Not sure what to do, need help!

[Ryno]

Keelin just started full blown plucking! Not sure what I need to do. I did a lot of interaction with him yesterday, I can't get him to step up on my finger on command but he was stepping up on a stick with no problem. He also doesn't seem to like my fiancé at all and when she's around he gets more aggressive and completely refuses to step up even on the stick. I have more toys on the way, and I'm almost done with a home made play gym. Any advice?

 

[weco]

How old is Keelin? How long have you had him? How often & for what lengths of time do you train him?

Are you sure he is plucking and not molting as it is molting season for many parrot species and for some, it looks like a sudden snow storm of feathers.....

What interaction does your fiancé do with Keelin? And on what frequency?

 

[Ryno]

I've had him just over a week. I could be just freaking for nothing. I have no idea how old he is, petco had him for almost a year. I try to interact with h as much as I can everyday. My fiancé doesn't do much with him, I think she's afraid of being bitten. It looks like he's plucking and then playing with the feathers. What does molting look like?

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

Molting is him losing feathers and going to replace them with new ones. Some birds molt once a year and some do it twice a year.

My house currently has little fluffy white feathers everywhere no matter what I do and my bird lost about 10 colored feathers yesterday alone!

If he is "plucking" you would see "bald" spots on him, if he's molting it will be lots of fluffy white feathers and some colored feathers from "random" places. He might look a bit "scruffy" for a bit but his new feathers will grow in soon.

Misting and bathing will help make him more comfortable.

 

[veimar]

Oh yeah, my house in summer looked like somebody ripped up a down pillow!
Amanda is right I hope. Do you see him actually plucking, or is he just preening? I don't think gcc-s are prone to plucking.
It takes a while for a gcc to fully adapt, give him 2-3 mo. My gcc hated my hubby, but last year when I was gone for a week they bonded! Now he likes us both.
Unless he gets bare spots on his body I wouldn't worry too much. I also wonder if you mist him with water regularly? It's dry in winter, and his skin might get irritated.

 

[Minimaker]

Is there a spray product that works well for parrot's winter skin issues? Does anyone use a spray for that who would know what's good or not?

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

Is there a spray product that works well for parrot's winter skin issues? Does anyone use a spray for that who would know what's good or not?

I personally wouldn't use anything but plain water unless prescribed by my avian vet.

 

[Minimaker]

Is there a spray product that works well for parrot's winter skin issues? Does anyone use a spray for that who would know what's good or not?

I personally wouldn't use anything but plain water unless prescribed by my avian vet.

Ok, I'm glad to know that. I saw some products like these under a heading that said "winterize your bird now" and wondered if that was necessary or if I should buy it ahead of time:
AVIx Avian Care Products for Birds Parrots - Bird Rain Bath Spray

See that's why I'm here, to learn from you guys because you know these things from experience.

 

[Ryno]

Do you just put water in a bottle and put it on mist?

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

You can use a spray bottle on the "mist" setting or take him in the shower with you (low temp and no soaps/conditioner, etc...) or he might like to play in the sink if you turn the water on and have him on your hand (again low temp and low pressure no soaps or anything)

 

[Christinenc2000]

My Macaw is molting and that is all I use . Just water in a mist bottle. Helps a lot.

 

[weco]

Is there a spray product that works well for parrot's winter skin issues? Does anyone use a spray for that who would know what's good or not?

I personally wouldn't use anything but plain water unless prescribed by my avian vet.

Ok, I'm glad to know that. I saw some products like these under a heading that said "winterize your bird now" and wondered if that was necessary or if I should buy it ahead of time:
AVIx Avian Care Products for Birds Parrots - Bird Rain Bath Spray

See that's why I'm here, to learn from you guys because you know these things from experience.

Glad you asked the question & like Amanda mentioned, plain or distilled water (if you prefer) is better for your bird's bathing than these commercial preparations.....you have to be careful.....with over 8 million pet birds in the U.S. alone, there are people looking for that almighty $$$. Not everything claimed to be good for your feathered friend is or is necessary. Pet stores sell mite repellants, but those things are toxic to companion birds.....they're nothing more than canned mothballs in a metal or plastic tin with holes punched in the lid.....

If you go back and read the marketing spin on that Harrison's AVIx Rain, it says "soothes and hydrates skin, brings out the natural luster of coat or feathers, but then I've never seen a coat on any companion bird I've ever met...maybe that's meant for the Park Avenue birds in NYC or maybe the Nob Hill birds in San Francisco....., but then I always thought that feathers were dead entities, incapable of being re-lustered until the feathers are molted/moulted again, now water does wash off the dust, but that's what baths do, isn't it.....

 

[Birdman666]

First, unless there's actual bald patches, or you actually see him tearing out feathers, I'd assume it was a molt...

Second, if their feathers feel icky (like if you put something on them that doesn't belong there) they will tend to pull them out, and not only that, they have trouble regulating body temperature, and can get sick and/or die...

Lukewarm water misting. Or a shower. Or the sink. What ever your bird likes.

 

[Ryno]

Ok so I gave it a couple days thinking it could be molting, and you were right she started looking a little rough, feathers everywhere, no big deal! Until last night I left to pick up my son when i came back she had plucked/bitten off feathers on her upper left chest and has a bald spot. I'm completely lost on what to do. She won't willingly get on my finger from her cage. I'm stressing out! This is not how I pictured it would be.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

I would make an appointment with your avian vet as soon as possible and rule out illness first, then go from there. There are so many things that could be the "root cause" Your vet should be able to advise you on how best to handle this.

 

[Ryno]

Just to update anyone who's interested. I took the advice of Amanda, and made an appointment with my local Avian Vet. He was very shocked to see Keelin plucking. He said the same thing someone on here had said, that it is very strange to see a GCC do this to themselves, he said they usually don't show signs of anxiety like that. He said it's hard to tell what causes them to do this, that it could be an infection or some type of fungus, so he took a stool sample and is testing it. I should get the results back by Tuesday. Keelin's behavior has gotten a bit better, My fiance was able to get him/her onto her finger the other night! Just wanted to give a thank you to everyone who has given me advice! It has helped a lot.

 

[LeaKP]

I hope it all settles down, gccs are GREAT birds. With time and patience they become awesome companions.

 

[OneHorseRanch]

My bird doesnt like my husband. I'm worried one day my bird will come up with some neurotic habit. So far the bird just screams at him. I really dont like to leave them alone, but I'm hoping I can trust my husband not to torment the bird.

I know when he goes through a molt he becomes a bit cranky. He wants me to rub his head but when I bump a pin feather the wrong way he sure lets me know. I also came to find out that it takes him about 3 days to start liking me again after a vet visit.

I have a shallow ceramic dish that he likes to bathe in. I just fill it with water and hold it over the sink. Bird dives in, splashes around jumps to my shoulder, shakes off and does it all again.