Losing feathers - Can someone help?

[kmunier]

Hello!
We are new to this forum but a quick intro - We have Juan Pablo (named after my nascar driver) a 4 year eclectus, he's our baby. He is a funny bird and a joy to have around.

But I found this forum searching for advice.

In Nov he started pulling his feathers out on his legs & chest. He looks like he has turkey legs. We took him to the vet and she said he was fine visually and no resp. problems. But thought that maybe he had an ulcer. (?) from something he'd ate. Sounded kinda strange, so we gave him some medicine (malox) twice, which was hell to do. Though she wasn't sure but wanted to do an scope at the time we were going out of town. His feathers started to come back sort of. But I don't believe it the medicine helped.

Then last week he started pulling them again and he looks worse. He's eating great, he's active, and talking up a storm.

I thought about the molting because he spent 2 years of his life in Hawaii where there really weren't any season changes. Now this is our 2nd year in Georgia and I thought it maybe its new to him.
I've also replenished his toys, which he loves. He eats and loves to eat with us. I also have tried the mixed seeds and nuts, then the pellets, and he gets tons of fruits and veggies. He's funny when we are getting ready to eat he says 'mmmmmm' and runs back and forth on his playpen like a dog getting excited to eat.

Who knows but I don't want to lose him. We've grown SO attached to him. Even people who hate birds love him and want to get one after being with him.

Attached our 2 pictures can someone give me some advice?
Thank you in advance!!
KM

His belly


His back

 

[MarciaLove]

i would say stress as thats usually what causes feather plucking but he doesnt sound stressed... Has anything drastically changed in his home around the time he first started plucking? look on google for some possible reasons why i hope all will be fine!

 

[thebirdnerd]

He might be molting and his pin feathers are itching him. How often do you bath him?

 

[LoveMyParrots]

If the parrot is stressed, he would pull out he's feathers. Does he have any toys? Parrot pulls their feathers out when they have nothing to do.

Last time I asked a pet shop as this happened to my two cockatiels, and the pet shop says they need more calcium. Does you parrot have any cuttlefish bone in it's cage?

 

[kc_y0]

Hello and Welcome to the forum!

Have you been to a second avian vet to get a second opinion? Sometimes a different vet can see something that another has over looked, because if he's getting the right diet, lots of toys, and seems happy, it could be a health related issue.

 

[MonicaMc]

Was fecal and a blood panel done?

Whats his current diet? Have you tried an allergy free diet?

Anything changed around the time he started plucking? (as previously asked) You did mention living in Hawaii and now Georgia. Could also be a new hair cut, change of furniture, new furniture, or something else.


How frequently does he get baths? Does he have access to direct natural light not through a window or a screen? Or full spectrum lighting? What about foraging?




You mentioned that you don't want to lose him. Is there any reason that you would?