Bella--Update

[texsize]

I got Bella's new cage today and putting it together went smoothly.
She is as friendly as ever with me and she loves her morning scratches.


I am going to be making an appointment Monday morning with the vet because...sigh I am afraid her plucking may be sliding into self mutilation.



I know it's no solution but should I look for and order a sweater or some kind of protection I can put on? I don't want to go with a collar.

It really breaks my heart. I thought she was younger and it would be easer to break her of this habit. I am not giving up, by no means. And I know it takes time. I guess I would have bought her even knowing she was not less than a year old.
I have toys in her cage and I have not seen her play with any of them.
I will review the feather plucking threads and see if I can find something that might be of help.
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[happy410]

Thanks for the update. Bella's gorgeous.

 

[Loko]

I have no idea if it would help with plucking, but check out my thread about this toy I got my Loco. It definitely eases his preening urge while molting heavily. Maybe worth a shot? Ive seen someone mention that some birds dont know how to play with toys and need to be shown, not sure if youve tried that yet but its worked with me with things Loco didnt know what to do with. I just kind of swung it around and ripped it up a little (its a shred type toy) and then he realized it was for destroying.
Heres a link to my thread:
http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-toys/65481-preening-toy-good-molting.html
Hope it helps and I hope he gets better!
Also, like you said the sweater thing isnt a solution but I think its worth a shot.. anything that can prevent injury and or infection is worth a try. Maybe it would displace her urge to chew to something else like a toy, which would obviously be better, which you can then work on toning down.

 

[plumsmum2005]

I have no idea if it would help with plucking, but check out my thread about this toy I got my Loco. It definitely eases his preening urge while molting heavily. Maybe worth a shot? Ive seen someone mention that some birds dont know how to play with toys and need to be shown, not sure if youve tried that yet but its worked with me with things Loco didnt know what to do with. I just kind of swung it around and ripped it up a little (its a shred type toy) and then he realized it was for destroying.
Heres a link to my thread:
http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-toys/65481-preening-toy-good-molting.html
Hope it helps and I hope he gets better!
Also, like you said the sweater thing isnt a solution but I think its worth a shot.. anything that can prevent injury and or infection is worth a try. Maybe it would displace his urge to chew to something else like a toy, which would obviously be better, which you can then work on toning down.

I'll go with this too. Bella's showing minor injuries at present and I would not want her to do anymore damage to herself and problems for you.

 

[Scott]

Bella is beautiful regardless of her feathering! The vet should be able to determine whether any medical issues are encouraging plucking. Some parronts have applied a harmless "bitter apple" solution that may discourage plucking due to taste. I would agree collaring would be the last resort, if at all.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Wes,Bella is beautiful..that first picture is great..she DOES look happy!
I don't have anything to help with the plucking..maybe just time?
When she finally realizes she isn't going anywhere anymore.

Shes' definitely taken to you


Jim

 

[Kentuckienne]

That's so frightening. I hope there is a good solution. Birds must be very different when it comes to toys .. We gave Gus, the rescue B&G, lots of wood toys to chew and he has little interest. What he liked was the stack of scrap paper on a spike - he works on it for hours. I have been paying attention to how he uses his beak, and I think maybe he isn't strong, maybe has gotten weak from sitting in a cage for years. He has difficulty climbing around, and while he can stab a piece of magazine insert card with his beak, it's hard for him to tear the piece off. So for him, it's paper toys to shred, even though he's got that monster beak. There must be something for Bella, something that interests her. We had another bird that loved to hold a small bell, ring it, and holler. Oh, and Gus doesn't play with toys inside the cage much, he wants them on the outside. Can't blame him.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Bella is beautiful regardless of her feathering! The vet should be able to determine whether any medical issues are encouraging plucking. Some parronts have applied a harmless "bitter apple" solution that may discourage plucking due to taste. I would agree collaring would be the last resort, if at all.

Yes! When I first got the "cockatoo man" his chest area was pretty much naked. his previous parront gave me a bottle of sour apple spray,to discourage plucking. It seemed to work..coz in a month or so, I could see the definite difference,but then again,was it because he was in a less stressful inviroment? That, I do not know :26: But at any rate, Jonesy grew back all of his chest fluff and didn't look bald Only time will tell,Wes.


Jim

PS..Bella looks to be very happy right now,in her present environment..the sour apple spray just might be the deterant that she needs...

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Also Wes..not knowing what Bella's actual age is...you really have no clue on how long she has been doing these things to herself.. :19:


Jim

 

[texsize]

When I bought Bella the store gave me a toy that the owner said was hers.
I guess the original rope or whatever broke(that connected it to the cage) and they substituted a wire.

The wire was a multi-strand copper wire that you might use on a lamp or something. all the insulation was chewed off and the bare copper wires were sticking out loose and sharp.

I cant believe someone would be so stupid to use something like that.
I have fixed it with a regular small gauge stainless steel chain from another toy.

I am thinking I should have them (the vet) check poisoning or heavy metal .
Is this something that could be a concern?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Yes it is a possible and unfortunately with parrots it is only when you have exhausted all the options and your wallet that you can be sure it is behavioral.

This is a possible ie copper poisoning and I would want to discount it. Take the item with you to the AV.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I know Bella hasn't been with you long,but how is her attitude? Is she playful? Is she trying to talk? Exploring? If she were "poisoned" I'd expect her to be lethargic and dopey/mopey


Jim

 

[Scott]

Definitely take the toy to the vet and ask for advice. Haven't dealt with metal issues yet but assume it is tested via blood. I would assume there is some level that is unacceptable yet does not present symptoms, and at some point it can become obvious.

 

[plumsmum2005]

A more common syndrome is that of low level poisoning with vague clinical signs and pet birds that are just “not well”.

 

[jdlehman76]

I have a different theory about Bella's plucking, I think it's the name. I have a CAG named "Bella" and she is also a rescued plucker.

All kidding aside I have had the best results by doing two things. First, and most successful, I moved her to a large outdoor cage during the summer months. She seems to be much more stimulated in the outdoor environment and doesn't pluck as often. The second trick I have found has to do with feeding her. During the winter while she has to be inside in a smaller although still large cage I rarely feed her in a food dish on the side of her enclosure. I alternate between putting food on a tray at the bottom of her cage, and putting her food inside cardboard egg cartons, or small boxes. I load these boxes in front of her so that she can see the food going in, and she tears them apart to get the food. I'm operating on the assumption that her plucking is due to boredom/stress so by forcing her to "forage" for her dinner it seems to help the plucking situation.
For what it is worth, my Bella was about 11 when we got her and had been plucking for some undetermined time. It has taken me about two years to start to get her to slow down. I don't know that she will ever be cured or fully feathered, but it is under more control now then when we got her.

I did have her evaluated by a Vet to make sure that it was behavior based plucking and not a malnutrition/poison situation. That should be the first step if you aren't sure what is causing the plucking. Good luck with Bella, to often it is just a matter of time and trial and error with lots of attention and patience.

 

[texsize]

Yes it is a possible and unfortunately with parrots it is only when you have exhausted all the options and your wallet that you can be sure it is behavioral.

This is a possible ie copper poisoning and I would want to discount it. Take the item with you to the AV.

I already tossed it into the trash, doubt I could find it now.

I know Bella hasn't been with you long,but how is her attitude? Is she playful? Is she trying to talk? Exploring? If she were "poisoned" I'd expect her to be lethargic and dopey/mopey


Jim

She is very energetic. Even though her wings were clipped she tries to fly from one place to another.
I guess it was well done because she goes a fair distance before she hits the ground. She does not hit like a "ton of bricks".

Bella has not picked up much in the way of words. She learned "Michael" and I heard her say "drink water" once (this is something I was working on teaching her).
I am thinking the lack of speech is an indicator she is still young.

She does imitate my YNA giving kisses.
She imitates the turtledoves that were at the pet shop I got her from.
She imitates other "outside" birds and sounds from computer games I have been playing.

Bella is very affectionate with me but has become a bit um.. unruly with my son.
When I go to pick her up and she does not want to be picked up she lowers her head to block her feet and growls. In this posture she acts like she is going to bite and instead of offering a finger I give her my fist so she has nothing easy to bite. She then gets on my hand.
When my son does the same thing Bella continues to try to ...intimidate him. I don't think she has actually bit him except once as an accident.
My opinion is Bella is "testing her limits".
I don't want to go on and on, have to go out and run some errands.
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[AmyMyBlueFront]

Wes...believe me when I say..WE don't think your going "on and on"!
Like me, I am sure everyone here is very interested in how Bella is doing!

So..post away there buddy! And...MORE PICTURES PLEASE??!!


Jim