jdr Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Coco just pulled out a tail feather.Could she be starting to pluck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMustee Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 First, don't do anything. If she gets a rise out of you it could become a habbit. It could also have just come out...how old it Coco again? Many feathers come out during molting when the bird is preening, so I wouldn't be too worried Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Yeah don't fly off the handle at the loss of one feather, she could be starting to molt them out, but in any case like Berna said don't make a big deal out of it or she will do it again for the reaction it gets. Don't worry needlessly.:blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdr Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 She is about nine months old.She was on top of her cage and I was watching her she was preening.Then she just reached back and yacked it out.So after a minute I put her back in her cage and she starts eating and then playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMustee Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Oh yeah, it molted out. Nothing to wory about!B) :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdr Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 So it's not too early for the first molt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMustee Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 no, I wouldn't think so. Molting times are more of a "ballpark" figure. It's normally around a year of age, but the weather can cause it to be earlier or later. Plus, every bird molts different, some molt is one huge molt a year, other have smaller molts a few times a year, and others are in a constant molt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdr Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 Thanks to both of you for the advise.Plucking is one of my biggest fears with greys.I guess I read too many horror stories,it is acually the main reason I back out of getting one when I got my Severe Macaw instead.I have always wanted a grey so this time I just went for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 The main thing is even if she does start plucking don't feed into that by reacting to it, ignore it or she will continue to do it for the response it brings out of you. But I don't think you have to worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMustee Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 yeah, and as long as you expose her to new things and places the less likely it is that she will pluck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandra902 Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 my merlin is a feather plucker and it's not so bad really. i don't know any different and i adore him whether he plucks or not. granted you won't see a photo of him any time soon but then i don't photograph well myself either. and thank goodness he doesn't pluck to bare skin i don't think i could handle that. he just looks kind of frowzy is all. i will admit when i find a feather in the bottom of the cage i will ask him what that is all about. but i don't treat him any differently than i did my daughter when she bit her nails (i bite mine too). "hey whaddya call this anyway" not a big drama but a simple question. and i always reinforce how brave and handsome and smart he is so he hears that much much more than the odd mention of a loose feather here and there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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