choppersmom Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Hi..i am in the midst of freaking out..i also have a grey who will be five this august. He is a big part of our family, and this past week for the first time he started plucking and chewing off his feathers. now he has no feathers left and barely no tail left either..my head is spinning trying to figure out why..i live in canada where right now it is below 20 out and cant bring him to a vet and am desperatey waiting for an aviarian vet to call me back who might come to my home..otherwise reading these responses will definately help me to rule out what the problem is rooting from..this is happening so fast and i am in a panic..2 days ago it was just his small feathers now the big ones are all gone..it so sad to see him this way..he is acting fustrated biting his nails and it seems he wants to be by our sides (my husband and I) every minute of the day now..last nite i moved his cage to my bedroom from the dining area where we mostly entertain and have the highest traffic in the house..i jusst dont know. I have spent the last 3 days taking hime out and putting him either on the bed with me while i watch tv or on a stand while i wash and clean what ever part of the house i am in..he calms down with his nail biting but then looks as though he is relaxed and grooming himself but chomp off comes another big feather and clipping off tips of other big feathers..and in between chatting away as usual in a happy mood..but once in his cage and left alone while i am in another room he bites his nails and chomps his feathers more…and vitiously …his appetite is still very good he eats mainly pellets and i give him apple and lately he has taking a liking to yougourt which i hope is ok to give him a few months ago we moved into another home..which he took suprisingly well, the room he lived in before had carpet and now wood flooring so i have left him in his cage more lately because it freaked me out a few times now when i would hear him plunk so hard on the floor , so when i couldnt be in the same room for a long period of time i would leave him in his cage unlike his last house..also the new bathroom shower was a big no no for him, we would shower him with us nearly every second day at the old house but here he doesnt like to even go near the bathroom,,so i have insisted to coax him and got him in twice now and once under the wateer doesnt look like he wants to get out, he normally baths in his big water dish once or twice a week maybe this wasnt enough..i dont know i am babbling in panic..sorry but i love my bird so much and want him to be happy and feathery again…he is a spoiled bird and hope i havent over spoiled him…thank you for more ideas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave007 Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 More than likely, you'll feel that many of these things don't apply but it's hard to say what happened overnight. There are many different reasons for this nasty habit. Greys are a parrot species that need quite alot of attention from his human owner. If this doesn't happen then the bird will probably get bored and this can result to feather plucking. But believe me that this feather plucking problem is very complicated because it's very hard to resolve it. There are cases when greys plucked their feathers because of getting to much attention. So you just don't know exactly how to treat your bird. Dietary imbalances, or environmental problems may also take to feather plucking. Some environmental problems or changes could be scented oils in the room where the parrot is kept or keeping him in a space with dry air. Also it's recommended for greys to get regular baths or to be exposed to some kind of moist air. African grey parrots shouldn't encounter any frightening experiences because this can take to feather plucking. Drastic quick heat changes can cause this. Heat should never be high. Skin dries out and feathers fall and whatever is left is taken off by the bird If this nasty habit appears in you bird's daily activities than you should first see a veterinarian. He will probably try to find a physical explanation for the bird's problem. It's best to try to understand what the veterinarian explains and try to find some ways of resolving the problem. Recent neurotic problems can cause this. Changes in the house scenery can cause this. Strangers who come around the bird can cause that. Other pets can cause that. Your best bet is that vet visit. There's also medical reasons why plucking starts and the vet is the only one who has the tools and medications and testing labs to check out results and give suggestions or lay out a medical plan.<br><br>Post edited by: Dave007, at: 2009/02/02 04:17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Dave has given you some excellent advice and if anyone knows it is him but I want to stress one thing. Do not panic over his plucking and chewing off of his feathers as that is not going to make him stop the behavior. In fact if you do give some kind of reaction to his doing this behavior you might be encouraging him to do it more for the reaction he gets. I know it is hard to do but you must ignore this when it happens and concentrate on finding out why he does this but first make that vet appointment and see if there is any physical reason for it. When you can please introduce yourself in the welcome room and tell us some more about you and this grey you have as we would like to get to know you two a little better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Dave gave great expert advice as always. One question I have, is did anything change in the last few weeks that upset him or could still be upsetting him? The reason I ask, is it seems he has never plucked for 5 years and now BAM he's plucking like a mad man. Going to the Avian is a very wise decision on your part to insure all is well health wise. Looking forward to any updates you may have on your Grey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mas Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Hi, Keep us updated on what happens... We've been through the trauma of having a plucking CAG! Our problem was that Zahzu was having recurrent ear infections that none of the billion vets we took her to picked up - its treated now, and she looks like a porcupine - covered in feather quills! I think she'll allow her feathers to grow back now she's not in pain. Insist on having EVERYTHING checked - don't settle for anyone telling you it's psychological without medical causes are investigated... However in saying that, at the same time as she is getting a physical check, assess the psych causes too!! All the best, and rest assured, you are not the only one going through this. -Sameera Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choppersmom Posted February 4, 2009 Author Share Posted February 4, 2009 I thank everyone so much for the responses..It feels reassuring to know that someone out there who cares about and understands what we might be going through..my whole family knows how much my chopper means to me but no one knows what to say when i'm spilling my feelings on them.. Anyways, i've brought chopper to a specialist, thank goodness the weather permitted me to take him out. After a 3 hours discussion and examination, this is what the diagnosis is..# 1 she discovered a progressed yeast infection through examining his stool. #2 he is molting but having a hard time because of the fact that he has a yeast infection he is not absorbing nutrients sufficiantly and is now in great dificiancy of many of the nutrients needed. Also, his skin is sooooo dry, this is from the lack of bathing him, which makes sence because since we've moved he wants no part of this bathroom and i figured his bathing himself in his water bowl was enough, but i was wrong..and being that it is cold winter now, the heating system is on full blast all the time which is just drying him to a crisp.. Another important factor which needs to be corrected right away is that for the last few weeks, i have had a hard time sleeping and have been up much later than normal..2-3 am and chopper goes to sleep at night when i go to sleep at night and our house hold wakes up at 7 am every morning..which means he has been getting 5-6 hours of undisturbed sleep. This the vet said is a must stop and fix now...he is exhausted which makes him anxious and frustrated, not enough sleep makes him have a lower imune system and effects his health tremendously in every angle.. my god how could i have not realized that...my poor baby..i have so much to fix...his diet has been changed to a high maintenance food and i am not to give him more than 2-3 tbs of fruit or vegies (organic) she gave me a soothing spray and a bathing spray with aloe vera and meds for his yeast infection which i have to give him orally for 10 days..last night i put him in a different room were we do not go in so that he could have an undisturbed sleep, but i heard him pacing and pacing restlessly, i didn't want him to feel abandoned so i peaked in a few times and talked to him telling him it was time for nite nite which he understands...eventually he fell asleep..today there were big changes already, he had more pep and was a little more playful. The mist seems to relieve him, he is fussing less over his feathers and seems to be a little less irritated...he wants no part of his new food pellets what so ever, he throws them as far as he can lol, this we will have to work on as well... and that is where we are at for now. We stil have long ways to go, but i will do my ultimate best to get him happy again.. so many things i have learned in the last few days, and so much more to learn no doubt, but do so with open ears..I am tired now for it's again very late at night, but tomorrow i will post some pictures and videos if i can, i have some on you tube under chopperrrrrr ...again many thanks and will be on soon to hopefully chat and exchange our experiences and knowledge. all the best..choppersmom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Oh I am so happy to hear that your vet has zeroed in on the issues your Grey is experiencing and resulting in his plucking. You have a great reason to be happy in knowing the problems and how to treat them. Believe me, we are happy for you too!! Sometimes plucking starts for no apparent reason and even a vet at times can find nothing wrong other than to diagnose them as neurotic and prescribe meds like Prozac to try and stop the plucking. It's GreYt having you here and I hope you will stick around and keep us posted on your Greys progress. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I am so happy that the Specialist was able to diagnose Chopper's problems. Now he will be on his way to recovery. How very wonderful. Please keep us posted on his progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choppersmom Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share Posted February 10, 2009 Day 6 today of Chopper taking his medicine..the first few days i guess i was feeling a little discourged. I just hated seeing him so quiet and not himself..acting all neurotic and pacing and biting his nails and not wanting to be in his cage at all only on me..but yesterday i was preparing a big birthday supper for my mom and we had alot of family members over sitting in the dining area and chopper was alone in the living room in his cage, and i was so thrilled he started calling and yelling my name..'cindy come here" just like he nomally does when i'm out of sight and he wants my attention and he was in a much better mood being talkative and playful...he's feeling better and i'm thrilled...what is fun is that up until he was about a year and a half old he use to love to cuddle and snuggle up to me and my husband and he would fall asleep this way and we would put him to bed in his cage for the night every night..then he grew out of it completely and now he's doing it again and continuously wants to cuddle, the minute he sees me settle for the evening he either paces in his cage letting me know he wants out or if he is already out he takes a mad dash and climbs up me and snuggles right in..and i'm taking advantage incase he decides to grow out of it again lol... but his meds are working along with his new humidifyer and aloe juice spray and much more sleep..he is definately feeling better, now we will wait for his feathers to grow back, dont know what to expect hope he lets them stay ..so far he does have quite a few new little pin and blood feathers coming actually he has one tail feather that is growing more and more daily, right now it looks like a bright red dust mop on his behind lol. He is still losing alot of the little white down feathers but leaving all the others on...guess one happy day at a time right.. well all best wishes to everyone and their precious feathered friends good nite all...it is cuddle time now!!<br><br>Post edited by: choppersmom, at: 2009/02/10 01:29 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Char Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I am so glad to hear that the vet found the problems and you were able to address them so quickly. Do you cover the cage at night. If not, try that and see if it helps him to settle down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I am so glad that Chopper is doing much better so now why don't you introduce yourself in the welcome room and tell us some more about you and Chopper and maybe some pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Cindy, so happy that Chopper is doing better and coming around. Please post some pictures when you get a chance and keep us posted on his progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Thats great news regarding Chopper! It's good to hear he is on th emend and becoming himself once again. Looking forward to hearing more updates on him. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranaz Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Im Glad chopper is doing better. Im glad you shared this experience with us, there was a lot for me to learn, like I didnt know that less sleep reduces immunity . So thanks again for sharing and I hope his feathers grom back very quickly... Keep us updated Rana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockysMum Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I have been reading over your posts Choppersmom.And was really upset to hear what had happened to him:( But Hopefully thats him on the mend now and i will be keeping my fingers crossed for a full and speedy recovery xx I have learned quiet a few things after reading your posts. My Grey Rocky has had really dry skin for the past week or 2,He has just started molting so i thought this was part of the process, But your right about it being winter time and the heating always being on,drying him all up:( He REFUSES to bath, always has done:dry: So we end up chasing him around with a mister lol.But think i will be investing in some Aloe Vera Juice to help his dry skin. Good luck to you and Chopper, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janfromboone Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Thanks so much for sharing your post. It was really good news that there were some specific things you could do to help the problem. It helped us all to know what type of things can cause plucking. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choppersmom Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 hi everyone...just checking in before i get to bed. So glad to hear that my posts have been helpful and informing to some. I am definately thrilled to have found this site and plan on staying..I will do my best to get around posting some pics and videos and im sure like most animal lovers i have about a million of them lol...today was another good day for us but i was a bit disapointed, the little tail feather that looked like a dust mop was found at the bottom of choppers cage today, i am afraid he is still taking them off and i am sure that was a new one, so bit confused with that otherwise his mood was pretty good, still not completely himself but good..and cuddly too... well goodnite for now, and hope to see you soon in the welcome room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Squishy Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I am glad I foudn this post. Now BoBo has not gone through anything like this however his first big molt has just started. I would like to know. After a month now, how is he doing? Do you see significant feather growth, is he still picking them out? I hope and pray all is well and continueing to progress. JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Woodside Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Wow, I'm sorry you went through that experience, but it seems as though the bird loves you more for making him feel better, so I'd call this a positive experience. Best of luck to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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