kljohnso Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Im new on here...this is my first post. I have never had an African grey before and I have some questions about the bird im getting. A couple weeks ago I went into a pet shop and absolutly fell in love with this 6 month old grey. Even tho its almost 30 minutes away from home we have been back to see him at least 5 times since I first saw him. Really I felt bad for him...I wanted to get him out of there. I felt like he wasnt getting the attention and socialization a 6 month old grey should. So yesterday when we went my fiance suprised me by putting a down payment on him. So we should have him paid in full by March 17...probably sooner. My questions are.... He has plucked a little. They said it was because he had a sibling that was sold. He is also molting. He doest have any red tail feathers. Is this normal from plucking and molting? They also said he has quit plucking. Also they had his wings are clipped. I can tell by holding him his balance is really bad. Is it too late for his wings to grow back and him to learn to fly and learn better balance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casper Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Poor little guy! I am so pleased you will be bringing him home soon, he really needs lots of love and a secure loving home. Its pretty young to be molting but not unheard of. My boys started to molt from around 9 months plus, it has been a pretty gradual process with nothing too drastic. Did they say he had plucked all of his tail feathers out? It sounds like he must have been very stressed if he has done this to himself. Hopefully the plucking will stop when he settles in his new home. He needs time to adjust to his new surroundings first then hopefully with lots of attention etc it may stop him from plucking. The flight feathers will have to grow back through, he will have to go through a molt before he will grow a new set back, was he allowed to fly before the clip? Please keep us updated, members will be here to help from the moment you bring him home. Glad you could join us here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaMary Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 I'll answer the question I know the answer to: Don't worry about his wings. He will grow new flight feathers, and if you choose not to have them clipped, he will eventually learn to fly as well. A lot of pet stores seem to clip birds very close - I know both my birds had very severe wing clips when I picked them up. There are many threads on here about this issue, and in fact, take a look at the thread "yeah Tyco" this morning for a story about an older bird learning to fly finally. Rest easy on that one! The plucking is more complex, and there are a lot of folks on here with more experience in that. Young greys can also damage their tail feathers with falls and clumsy landings - especially if their wings are clipped very close! I'll let the folks with more knowledge answer you on the plucking issue, but I would also encourage you to read through the existing threads here on plucking and molting while you are waiting for more responses. In any case, welcome to the forum - and we'll be looking forward to hearing more from you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kljohnso Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 Thank you! I guess he pulled them all out. Is there any other reason he would lose them all. Or do they just not grow till a certain age? I dont think he ever learned to fly. Is it too late? His balance is really bad. He is really clumsy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaMary Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 BTW, kl : it does take a while for a full set of light feather to grow in. I made the decision to allow my grey to fully fledge last fall, and she still doesn't have a full set, though she has quite a few, and is already doing little "training flights" with what she's got. I have heard it can take up to a year for the wing feathers to grow back in, so be patient! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kljohnso Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 Ok well maybe he broke them all. But it looks like they never grew. where his tail should be all there is are little red spots. I dont know...he is probably stressed from living in that pet shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaMary Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Hm - the red spots instead of tail feathers does sound more like those tail feathers were plucked, to my untrained ear... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kljohnso Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 Well he doesnt have any raw spots anywhere else. But on his back and belly there is like shaggy feathering. I guess. I dont really know how to explain it. Is that from molting or plucking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Be sure to have this grey checked out by an avian vet to rule out any physical reason for the plucking but lets hope when he comes home with you and he gets the love and attention he needs he will no longer pluck. Those feathers will take time to come in especially the flight feathers so be patient. If you could get us a picture of him then we might be able to tell whether he plucked his tail or not, just an idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Hi kljohnso, congratulations on your new baby grey. I am assuming it is a Congo grey not a Timneh grey. The Congo has a red tail and black beak, and a Timneh a maroon tail and a bone colored beak. Do you have any names in mind? As Judy said it would be great if you could show everyone some pictures. Please keep us posted on your new baby, we so love the babies. Welcome to the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kljohnso Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 Here is a link to the pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/570161966YYxOOp His name is Simba. When we decided to buy him they asked us what we wanted to name him and they put a sticker on his cage that says "My name is Simba" I was so excited! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Simba is a nice looking grey, I checked out the pictures in the link provided, I also like the name Simba, you made a very good choice, thanks for sharing some pictures of him with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kljohnso Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 Thank You...So is all the scruffy looking feathers because he is molting...or is that from plucking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyric Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Simba is very pretty and I'm glad you are going to be giving him a new home. He's plucking for sure. A molting bird looks a little scruffy but not like this- see how you can see the fluffy underfeathers on his back? This is because he's plucked the grey feathers that cover them. It looks like he's chewed some of the feathers as well. He may be nervous from the pet store environment. Hopefully when you get him home and he settles down the behavior will stop. I'd definitely take him to an avian vet first thing for a check up too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Oh Simba is such a handsome grey. Once he is with you, I'm sure he will be able to calm down and feel comfortable in his new forever home. He is certainly a lucky grey to have found such a caring person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
she Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Simba is a handsome grey.Yes he is plucking.When he comes home have a vet check for any physical causes.He could just be upset being in the shop. He does have toys in the cage but may need more attention and a quieter environment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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