LunaBaby Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 Ok so I usually mist Luna but today I decided to try her first real bath. I got a big bowl of water and she climbed right in and started playing! It was the most adorable thing I've ever seen. Flapping her wings, turning in circles, flinging water everywhere.. so cute. When I set her on her perch I noticed a patch on her chest that wasn't noticeable while she was dry.. it was pretty bald and about the size of a penny. She is a super happy bird.. loves playing and flying. I take her out in the morning for breakfast before work and then leave her home with cartoons on all day. I'm away about 8 hours but my day starts very early from about 6 to 2 in the afternoon. And once I get home shes out all afternoon and evening until bedtime. I've never had a baby bird before.. grown parrot yes but never a baby bird. Am I doing something wrong? Do you think thi is the start of plucking? God I hope not I could cry just thinking about it. I did read that on first moult babies can lose patches but I thought it was odd that I only notice it on her chest Im so worried. -Taylor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tari Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 Baby as in under 6 months? Could be her feathers are not grown in yet if she is that young. If she is a year or more Id take her to the vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dblhelix Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 OK, try not to worry, it wont help (easier said than done though) First, this may not be plucking or a problem at all. If this only shows when she is wet it may just be a normal growth pattern. They of course can look quite different when wet! Do you see any concerning signs when she is dry? Second, as you mention this could be related to molting. Have you seen other signs of a molt? How about the skin in the area you are concerned about? Any redness or other issues noted? Third, if this were to be plucking, you worrying about it will only make this worse. I realize that is way easier said than done, but you really need to try! Make a concerted effort not to make more of this than is necessary. B) At this point I think you need to watch carefully and if there truly emerges signs of plucking you need to see a vet. Again, try not to pay super attention to the issue. You dont want to reinforce any negative behavior by giving extra attenction etc. Remember they feed off of our state of mind...if you dont make a big deal about something chances are they wont either. I hope it is not plucking related, but at this point it really seems you are going to have to wait and gather more information... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lidia Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 I think dbhelix and Tari are right. Birds look very different wet and dry. Joshua is 18, fully plumed, but if I blow directly onto his keel bone so the feathers move away, I see a slice of bald skin. It's quite natural, he's never plucked. Relax, it doesn't sound like there's anything wrong with her. :kiss: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest briansmum Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 yes i too see a small slice with no feathers on brian when he is wet, low down in the middle of his body about where he legs are. i know for deffinate he is not plucking, so i always just presumed it was the way their feathers grew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaBaby Posted July 2, 2007 Author Share Posted July 2, 2007 I haven't ever seen her pluck anything and the skin I see isn't red or irritated looking. I'll just keep a close ye on her, she's 4 months old but appears to be fully feathered. Today shes acting kind of funny. Extra playful. But shes making this weird whining sound when she sees me and fluffs up and drops her wings.. shell do this until I pick her up or she flies to me. Shes still playing with everything and making normal sounds and eating so I'm guessing maybe its an attention thing? I'm not usually this ignorant I promise! =) I've never felt like sych a mom before though.. this is the closest thing Ive had to a real child and man it is close! Thanks for all your help I will keep you posted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lidia Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 Luna, Four months is still very young. The dropping of the wings and loosening of her stance you describe is all bonding behaviour. In an older bird, the dropping of wings can be sexual, but not in a four-month old! If she's acting babyish, treat her babyish, she is just asking for reassurance and comfort and love. All easy-peasy to give to an adorable baby grey. Lucky lucky you! I miss those long-ago days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest briansmum Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 brian is the same with me, he's not much older, he has a special whistle just for me, it actually sounds kind of pathetic LOL but he only does it when he doesn't think he's getting enough attention, and he get's puffy and his wings drop and he makes little panting sounds when he wants to play, he likes to "wrestle" my hand. what you are describing is completely normal. i first noticed this when Brian was around 4 months, they seem to make the transition from tiny sqwaking babies to more outgoing and independant ones about that age Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaBaby Posted July 2, 2007 Author Share Posted July 2, 2007 Oh wow thank you.. yes shes making that panting noise when she does the wing drop. I love when she wants me to baby her! I dont believe I mentioned that she's almost got the wolf whistle down! She tries to copy me when I whistle at her but all she can get out is the first part.. so adorable! Thanks again =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest briansmum Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 you're very welcome. the wolf whistle was the first thing brian picked up, he still doesn't have it 100%, the second bit comes out all "wobbly" sounding :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lidia Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 Yes and the panting leads, when the bird is a little older, to regurgitating food for you, which is another sexual behaviour. But for now, it's just baby behaviour to encourage feeding. When Joshua gets babyish (and at eighteen years, he still sometimes does!), I spoon feed him yoghurt or ice cream, which he loves, or I spoon feed him porridge (which he calls 'dorrit'). The baby behaviour is a real sign of trust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest briansmum Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 brian has already regurgitated on me a couple of times, it isn't just a sexual thing is it? i thought it was just the ultimate sign of affection. it can't be sexual, he's 5 months old! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tari Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 awww I miss the baby days. /sigh But like the grown up bird too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lidia Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 Beccy, Like I said, at five months it's baby behaviour. He'd have to be older and sexually maturing before it would denote sexual behaviour. When Joshua regurgitates, pants and drops his wings, I humour him. I try to discourage the regurgitation (because it's eeeew), but I do cuddle him when he wants it (within the bounds of human-bird decency, I hasten to add). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoozy Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 They all have an area on the chest over the keel bone where there are no feathers, it is perfectly normal and more noticeable when they are wet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaBaby Posted July 2, 2007 Author Share Posted July 2, 2007 Oh good, Thanks Snoozy.. that's what I was hoping to hear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lidia Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 And just so you're not surprised when you see it, there is another small area of baldness just over the crop on the neck. You won't see this area unless your bird is stretching its neck to preen the area just below the front of its neck. :blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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