipulating us - and she's generally just happier and wants heaps more physical attention from us then when she was plucking. The larger feathers might not grow back till the next molt, but I seem to think the smaller ones may grow back sooner - I might be wrong though. All the best! Sameera

Hey guys, Sorry - has been a while since I've written here. Since Zahzu had her visit with the vet, and got all the damaged feathers removed - she's been fine! However, she has had bleeding blood feathers 3 times now in the past month! I've taken her to the vet twice - first time one feather was removed, second time - which was just a few days ago she had 3 removed (1 broken and bleeding a little, one about to bleed, and another one which was dried up - not sure why!). On Friday morning I noticed blood on the bottom of her cage - just one drop, then Saturday night I saw she'd maybe overpreened a blood feather, and a tiny bit of blood came out - so I didn't panic, Sunday night more blood came out - but no vet was available and today, She seems fine, but noticed some blood on her beak after preening and I think there is a broken blood feather. I'm thinking I better take her to get it removed - even though it's only a tiny bit of blood coming out, I think it may be bothering her, because she has plucked out a few feathers over the past few days! I'm not panicking as much, but its very frustrating - any advice or support is welcome ;-) She's chatting away and playing as normal, so rather sort this problem out quickly than let it go on. Just frustrating taking her to the vet so many times - will it get easier over time? Hmmm... Sameera :side:

Hehehehe... that is hilarious! Thanks for the laugh guys!

Heheh... these are great stories! Dan, can I please get a copy of the riot act?? My nephews and nieces range from 1yr to 16yrs of age... Zahzu has a bit of a jealousy complex with the 1 and 2 year old nieces (it's not fair when they get baby talk and she doesn't!), but with the older kids she loves the attention. She really enjoys the screaming and shouting they do - and she joins in. She is usually only on her play stand on top of her cage, or in her cage when more than 2 of the kiddos are around. The kids know they are not allowed to touch her, or get too close and stick fingers in the cage, so if ground rules are followed things are fine. The advantage is they are really scared of getting bitten (Zahzu has only ever bitten twice before!), so this encourages them to follow the rules. Even the little ones say "scared" if they come too close to Zahzu (and her beak!). In the past I had a wonderful budgie, and he'd let children carry him, cuddle him and feed him - so if I had kids I probably would have opted for a smaller bird who can't do as much damage if frightened.

Hey guys, I must be sounding really really like a paranoid twit right now - but I have another question! I rather ask it than worry about it ;-) Zahzu is molting, however it sometimes looks like she's pulling out down feathers when she is preening - I'm worried she's starting to pluck again! I found one non-down feather in the bottom of her cage this morning, so I'm not sure! Just thought I'd ask you guys, and maybe you could shed some more light on the issue and share ur opinions. Thanks so much!