Dry Skin and the tube collar

[MaraWentz]

Okay, so I was helping Erin with some of her her pin feathers and realized her skin is a bit flaky and dry. Why have a I never looked over her skin as a problem with her over preening???? So after searching Walmart for an hour and half and realizing they didn't sell any pure aloe (I'm afraid to use the gels due to the weird texture it'd create and all the other chemicals thrown in), so I went back to my Mommoms' and picked a bunch of leaves off her aloe plants and spent a good hour tearing apart the plant to get the aloe juice out and mixed it with water to hydrate her skin. In the mean time I also created a tube collar out of foam piping cover that was wrapped in cheesecloth and covered with medical tape. Great invention and all, but I almost took it off because it was so sad to see her get used to it. I read online that most vets make their own collar, just like this when it's needed, and other people use cardboard but it would be so uncomfortable and unbreathable that's why I went with what a lot of people said their vets did with the foam and cheese cloth. Well, let me tell you it took 4 tries to get the width and length right and when I got it on she proceeded to spin a circle and them lay on her back like she couldn't balance. I felt so bad and went to take it off and my husband reached down first to grab her and take it off (she deosnt like my hubby and runs from him all the time) so of course the faker got up really quick and waddled away. She's acting normal and can move her neck around, but cant reach her feathers. I have the collar a little loose because the tightness they want it (tight enough so they can't wedge their beak under to to bite it off) is just cruel. If she wanted to stretch her neck it would be too tight and pull on her feathers and she probably wouldn't be able to talk well or yell with it that tight. Therefore she has tried to bite it off, but stopped and is preening the cheese cloth, which is keeping her occupied. It does the job and she was only stressed for the first minute doing her fake "I cant walk or move, help, take it off" as she falls on her back. Since my hubby went to grab her she has been okay and drinking and kissing and cuddling. I'm leaving it on for a month or until she chews it off- which ever comes first. That way I can spray her with the aloe water mix without her licking it off (which she did as soon as I sprayed her). Here's a photo of it. I didn't do a real wide one either. I like her to be able to bend her neck. SO you could say this collar doesn't fit, but it's safe and serves the purpose without being uncomfortable and tight and making her neck immobile.The strings hanging down is the preened cheese cloth. I wasn't sure if I should cut it because it allows her to preen still, which I don't know is good to let her do to the collar.

 

[MaraWentz]

Well there went that. 3 hours of the collar and she bites it off- slowly but surely. She was 1/2 way through so I just cut it off. I guess thats why they want it so tight. I cant bring my self to put it that tight. She is shredding her feathers so bad now. She's fluffy white and 1/8 of her feathers are just the feather shafts/viens.

 

[Seaweed]

My Ekkie had a brief case of dry skin during his molting.
I went to the store & bought some Aloe juice put it in a spray bottle & sprayed him with it.The next day I was amazed to see that his feathers had brightened significally in color! Even the breeder I bought him from complemented me on the condition of his feathers Hope this helps Hope ur feathered baby feels better soon

 

[MaraWentz]

Thanks I hope it helps since the collar didn't

 

[greycloud]

Mara, have you had her to the avian vet for a skin scraping and giardia tests? Her feathers are dull which could be due to the skin problem. The aloe you want to purchase is called Lily of the Desert. You mix it 50/50 with water and mist 2-3 times a day.
They are many different collars available. I use one offered by Patti Lamaire on Facebook. Many people have had great success with them.

 

[MaraWentz]

I don't want to use a collar if I have to make it real tight. I don't think it will be comfortable. Where do you getter aloe from or do I have to order it online. Her feathers aren't dull there's just not a lot. She preens the feathery parts off to the shafts so you see the grey and white fluffy feathers. She's meant to be an army green colour little birghterthan a green olivebut they get brighter over time.

 

[greycloud]

Yes, I know what color she should be. You can purchase the Lily of the Desert at any drug store. Walgreens, Rite Aid. etc. The soft color I use is excellent. It is loose and can turn smoothly on the neck.

 

[MaraWentz]

The soft color or collar? If it's a loose collar let me know.

 

[MaraWentz]

I tried finding Patti Lamaire on facebook. 3 accounts came up- 2 are copies and all three are in a different language.