Folkeye
New member
- Oct 11, 2012
- 58
- 0
- Parrots
- Jacky- Pacific Parrotlet (Nude-subspecies...feather picker.)
Jasper- Lady English Budgie
Anybody have any success stories (yeah I want to look for optimism) of a parrotlet or any other parrot get OUT of the feather chewing habit? I have a parrotlet who will be 3 years old in Feb. As of last December he decided to chew off all his feathers in protest to having his wings clipped, he let them grow back. Time to get wings trimmed again, he chewed again. After that....well...different things set him off. He's very hormonal right now towards many objects that he thinks are his girlfriend (including daily offerings of veggies/fruits). So him being horny to put it nicely, and stress are two major things that can get him going. Otherwise he's very healthy. He chews the feathers off instead of pulling them out so at least he's not hurting his skin... but it makes me sad.
Of course I want my pretty looking bird back, but more so for his own warmth or protection when he lands on my floor. I know it's like getting a chronic nail biter to stop...but I don't know what else to do right now. I would leave him flighted but it brings on much aggression when he has that much freedom. That and the fact he's ended up in the bucket light with the lava hot bulb twice. So I can't trust him to not hurt himself.
I'm working on the breeding mode issue first....He's getting more rest/less light now since I'm getting better at putting him to bed before me (I'm a night owl). The TV is in the same room, but he's covered and I've started using headphones so the light and isn't distracting. Nothing 'stressful' in the house that wasn't there before...he does minor foraging. I've been trying to make it easy and obvious for him, but he does it when he feels like it. I put minimal food in his dish one day and had plenty all around in EASY places to spot and get into but even that caused him stress enough to chew... so he's sort of a no-win situation. I haven't given up but always looking for more suggestions.
I did recently adopt a second bird (English Budgie) who chirps at him and seems to enjoy him (separate cage, not a playmate). The budgie doesn't stress the parrotlet out at all from what I can tell. Just seems more curious than oblivious. So there's company/radio on during the day.... the entertainment is there. The toy rotation is there. But yeah, any thoughts?
Of course I want my pretty looking bird back, but more so for his own warmth or protection when he lands on my floor. I know it's like getting a chronic nail biter to stop...but I don't know what else to do right now. I would leave him flighted but it brings on much aggression when he has that much freedom. That and the fact he's ended up in the bucket light with the lava hot bulb twice. So I can't trust him to not hurt himself.
I'm working on the breeding mode issue first....He's getting more rest/less light now since I'm getting better at putting him to bed before me (I'm a night owl). The TV is in the same room, but he's covered and I've started using headphones so the light and isn't distracting. Nothing 'stressful' in the house that wasn't there before...he does minor foraging. I've been trying to make it easy and obvious for him, but he does it when he feels like it. I put minimal food in his dish one day and had plenty all around in EASY places to spot and get into but even that caused him stress enough to chew... so he's sort of a no-win situation. I haven't given up but always looking for more suggestions.
I did recently adopt a second bird (English Budgie) who chirps at him and seems to enjoy him (separate cage, not a playmate). The budgie doesn't stress the parrotlet out at all from what I can tell. Just seems more curious than oblivious. So there's company/radio on during the day.... the entertainment is there. The toy rotation is there. But yeah, any thoughts?
