I need help

[Fatimaalketbi]

I own a year old red collared lorikeet and have a few problems. He has been more than well for the majority of the time i have owned him, he played and was great with me in specific. But starting a few weeks ago he has been really distant, not leaving the cage, nor engaging with me or any of my family members. He has also been plucking his feathers. I took him to the vet several times, but nothing has changed. Every time i try to pet him he starts screaming uncontrollably. Please help me.

 

[noodles123]

Did you take him to a Certified Avian Vet (not just an exotics vet that sees birds)?
I don't have Lorikeet experience, but if you got him when he was a baby and now he is growing up, then the behavior change could be due (in part) to that. They mature sexually around 2 (according to Google) but hormones/puberty kick in before then. If he is hormonal, that can lead to aggression, screaming, cage-territory issues etc. Make sure he has no access to shadowy spaces (e.g., boxes, shelving, under clothing, pillows, under furniture, SNUGGLE HUTS/TENTS) and make sure there is no nesting/bedding material in/around his cage. If you do pet him, stick to the head and neck only, as any other touching can lead to heightened hormone stimulation.
Sleep also plays a huge role in regulating hormones and immune function, so make sure he is getting 12 hours of sleep a night (quiet sleep in a dark area). Do not ever cover his cage during the day unless it is time for his 12 hours of sleep. Some birds can do okay with 10, but 12 is the average for most species--- other members can confirm whether 12 is the average for lorikeets.
Even if he isn't hormonal, the stuff above is still important to keep in mind because you don't want to start things with babies that won't be acceptable when they reach maturity.

Was there anything that might have scared him around the time when the behavior changed (a move, a vacation, new furniture, a new person in the house or the absence of someone familiar, a change in routine, major change in lighting etc)?
I am guessing the vet did blood work---if not, assuming it can be done safely, I would suggest it.
Where is he plucking and when does he tend to pluck? Is he actively removing full feathers or just chewing/barbering them down to nubs?
It is probably hormonal, BUT,
did the vet do any sort of culture of his crop or swab the area he is plucking? That is another thing to consider if he didn't.
The last medical thing that you might consider is an xray to see if he could possibly have some sort of enlarged organ or a blockage (again depending on where he is plucking etc etc)---I am not a vet, but a CAV is going to be way better about running tests and getting to the bottom of things than an exotics vet.
On this list, I would say blood-work would be the most essential.

You might want to check the humidity levels in your home---that can sometimes do it. They say to shoot for 50% humidity...
How often does he bathe?
Make sure you are not using any products on your skin or in your home that could be causing irritation (hand lotions, nicotine, chemical cleaners, basically--anything with a scent).
Make sure his diet is balanced/appropriate for his species--I know they drink nectar, but I don't know enough to make suggestions on the nutritional end of things.
How big is his cage and where is it located (is it in the main hub of the house or tucked away in a room? Is it in a room with natural light or not?
How much time out of his cage is he getting daily?
Does he have lots of toys to keep him busy (ones that he actually likes)?
Plucking is tough which is why I am asking so many questions because it can be caused by so many things.

 

[Fatimaalketbi]

There was no major change I recall that would have caused this change in behavior, he is plucking most of his feathers under the wings as well as near the wings in the abdominal area. His cage is located in the main area and is large enough for his size. There are plenty of toys that he likes, however he seems uninterested in them lately. Do you think getting him a friend would help improve this situation? Might a scented candle also affect this? (scented candles have been used since he was a baby).

 

[noodles123]

Getting him a friend is the last thing you should do currently. Never get a bird for a bird because you often create more behavioral issues---so unless you have a burning desire for a 2nd (not for him--for you) then don't go there. They could end up trying to mate and that would likely just amplify aggressive behaviors...or they could fight. There is no way of knowing whether they will get along and if they do get along, you often become "second fiddle" or have to deal with new complications like egg-binding etc.


Scented candles are not good for birds, so you shouldn't use them in the house. Unscented candles are also bad for birds.

I am not saying that is the cause of the plucking, but you should stop either way.

Did you say you took him to a CAV? What tests did they run?
Does he have any huts/dark areas in his cage? (Get rid of them if he does).

 

[Fatimaalketbi]

I took him to a general veterinary, not specialized in birds. However I am not sure of what exact tests they ran as I was pretty busy during that time and sent him with a close relative. however they did not inform me of any medical problems other than a possible nutrient deficiency. There is a small hammock that I will definitely get rid of.

 

[Laurasea]

Hi welcome to the forum, sorry you have issues.
I'm not sure if your bird is sick , or if their are other things stressing him. So I will link a few articles I find helpful.
The first is a general sick bird article by a vet
https://www.littlecrittersvet.com/sick-birds.pml

This is a great all around article and covers stress in parrots, and tips for a good relationship
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/

This one covers plucking and behavior. Plucking is a complex problem.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-behavior/

 

[Laurasea]

I don't have any experience with specialized Lorikeets. We do have members that do, and I'm sure they will weigh in when they see your thread.

But from reading, they are really prone to bacterial and fungal infections because their food spoils so quickly.

How long have you had him, a d what are you feeding?

Here is one link on them I found
https://birdsville.net.au/hand-reared-birds/lories-and-lorikeets/red-collar-lory/

 

[Fatimaalketbi]

I have had him for a year. I feed him wet lorikeet mix, and dry food. I use to give him fresh fruit as well but lately he has not been eating it.

 

[Laurasea]

I would get a digital gram kitchen scale and start tracking weights of your bird and keep a log

The one article says some fresh veggies are good and gives a list.

Does your bird get some time outside ? Sunshine and birds convert to vitamin D. Stay with the bird, secure the cage, and don't out in full sun. Of course depends on Temps where you are.

Do an extra ckean of all food and water dishes and cage. It's easy for nasties to build up even when we are doing our best.

Here is a vet article on general Lorikeets
https://small-animal.hospital.uq.edu.au/caring-your-lorikeet

 

[Fatimaalketbi]

Unfortunately my lorikeet does not get any sunshine due to the tremendously high temperature outside. Ill be sure to take care of water and food dishes.

 

[LaManuka]

Good morning (Brisbane time!) and welcome to Parrot Forums.

Your very best bet is to get your lorikeet to a specialist bird vet. Bird physiology is so completely different to other animals. At about 18 months of age it’s likely your bird is experiencing his first flush of sexual maturity which may be a contributing factor to his mood change, but the feather plucking is a major concern and could be an indicator of an underlying medical issue.

You mention high outdoor temperatures - where in the world are you located? Rainbow lorikeets in their native habitat in Australia experience high temperatures and I think you should consider perhaps popping your bird into a smaller “travel” cage and taking him outdoors, preferably into some dappled light under a tree. You would only need to have 15 minutes or so of exposure a few times a week for your bird to benefit. If it’s really so very hot during the day you can do this early in the morning or just before sundown to avoid extreme high temperatures.

Lorikeet wet food will spoil after only a couple of hours so you must either clean out the dish with hot soapy water and rinse well before replacing it with more wet mix, or give dry food most of the day and wet mix only once or twice a day. As you already know they’re messy eaters so it’s best to keep his water dish well away from food to minimise his food getting flung into his water, and preferably refresh it during the day.

In any event you would do well to get him checked over by a certified avian vet who is best qualified to pinpoint any health issues he may have and give you advice about the plucking and I wish you both well!