QP4CAG Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Jax just turned 1 on December 27th. In November, I noticed he started pulling out his feathers. Here is a picture from when he first started: After he did this, things seemed to improve. He stopped plucking and some new feathers were coming in. Then, in January, we had an oven fire. I quickly got Jax out of the room and we cleared the smoke before bringing him back in, but I think the stress caused him to pluck his wings. Once again, Jax left this area alone and was beginning to heal. I recently (yesterday) added Avitec Featheriffic to his food (Harrison's pellets) and he plucked again, this time on his lower back. I have discontinued use of the Featheriffic and I am hoping to see improvement once again. I am at a loss as to why he keeps reverting back to plucking behavior. He has an excellent diet (Harrison's pellets, bird bread made with fresh veggies, cooked grains and veggies, fruits), plenty of toys, a huge cage, plenty of out of cage time. I am hoping to get some guidance as to what I should do next. I have a vet appointment with a certified avian vet on Wednesday. Are there any specific tests I should be asking for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 (edited) Oh poor Jax. It is good to hear you have an appointment with an Avian Vet. They will know the right questions to ask you and also what to test for. Plucking as severe as seen in your photos is a very extreme case. It could be from nervousness, to food allergies or underlying health issues. Your vet may recommend things such as getting off the Harrison's, which contain peanuts and sunflower seeds mainly due to a possible peanut allergy for example. Do you mist with 100% Aloe Juice until he is soaking wet at least 3 x a week? Also, 100% Aloe Gel will help on those exposed raw areas to sooth and heal. I have no doubt you are very upset and concerned about this, as any of us would be. Hopefully the Vet will be bale to determine the underlying cause which is sometimes very hard to do at times. Please post an update when you get back from the Vet. Edited January 22, 2012 by danmcq Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QP4CAG Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 Thank you Dan for your concern....i do mist him w/aloe but evidentally not enough as suggested. I am going to the store after work to purchase the gel and some more juice. and i plan on bathing his little butt every day if needed w/the stuff.....I have an austin air set up near his cage as well as humidifier...i too am suspecting dry, itchy skin, but ill find out for sure hopefully when i take him in...i will def post any updates as they surface!!!! thank you!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 A question on the air purifier and humidifier. How long have they been there? Do you think he could be afraid of those? Anything that can cause fear and anxiety can exacerbate the issue of plucking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animalINSPIRED Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Another thing to consider is a corn allergy... Featheriffic contains corn which could have aggravated him if he does have an allergy. I hope the vet gives you the answers your seeking. It's so hard to pinpoint why they pluck sometime and his case seems to have become severe in a short time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kins2321@yahoo.com Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 It is important to go to vet. Obviously, chewing feathers. Just the beginning. Everyone has great ideas.It is important to stop this behavior quickly. I will be glad to help, only after all traditional plans haven't worked. Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawL Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 So sorry to hear about your baby, but so nice to see a concerned parront. Sounds to me like you have his best interest in mind, and you are doing everything you can to help him. I hope this behavior improves for you guys. I gotta say though, he is a cute little man Be sure to ask as many questions you can think of to your vet. Try to leave there with confidence. I know this is a very trying time, but we are here for you for support if you need us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerial.2000 Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Goodness I sure hope the Vet is able to help you. Let us know what you find out! I hear so much about the plucking and dander and am tryin to learn so much so Im looking forward to hearing what your vet suggests. Good luck to you and Jax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvgrey Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Wow, this little birdie sure has done some plucking - it is so sad to see it. Sure hope this improves - we know how the owner feels. Our AG is 2 now and about a month ago started plucking out feathers from his one wing. We were so concerned we took him to the vet. The vet told us it was due to having electric heat and not enough humidity in the air. He recommened Rain, a Aloe spray, and getting a humidifier. We did both and he improved for about 2 weeks, now he is back to picking at the same area. We do not find feathers like before, but he is aggressively going at the same area under his wing. The vet said they can become obsessive after once picking at an area, and the next step would be a "birdie Prozac" - did anyone ever hear of that treatment? Who wants a birdie that sits on his perch in a stuper - we do not want to do this at all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenabrd Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 luvgrey, athena has been on meds for her plucking in the past. it wasn't prozac though, i forget the name, sorry. the initial treatment is a shot, then we had a choice to take her for a shot on a scheduled basis every 6-8 weeks or use drops daily. we chose the drops, since she's very aware of who her vet is, lol!!! she's always worse at the vet than any dog i've ever had!! we had some success with this treatment as at that time she was plucking all the time and was just taking the bright green feathers off her chest. she left the grey down and didn't mutilate any skin. we took her to the vet to be checked out, everything was fine, but that's when we finally ran dna (she was 2 and had reached maturity) and found out athena's really a boy! now it seems to be once a year in the fall that she plucks off the bright green chest feathers, even though the lights are on a timer all year long. so we've chosen to not do this while it continues to be just a once a year thing. if at some point it becomes all the time, we'll reassess at that time. some birds do great, others it does nothing for, its just like with people, it works differently for individuals. the first day or so, athena was very quiet and calm, a little sleepy, but that's it. she ate well, played, etc, just wasn't her loud conure self for a day or two. after that, she was her normal self, loud, energetic and a typical conure. like i said, if at some point she starts doing this constantly again, i have no reservations or problems using this treatment option for her. we do run a humidifier in the winter, increase spray baths and have even more shredding options available during the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I understand hemp seed is also a good diet supplement for plucking birds. My next door neighbor has an ekkie that hemp seed is helping and I understand that a cockatoo in the area is also on hemp seed and it seems to help with the plucking. Check the internet or ask your avian vet about hemp seed for your parrot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kins2321@yahoo.com Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I think we see some birds pluck, some don't. All have great parents. They can have parents that do all the same things. It is a mystery to me. I have become more interested in learning more. Started watching Sophie. As she spends alot of her time with us, ( not necessarily our choice, but hers)... open cage has its benefits, but also, we are always on Sophie's schedule, when we are home.She DOES spend alot of time preening and making herself beautiful. She also sometimes ignores a feather, that seriouslly has to go. Boys have a way to get her to trim what she is not interested in trimming. I wish I had the answers. Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QP4CAG Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 I appreciate all of your guy's input and advice.....today is the day I take him in to the vet....since ive posted, he has plucked more up his back on and on his wing:( Dan....we've had the austin purifier for at least 8 m/os now....the humidifier id say 3......now mind you, this acitivity didn't start until i hosted a big halloween party.....it was 'bout the mid November, when he started barbering the feathers...i was told he was going through a molt and when there this young, this can happen b/c they don't understand what is going on.....it wasn't til we had the oven fire which was 'bout 3wks ago he started mutulating...then he stopped for 'bout 2wks, and then i added the featherific and all hell broke lose........ ive since bathed him w/aloe and put aloe gel on his wounds, which seem to help but like i said, yesterday he did more damage....ill def be sure to update once i get back from the vet....keep your fingers crossed for a postive outcome") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animalINSPIRED Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I hope the vet visit went well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvgrey Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) Thenabrd: Thank you so much for this information on your birdie. This makes the treatment sound more assuring as a type of treatment for our bird's picking. We will certainly take him back to the vet if need be. Like our chldren, we will do everything that is necessary to keep them happy and healthy. Thank you for helping us understand the treatment would really help, and not make him sit in a stuper forever as we imagined. It is so helpful to hear other bird owners experiences - thanks again. Edited January 26, 2012 by luvgrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenabrd Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 luvgrey, you're welcome! just remember that all birds are different. like i said, athena did well after the first day or so, but that may not be true for all birds! the vet and i discussed all the possible effects this treatment could have before i decided to try it with her. that's what everyone should do when thinking about this approach, discuss it thoroughly with your vet and then make the best informed decision you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QP4CAG Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 So the vet did a complete blood work, Grain, and a couple other ones, where I have to wait for results.....The vet did give me some antibiotics in the meantime....so far, he's only plucked a couple of times since the vet trip.....She seems to think he's overly stressed.....Soooo please keep your thoughts and prayers for him and as soon as i get the results back, ill post...thank you everyone!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerial.2000 Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 sending good thoughts and prayers your way keep us posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kins2321@yahoo.com Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Hope all goes well! Nancy and Sophie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QP4CAG Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 Test results back.....his white blood cells are elevated, low protein, he has yeast and his levels of clostridta??? is off....my poor little dude....so i go to the vet today to pick up 3 more meds (total 4) one his a pain reliever. Please keep us in your prayers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerial.2000 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Test results back.....his white blood cells are elevated, low protein, he has yeast and his levels of clostridta??? is off....my poor little dude....so i go to the vet today to pick up 3 more meds (total 4) one his a pain reliever. Please keep us in your prayers oh goodness I hope all these meds help him and make him feel LOTS better! prayers still out there for you and your baby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QP4CAG Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 oh goodness I hope all these meds help him and make him feel LOTS better! prayers still out there for you and your baby! thank you!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malikah Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Best wishes for a speedy recovery and an end to the plucking behavior! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Wow, it's great that you had a great vet that found the underlying health issues. The hide illness so well. Please keep us update on his progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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