Plucking Green Wing

[congobongo]

I have an OCD Green Winged who is a constant plucker. He is a rehome and was plucked when I got him. He is on a healthy pellet diet with fruit and veggie and in shell nut diet. He is also never caged. He has plenty of toys to chew on and interacts with me all day long.

I don't know if I should just accept the fact that he will always be a 'plucked chicken' or if there is something anyone can suggest that they have used with success. If so, please let me know.

 

[JJones1719]

Hello, First thing I would do is try to figure out why the Macaw is plucking in the first place then change the habbit.
Is your Macaw plucking because of abuse, being bored, trying to get your arttn. Some Macaws pluck just for the sake of plucking. I would advise you to give more baths, approx 2-3 times per week. This means, get a shower perch, take a long shower with them, get them wet to the bone. Towel dry them, then use a nickel size amount of Aleo Vera Green Gel 100% pure. Rub this into your hands then all over your Macaw. This will not harm them and feels really great on their skin. If you have a heat lamp outside the cage, you can then place the Macaw back inside the cage to dry or you can use a blow dryer and set the air on low, hold the dryer approx 36 inches away from the Macaw to dry.
I would also advise you to give your Macaw 1 hard boiled egg without the yoke and with the shell 2-3 times per week. This too is great for their skin and new feathers. Best of luck Joe

 

[Spiritbird]

You do not say a thing about this bird's vet care. Has a medcial cause for the plucking been ruled out??

 

[congobongo]

Yes. He is a healthy bird. Active, eats well and all. Just has to pluck out all the feathers under his wings. Wings, tail and head are all great just under all that is what he plucks.

 

[congobongo]

Thank you so much for the reply. Honestly I think he plucks for the sake of plucking. As I said, he is never caged! He spends tons of time with me. Has toys. Sometimes he acts a bit OCD even with his toys, doing the same thing repeatedly with them.

I do give him scrambled egg and I give him the shell when I crack them. But I will do the hard boil and only give him the white. What is bad with the yolk?

I will start giving him showers. I usually spray him and get him dripping soaked and he loves it. But maybe that is not enough. Plus I usually only do that once a week. And I will get the aloe for him as well. He's really good about letting me handle him and well, do just about anything. And of course as any good bird person I already have a shower perch so...no issue there.

I'm thinking I can get the Aloe gel at the drug store (like Banana Boat). I'll make sure it is just pure 100% aloe.

I'll let you know how it goes.

But to me it seems almost like someone having a habit of cracking their knuckles or biting their finger nails. But I'm willing to try anything to help him. Haven't given up yet.

Thanks again.

 

[willist]

When my "healthy" GW plucked out all his feathers (that he could reach) I took him to the vet. She ran various tests including a feather biopsy. It was determined that he has an allergy. She put him om medication and within a few months 99% of his plucked feathers regrew. She told me it could take 1 year for all his feathers to grow back, that will be next march. Take him to a avian vet.

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

Vet is a great idea, and definately the place to start. You may also try some Avicalm in his food and see if that lowers the OCD behavoir. Additionally, Vetricyn is a WONDERFUL. Product to use on birds, and we use it on pluckers to help keep them comfy. We use it after baths and between bath days. But as mentioned... testing NEEDS to be done to ensure that the root cause isn't as simple as an alergy or intestinal parasite. Good luck

 

[Amjad]

I have an OCD Green Winged who is a constant plucker. He is a rehome and was plucked when I got him. He is on a healthy pellet diet with fruit and veggie and in shell nut diet. He is also never caged. He has plenty of toys to chew on and interacts with me all day long.

I don't know if I should just accept the fact that he will always be a 'plucked chicken' or if there is something anyone can suggest that they have used with success. If so, please let me know.

DEAR SIR
PLEASE NEED HELP
I AM VERY NEW TO GW MACAW, mine is 7 months old and recently we found feathers all i er cage and in room too, all little light feathers. I understand that it may be molt but how can i be sure as it is molting.
Also, you have me tioned giving hardboiled egg without yolk with shell. Please guide me how can i nake one and is there any video available as in help.
Please reply
Waiting

 

[SilleIN]

DEAR SIR
PLEASE NEED HELP
I AM VERY NEW TO GW MACAW, mine is 7 months old and recently we found feathers all i er cage and in room too, all little light feathers. I understand that it may be molt but how can i be sure as it is molting.
Also, you have me tioned giving hardboiled egg without yolk with shell. Please guide me how can i nake one and is there any video available as in help.
Please reply
Waiting

If you look at the feathers in the bottom of the cage, a naturally molted feather should never have blood at the stem and a naturally molted feather should all have a small intentation at the end of the stem from where the new feather have pushed the old feather out.

You could take some photos of the feathers and post them. That would make it easier to help. If you could photo the end of the stem (sometimes difficult to get in focus) that could help in determining if the feathers are being molted or plucked.

 

[SilleIN]

WOOPS- old post...