Help please (CAG 8 months old)

[jay257]

Hello all, 

We have had our delightful little CAG (Larry), for around 4 months now, we bought him at 11 weeks so he is approx 7 months old.  Things we going very well - he was picking up a few commands / tricks step up etc and potty training.  We decided against having him clipped and soon enough he was flying around the house and with the exception of a few crash landings was settled very well.  

However there has been a slow decline in almost every aspect of him.  We started to notice he was pulling his black flight feathers out and he seemed to prune almost non-stop to the point where he pulled out so many feathers he has stopped himself from being able to fly.  His behaviours changed slightly whereby he would refuse any treats (which he absolutely loved such as pumpkin/ sunflower seeds), and his overall energy seemed to decline - in the sense that a CAG his age should be investigating everything / being very active - however he seems to just want to perch on our shoulders or in his cage.

After taking him to 3 different vets - last guy who seems extremely knowledgeable was very concerned about the fatal PBFD (Parrot beak and feather disease), and we are currently awaiting the results which will come this Monday for blood tests.  He was extremely concerned at the colour / texture of his feathers and the fact he has plucked many - and he was particulaly concerned about the red feathers over his chest (which he has always had since we bought him).  We was told the red feathers over his legs and chest means he is classed a "King African grey"?  

You can see these in the pictures below - the red feathers over his body and there is a photo from behind showing all the black flight feathers he has pulled out.

Has anyone else had anything similar?  Its a waiting game until Monday but we are devastated it could be PBFD.  The vet said it could only has contracted this from the breeder as he hasn't been in contact with any other birds let alone Parrots.  We did so much research and feel like we have let him down.

Could anyone please share information they have regarding the red feathers and the behaviour i pointed out earlier?

Thank you so Much.

Photos below.

James

 

 

 

 

[Ray P]

It`s good that you have taken him to the vet as we are not veterinarians.

There are many things like emotional and nutrition issues that can cause plucking.

I hope your vet is a bird vet as the have special needs with their health with their health issues.

Taking  them to your vet is the best thing you can do for your Grey.

As to the red feathers on your grey, It`s called red factor grey so enjoy them as sometimes they out grow them and molt them out.

Pleas let us know how things  turn out.

Edited November 23, 2017 by Ray P

[Kasperhm]

Best of luck.

 

when you say sunflower seeds are treats, presume he is on a good diet generally. He looks like a trooper too. :-)

 

surely you doing the the right thing, as we here are more fans than vets!

 

[neoow]

You've done the right thing by taking him to the vet. I'm afraid I am not a vet and I have no experience of this type of problem so can only say that I feel for you and please keep us updated on any progress.

[Greywings]

i can add that sometimes when a Grey plucks the replacement feather will sometimes grow in red. Kind of like when a Grey dog has an area that was injured the hair may come back in black Brown on a white dogs. Also the more you let him know you are worried the more worried and stressed he will be so try and stay positive. The Beak and feather disease test is not always correct sometimes gives a false positive or a false negative one of the reasons this disease is so challenging. What ever the outcome just love that Grebie. I think "king grey" is a sales tool not a real subspecies.

Edited November 25, 2017 by Greywings
additional info.

[Acappella]

The red factor means nothing to his health so don't worry about that.  Like others have said, what kind of diet is he on?  You've done the right thing getting him to a vet, as long as he/she is an avian vet.  Let us know what the test results are.

[judygram]

James, you have not updated us on what you may have found out about Larry, what are his test results? The red factor feathers are nothing to be concerned about, my cag has a couple on her neck, she never had any before and most likely  will molt out.

[jay257]

Hey guys,

 

Im so sorry i have taken this long reply - I actually did reply on another forum.....my apologies.

Larry is all good and the blood tests came back perfectly normal.  The red feathers are purely just his unique colours, and they have actually starting to fall out of his chest, u can see from this recent pic he still has them on his legs, but the redness has reduced significantly over the last year.  Thank you for all your concerns and replies :)

 

James

 

 

[Greytness]

That's fantastic news! It looks like he's been leaving his feathers alone, too!