My Best Friend's Parrot

[themeindzeye]

Hello! I am posting here because I am having some problems with my friend's parrot and would like some advice.

First off, I am a quaker owner. I have owned by little green buddies for about two to three years now, and love them to death. My friend, hearing me talk about them all the time, wanted a bird herself, and recently adopted a CAG. When we go there, we saw the bird had a huge cage, but no toys and had plucked everything inbetween the head, wings, and neck almost completely bare.

So, we get the bird (Alex) to her place and cleaned up. We buy toys and pellets and all sorts of bird stuff. In the meantime, I believe Alex has decided I am her favorite, as she is bound and determined to vomit all over me whenever I come over. Now, I put her back and ignore her like is suggested on the forum elsewhere, but here is the problem:

Every time I come over she starts plucking feathers. Every single time. It gets worse when my friend suggests maybe I should hold her for a while. She gets so worked up she starts panting and ripping feathers out and I'm really, really concerned about that kind of a reaction. She spends every waking second I'm there doing nothing but trying to get to me, trying to feed me, and tearing out feathers and I don't want to stress her bird like that! I'm not sure at this point what the best course of action to take would be.

Can anyone give me some advice, please? It's getting so I'm afraid to go over there for fear Alex is going to start gouging out skin or something.

 

[crimson]

sorry I can't offer you any advice, I'm sure another member will be able to help
good luck

 

[Kiwibird]

For starters, you shouldn't blame yourself for the plucking. That was a behavioral problem this bird, sadly, came home with. Your friend really needs to nip this in the bud. Even if Alex is an older bird who has been plucking for years, the fact he is now in a new home with far better living conditions is prime time to help him get over it. My older adopted BFA wasn't a plucker, but he came with numerous other severe behavioral problems. We consulted with his vet and rescue we got him through about what to do, and were told to integrate behavior correction into his adjustment period in his new home. For an animal, their first few weeks in a new home with new people around them is when their new routines and accepted behaviors are ingrained. It's like the opportunity to hit the "restart" button for them.

Your friend needs to get Alex to an avian vet for an examination/consultation. The vet will not only be able to asses overall health, but will also be able to determine if the plucking is behavioral, nutritional or caused by a skin infection and give advice accordingly. A good vet will also follow up on progress, and adjust recommendations accordingly. Some basic things she can do right away are offering plenty of chewing toys and foraging toys that both occupy him and give him positive alternatives to his own feathers. If she hasn't already, get fresh fruits and veggies into his diet and give him a cuttlebone/mineral block. She should also be careful to only reinforce positive behaviors. When you go over, don't ignore the poor thing, you can give him some attention (talking to him, or letting him sit on your leg while you hang out). Don't do anything really exciting for him though (giving treats, feeding, baths ect...), let your friend do those things so he associates positive things with her too. Best of luck.