Salty is in trouble with plucking

[ShellyL]

Doesn't it get too hot in the summer for the birds outdoors? It easily gets into the 90s here in Maine and I can't stand the heat. Don't they get too hot? I would think May, June, September and October would all be nice for parrots outdoors in the north.

Definitely agree that 90+ degrees is too hot for extended outdoor time, especially if they don't have a shady area to retreat into. High 60s to low 80s is the sweet spot, like today!

 

[TiredOldMan]

When it hits 90 mine come in regardless of shade

 

[ParrotSnakeMan]

I've been reluctant to post this. Oddly, when your parrot starts to pluck, it makes the owner feel so inadequate, so much of a failure, I was quite overtaken with it and embarrassed!

About 2 months ago. we noticed a disturbance in his feathers on his upper breast. IT slowly progressed to the point where we knew there were feathers missing, and has now progressed to the point where there is bare skin showing. He has gone to his Avian vet 6 weeks ago and received a treatment for feather mites, even though the vet did not see any signs of them. Did not work and the condition continued. Then, 4 weeks ago, after discussion, the vet gave him the first of 2 Lupron shots, in the theory that his unusually strong mating season behavior this year was causing him to pluck. He got the second shot 1 week ago. It has not stopped the behavior so far and the bare spot continues to grow.

the vet did a full blood panel etc etc on the initial visit, everything is normal except his weight which is high and I've adjusted his diet to get him to trim down a bit.

What is really weird is - there are no feathers to be found, anywhere - not on the floor , not in his cage, nothing. Is It possible he is eating the feathers, totally, after he plucks them? Also weird is we never ever see him doing the plucking, only time possible could be when he is covered up for the night, which is 10PM to 10 AM.

Any ideas, anyone? Its so unusual for Amazons to pluck, but he is not the first Yellow Shoulder I have seen doing it. There is another one locally, and she is badly plucked. I've started to mist him every 2-3 days with water, but previously for the last 9 years its been more like 2-3 months, since his species is from an arid, dry environment.

Any thoughts, advice or comments? Trust me, for those of you whose parrots don't do this, if your parrot starts plucking , it is totally demoralizing!!

I appreciate that you posted this cause it will educate and help others. I know it’s probably not a great feeling but I don’t think should make you feel bad. Your working with a vet and had the courage to discuss it here. I’m a newer bird parront and I thinks its helpful to owners like me who have no yet encountered such things.

Unfortunately that means I don’t have any helpful advise, but Im sending positive thoughts, prayers and energy to you and Salty.

 

[rheashard2]

I appreciate that you posted this cause it will educate and help others. I know it’s probably not a great feeling but I don’t think should make you feel bad. Your working with a vet and had the courage to discuss it here. I’m a newer bird parront and I thinks its helpful to owners like me who have no yet encountered such things.

Unfortunately that means I don’t have any helpful advise, but Im sending positive thoughts, prayers and energy to you and Salty.

Reading and contemplating what actual owners experience is the best part of this forum. The variety gives a good foundation. Every parrot, owner, living situation is different. So responses are varied and different. A good example is the talk of ideal temps. I prefer upper 80's and only for my parrot do I turn air on at 80. Heat comes on at 76! My CAG will be 21 yrs, is healthy w normal labs etc. My first CAG became a plucker because I didn't understand avian mentally. It was my fault. The guilt, mental agony I went through was tremendous. Many of the suggestions posted I tried to one degree or another. I eventually found a combination that slowed the plucking down. The plucking started overnight. Decreasing and hopefully stopping the behavior took years. There were episodes of backsliding.

 

[harrisonowen]

Thanks for sharing this—it takes courage to open up about something so personal. You're clearly doing your best for Salty, and it's great you're working closely with an avian vet. Hoping things improve soon—you're not alone in this!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I would completely melt over 75 indoors! I just don't handle heat well anymore. That's one of the many reasons I wouldn’t live in the South, at least not for more than two months in winter but snowbirding has so many logistical problems with all my budgies. We put the heat or air on so the temp indoors is about 70 to 72 year round. I realize that makes our power bill stupid high but we save in other areas.

Your CAG's plucking may not have been your fault. Blaming yourself just sets up other people to blame themselves when they've donep everything "right" like @wrench13. It was seems like keeping parrots in home captivity at all can lead to plucking even under the best care, vs at a zoo with huge aviaries set up to replicate their natural environment.

 

[wrench13]

Once we get decent daytime temps, Salty is going outside in a travel cage for a few hours a day.