merin44

Dear Dave, Thanks for the advice. The Aloe sounds like a great idea. I guess molokai is an acute picker by your definition. He lets his feathers grow back, then starts all over again. The last time he did this we took him to the vet and he said Molokai was just a nervous bird and suggested prozac, which we immediately declined. He even gets UV light for 4 hours a day/Dr recommended. I do let him show that i dont like his picking, by sometimes crying, because i feel so bad, especially when he looks so bad. As i said to Judy, i will have to stop showing emotions around him. We interact with him. His sleeping cage is downstairs and his perch is upstairs with us, so he is always in a high traffic area. He can always see us and we him. He comes and sits with us on the couch and gets tickles, and he gets to eat paper and toilet paper rolls which are his favotite toys off his perch. Does anyone here use prozac for their birds? Im just asking, because im wondering how it works. When i say i think hes in "danger" i dont want him to pick out his blood feathers and bleed to death. Anyway, thank you again for your advice. I think I will take Molokai to the vet, just to make sure he doesnt have any kind of skin condition. Right now he looks all raggedy. The poor baby. Erin

Dear Judy, In answer to your questions, Molokai is out of his cage all day every day...accept when we go out to a Drs appt or something like that. He had to stay in his cage for 24 hours because i had to leave for 24 hours on Wed. I live with my hubby, and our puppy Madison. Ron gives him all kinds of attention when i cant and Madison and Molokai get along really well for a puppy and a CAG. Yes, I have had him since he was 3 months old. He started feather picking probably about the time i got sick. I guess he isnt as much a chronic picker than an acute picker, because he does let his feathers grow back, but then he starts all over again. I do however get upset when he picks, i cant help myself. I guess i need to learn not to get upset when i see him doing it, or try to hold in my emotions. He only does it when I am around or when we leave him in his cage, or when he doesnt want to do something I...MEEE, asks him to do something. Thanks for your response....Erin

i posted the blog here...sorry, i didnt realize how this worked...thank you dave for telling me what i needed to do! Erin

Hi everyone, Im new here. I really need your help!!!!!!!! I have a 4yr old CAG. Ive been sick for over 2 years and Molokai has become a chronic feather picker. I know he senses Im sick and that may be why he is picking. He also does it when he doesnt want to do something. For example, if he doesnt want to step up. I feel like a bad mom. I have no idea what to do with him. I am scared that he is in real danger. On Wednesday, i had to leave him in his cage and even though he had plenty of toys food and water, he picked all his tail feathers out...well he looks like he got a tail-cut. He only has half of them...like he took scissors and clipped right across his tail feathers. Please, someone help me, help Molokai!!! Thank you...Erin

please read my blog...i need your help with my CAG. Thank you...Erin..merin44