Ajax and overpreening!

[Ajax4289]

So I've posted 2 other posts on this subject

Let me make a long story short....

I thought Ajax was molting when indeed he is either plucking or over preening himself on his neck. Took him to the vet and the vet couldn't find any itchy skin. She recommended a change of diet(no dyes in his zupreem food),more baths, and MUCH LESS treats!

 

We've been taking 3-5 showers per week and I've been trying to make him eat the "natural" zupreem pellets but he is spoiled rotten and picks at or around them(I'm mixing it with his fruit shaped zupreem pellets)It's about almost 2 weeks later and I see NO improvement. Np pin feathers coming in and in fact it looks like it's getting a little worse! Avian vet recommended seeing another more knowledgeable avian vet and do some blood tests and see if anything can be determined by that. I forgot to ask how long I should wait before getting conearned enough to do blood tests!(I was sick and had no voice that day! lol)

 

I never see the big top feather that are missing around his cage or play areas, I also never see him pluck them out(could they just be falling out?) He's not plucking himself bald, the downy feathers are still intact(just the top feather gone) which is what confused the vet.

 

So on to my question: How long should I watch for feathers to come in, or watch his spot? He seems healthy otherwise and happy. Playing,talking, eating right, and I've not given treats amply at all! Help?!

[Dave007]

What you need to know about is feather construction and the lengths of time it takes for feathers to grow back.

When a bird molts, it drops a huige amount of feathers within 4 to 6 days. That type of molt can happen once or twice a year. That type of molt usually doesn't include tail and wing feathers which sporadically fall out all year long. I looked at your picture and I've seen hundreds of pictures of birds that have that situation in different parts of their bodies and it's a common occurance.

1----changing the diet won't correct the problem

2-----changing treats won't correct the problem

3----more or less showering/bathing/misting won't correct the problem

4----for your bird's situation a blood test is no t necessary because the problem is in one area. If there was a problem, that fluffing would be all over the body

It's obvious to me that your bird isn't molting. You went to a vet and he recommeded another vet. I have no idea why because it's not a problem that vets can correct.

Another thing about your bird's situation has to do with you. No one told you how long it would take to be corrected so you're expecting results in the 3, 4,5 week range which won't happen and this is why------

First off, that area may take as long as 8 to 12 mts to change back to normal ( depending on the bird's next molt). That's when new feathers grow in. The feathers that come in with a major molt are now gone from that area. There's loads of reasons why that happened but it can happen with an over enthusiastic feather puller or a bird that is scratching themselves with the claw which is also not unusual. *****Np pin feathers coming in*****. I can tell you that pin feathers are there because if there wasn't that fluff wouldn't be there. Exterior and interior feathers all grow in from the same place.

*****He seems healthy otherwise and happy. Playing,talking, eating right, and I've not given treats amply at all! Help?! *****

The reason he's doing that is simply because there's nothing wrong with him.

There's many decent treats out there which are good for birds that are good for birds and they can be given as treats or food.

SO, now you know what's going on and the amount of time you may have to wait until you see changes.

AND you'll notice that I didn't make a long story short because there's no short way to explain your bird's situation

[Ajax4289]

What you need to know about is feather construction and the lengths of time it takes for feathers to grow back.

When a bird molts, it drops a huige amount of feathers within 4 to 6 days. That type of molt can happen once or twice a year. That type of molt usually doesn't include tail and wing feathers which sporadically fall out all year long. I looked at your picture and I've seen hundreds of pictures of birds that have that situation in different parts of their bodies and it's a common occurance.

1----changing the diet won't correct the problem

2-----changing treats won't correct the problem

3----more or less showering/bathing/misting won't correct the problem

4----for your bird's situation a blood test is no t necessary because the problem is in one area. If there was a problem, that fluffing would be all over the body

It's obvious to me that your bird isn't molting. You went to a vet and he recommeded another vet. I have no idea why because it's not a problem that vets can correct.

Another thing about your bird's situation has to do with you. No one told you how long it would take to be corrected so you're expecting results in the 3, 4,5 week range which won't happen and this is why------

First off, that area may take as long as 8 to 12 mts to change back to normal ( depending on the bird's next molt). That's when new feathers grow in. The feathers that come in with a major molt are now gone from that area. There's loads of reasons why that happened but it can happen with an over enthusiastic feather puller or a bird that is scratching themselves with the claw which is also not unusual. *****Np pin feathers coming in*****. I can tell you that pin feathers are there because if there wasn't that fluff wouldn't be there. Exterior and interior feathers all grow in from the same place.

*****He seems healthy otherwise and happy. Playing,talking, eating right, and I've not given treats amply at all! Help?! *****

The reason he's doing that is simply because there's nothing wrong with him.

There's many decent treats out there which are good for birds that are good for birds and they can be given as treats or food.

SO, now you know what's going on and the amount of time you may have to wait until you see changes.

AND you'll notice that I didn't make a long story short because there's no short way to explain your bird's situation

 

Ok so he's not molting. But if he plucking couldn't he be plucking/over preening for a reason?Could there be a small chance he could have a condition?I think that is why my vet recommended another bet for blood testing/cultures.(she is an avian vet but not a specialist)

Or are you saying that yes he's plucking/preening and that in his next molt those feathers will re-grow?

 

This is my first parrot so I'm new to everything. I just want my Ajax to have the best healthy life possible

[Dave007]

I never said he was plucking. If he was plucking/chewing, you'd know it. It's not hard to conceal. Overpreening and plucking are 2 different things. Overpreening could be a sign of an over zealous or somewhat nervous bird. Many birds are like that.

***Could there be a small chance he could have a condition?****

Well, I dion't know what condition could possibly cause a bird to overpreen one spot. i've never seen it. That's why your vet didn't know what to do. You can go to another vet and the best you'll get is an ointment to rub on the area but that's not usually done unless thae area is completely bald. A condition can only be treated if a condition exists.

****Or are you saying that yes he's plucking/preening and that in his next molt those feathers will re-grow?****

More than likely, yes. And I'll say it again----your bird isn't plucking.

There's nothing concerning that spot that a blood test will tell but do what you feel is best.

*****I just want my Ajax to have the best healthy life possible *****

The problem that now exists isn't gonna affect quality health that you give.