Feather Plucking

[uberduke]

I would just like to share this story with other parrot lovers. My African grey is almost ten years old an about 9 Months ago I came home to feathers everywhere.

I tried everything to change this new love of biting feathers. Diet, toys, cage, spraying but no luck, so it was off to a vet.

I was told that I had left it much to long and it is now a bad habit, much like nail biting in youngsters.

After being checked out (nothing could be found) My bird ha been fitted with an enormous collar. I collected her on Friday 20th April, you cant believe how stessfull this is for me, never mind my bird. I have been told that it can take up to 6 Months before the collar comes off. How are we to survive. My advise to any other owners, dont wait to get this problem sorted.<br><br>Post edited by: uberduke, at: 2007/04/23 12:47

[Guest]

Uberduke welcome here I hope you will enjoy the forum.

 

Is it getting better though while wearing this collar?

[uberduke]

Hi FairY

It's got to work,Phoebe cant reach any part of her body, but I can't see a difference yet it,s only been a week. I dont know how long it takes for feathers to grow back. It,s just so sad to see her like this. No toys, one perch and no climbing.

[Guest]

It's for her own good, Uberduke. It hurts sometimes to see the ones you love suffer - but life is hard and it seems for our feathered friends this doesn't count exception.

 

Hopefully all feathers will grown back and she whill adapt to having them and not plucking them again. That's why this collar might also serve another purpose: to get out of this 'addiction' <br><br>Post edited by: FairY, at: 2007/04/24 19:58

[Guest Monique]

How sad, I am so sorry you are going through this with your birdie . Hang in there you are doing everything you can to make it better.

 

A few other common suggestions I have seen people really swear by to help ...

 

1) Mix aloe w/water and mist her daily. You can find the recipe on-line. Supposed to be soothing to the skin and deter biting due to skin irritation.

 

2) Get something else for her to do. Put balls of paper in her cage, hang adding tape for her to unfurl, give rinsed out fast food soda glasses & straws, tie short pieces of yarn all over that she can untie and throw on the floor. Get some foraging toys with seeds (or other treats) inside.

 

None of these things would hurt having with the collar at the same time. Even if she won't play with anything in item #2 I would still keep it up. If one day it catches on she may have found herself a new past time to replace the old.

 

Try not to beat yourself up if you cannot get the plucking stopped. It is a habit and if you have ever had one (who hasn't) you know it's one of those things that another person can't just "make you" quit. So if you cannot make her quit it is not your fault. You just have to keep trying what you can think of.

[uberduke]

Hi Monique,

Thanks so much for your advice. I cant believe I have been so stupid, I have always bought indestructible, expensive,imported toys for her to play with,not thinking that she loses interest because they dont fall to pieces. It makes so much more sense to give her things that can be destroyed.

I will try all your suggestions.