Although, I strongly believe in never giving-up on finding a method of halting Plucking, there comes a point, that acceptance becomes important for everyone! The harsh reality of stating; My Parrot is a Plucker! Remains very difficult for everyone that is owned by such a Parrot!
I have long believed that with Amazons that once one finds the source of the 'need' to pluck that Amazons would Stop! This based on our halting plucking in a very specific group of Amazons, classified as: Older, commonly very ill, commonly abused Amazons normally in the last days, months or with luck years of life. This highly specific group had been considered little more than yesterdays trash from the full range of past owners, pet stores and even Vets. With this very specific group, the applications of tons of love, mixed with the confusion of extensive medical care that tends to be contrary to developing a Trust Bond had brought about a stabilizations in their health status and very commonly a halt in their plucking.
Then Julio came into our World. A middle-aged, Strong, Healthy, live long Flyer that had lost both of his older Owners. The adult kids that had promised mom and dad that they would care for Julio and one of them would provide a forever home! As they where busy dividing up the things of value, it can to what to do with Julio! They had heard that a non-flighted Parrot could be sold faster. So off the "Pet (not so) Smart" for a cheap Wing clipping by a store clerk. First time out the the transport carrier Julio attempted to fly and fell to the floor harder than a dropped rock. That broke a number of tail feathers off and opened his rump. Off to the local Vet for surgery. They paid-cash for the surgery and left Julio in the waiting area! Long Story short, we received a call from our Avian Vet who we have a long history with and knew of our recent loss that a special Amazon was in need of a home. Likely needed several more surgeries to repair his rump, etc... That is how Julio came into our lives.
As we found out, medical based plucking is very hard to halt, especially if there are multiple surgeries involved. Much longer story short: Now Seven years later, we have a Fully Flighted, Very Strong and Very Smart, DYH Amazon that flies with great easy. The combination of his strong physical self and the support of a Certified Avian Vet (CAV) we started on a very different road with Julio as the likelihood of the now fully in place behavior level plucking was not likely to stop.
Why change direction: The Avian Medical Industry understands that the greatest concern of Plucking Parrots is the vastly increased likelihood of death by infections of open wounds that weakens the Parrot and opens the Parrot to other serious illness and open to a far too early death. Committed to Julio's long life, we pushed our CAV to look at ways of vasty reducing the issue of open wounds and elected to target the pin-point sharpest of the Amazon common three Sharp points, Bill Structure. Two on the lower beak and one on the upper super sharp, super strong Bill.
Based on that direction, we are now 18-months later having success with is the 'very slight'ly rounding of all three points!! The results is a vast decrease in open wounds and their resulting sight infections.
We still have a tail-less Amazon that is a strong flier and is healthy!
NOTE: The tiny amount removed monthly from the three points is a MUST! And, MUST be done by Avian Professional that will commit to only removing that tiny amount!! Over-trimming a Bill Structure can become dangerous!!
It is not a cure or a solution for plucking! But it is a successful solution to vastly reducing infections!
I have long believed that with Amazons that once one finds the source of the 'need' to pluck that Amazons would Stop! This based on our halting plucking in a very specific group of Amazons, classified as: Older, commonly very ill, commonly abused Amazons normally in the last days, months or with luck years of life. This highly specific group had been considered little more than yesterdays trash from the full range of past owners, pet stores and even Vets. With this very specific group, the applications of tons of love, mixed with the confusion of extensive medical care that tends to be contrary to developing a Trust Bond had brought about a stabilizations in their health status and very commonly a halt in their plucking.
Then Julio came into our World. A middle-aged, Strong, Healthy, live long Flyer that had lost both of his older Owners. The adult kids that had promised mom and dad that they would care for Julio and one of them would provide a forever home! As they where busy dividing up the things of value, it can to what to do with Julio! They had heard that a non-flighted Parrot could be sold faster. So off the "Pet (not so) Smart" for a cheap Wing clipping by a store clerk. First time out the the transport carrier Julio attempted to fly and fell to the floor harder than a dropped rock. That broke a number of tail feathers off and opened his rump. Off to the local Vet for surgery. They paid-cash for the surgery and left Julio in the waiting area! Long Story short, we received a call from our Avian Vet who we have a long history with and knew of our recent loss that a special Amazon was in need of a home. Likely needed several more surgeries to repair his rump, etc... That is how Julio came into our lives.
As we found out, medical based plucking is very hard to halt, especially if there are multiple surgeries involved. Much longer story short: Now Seven years later, we have a Fully Flighted, Very Strong and Very Smart, DYH Amazon that flies with great easy. The combination of his strong physical self and the support of a Certified Avian Vet (CAV) we started on a very different road with Julio as the likelihood of the now fully in place behavior level plucking was not likely to stop.
Why change direction: The Avian Medical Industry understands that the greatest concern of Plucking Parrots is the vastly increased likelihood of death by infections of open wounds that weakens the Parrot and opens the Parrot to other serious illness and open to a far too early death. Committed to Julio's long life, we pushed our CAV to look at ways of vasty reducing the issue of open wounds and elected to target the pin-point sharpest of the Amazon common three Sharp points, Bill Structure. Two on the lower beak and one on the upper super sharp, super strong Bill.
Based on that direction, we are now 18-months later having success with is the 'very slight'ly rounding of all three points!! The results is a vast decrease in open wounds and their resulting sight infections.
We still have a tail-less Amazon that is a strong flier and is healthy!
NOTE: The tiny amount removed monthly from the three points is a MUST! And, MUST be done by Avian Professional that will commit to only removing that tiny amount!! Over-trimming a Bill Structure can become dangerous!!
It is not a cure or a solution for plucking! But it is a successful solution to vastly reducing infections!
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