Finnegan's Sweater for Feather Chewing

[Mindy]

I've been thinking about the collar for the last few days and wondering if it would do more harm than good. I came across the sock vest. I decided to give it a try but used a glove instead. Finnegan is mad at it, but adjusting better than I thought he would.

My concern is that he's tearing threads out, which of course I don't want him to ingest. I'm going to leave the one on he has for a little while then take it off and try a new one that doesn't have threads and see if he does the same thing.

Hopefully this pic works, idk why it's sideways : )

 

[clark_conure]

theres a thread for the sideways picture thing if http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/71337-how-do-you-add-profile-picture.html it'slike an Iphone thing.


anyways, I don't think he will ingest them, he will just destroy it.... just as he was designed to do. If your worried about it, take it off but it looks like a good training method a support for harness training.

Clark chews on all my shirts, it's his job (one of them) but you bird isn't going to eat the threads most likely.

 

[riddick07]

Oh wow, I didn't realize the collar was a stay on forever thing. For some reason I was thinking for a length of time until feathers grow out a bit. I assumed that this wouldn't work and they would be right back at it which is another reason I haven't done it. I would/will do one in a heartbeat if I start seeing broken skin of course!

So a collar doesn’t have to stay on forever. It can be used to break the cycle but it’s not a miracle worker and if you haven’t fixed the issues or taught new behaviors it’s useless. Then, you do have ones that mutilation of the skin or learned plucking is just something that can’t be stopped and having a collar on when no supervision is present is best. Folger is not a good comparison to most birds since he is in the end psychotic & neurotic. He IS much improved and I might be able to actually take out the psychotic part now haha. Folger has had a rough life and nothing is going to erase the 14 or so homes that came before me.

I don’t know how you care for your bird, what the routines are, diet, placement in the house, cage, toys, health screening, humidty, baths, etc. So I can’t really recommend anything to try. If you want to give me a rundown/pictures of the cage area/cage I can see if I have any ideas to try and help. Also, greys tend to aim for under the wings along the seam of their body/wing where infection easily sets in and the wound has trouble closing when it comes to mutilation. If you are worried about mutilation that’s where I would check regularly.



I posted the above on my thread where you asked about the collar but not sure you saw it. I’m not sure if you’ve posted the information before and got info but I figured I’d offer again. Sometimes it does just become a habit that won’t break but it’s worth a try.

I tried a sock thing which was similar to what you have here years ago but the strings were worrying from either ingestion or getting tangled up.

 

[Mindy]

I just answered you on the other thread : )