Unknown injury

[Sasha]

Hi
For a few days now my parrot has been attacking his back at the top of his tail feathers like as if he was being bitten by fleas or something on closer inspection i found this any ideas as to what has happened here and what i can do about it thks

 

[Doublete]

That looks like possible self mutilation.
I have no experience with it but those that do will need more info about your bird. How long you've had it, age, where you keep it, diet, interaction, etc

 

[Birdman666]

Doesn't that look very similar to the type of injury Gilbert inflicted on himself a week or two ago?

I'm wondering if these birds aren't possibly reacting to bug bites? Where are you located? (Gilbert is in New Jersey.)

http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/55905-gilbert-going-vet-today.html

 

[Sasha]

He is just over a year old we had him when he was about 7 mths he is out of his cage at least twice a day, hand tame says a few words and does a few tricks such as waving etc will give kisses and sit quietly on your shoulder when he is tired so he gets a lot of attention are there particular reasons that he would want to self mutilate

 

[Birdman666]

He is just over a year old we had him when he was about 7 mths he is out of his cage at least twice a day, hand tame says a few words and does a few tricks such as waving etc will give kisses and sit quietly on your shoulder when he is tired so he gets a lot of attention are there particular reasons that he would want to self mutilate

Look at the wound on Gilbert on page 3 of the link I sent you.

It looks very similar to me.

We suspected possible zinc exposure in Gilbert's case. But the vet tests were inconclusive. It could also be some sort of bug bite, that really bothered him, and he picked at it.

 

[RavensGryf]

Hm, the preen (oil) gland is around there, hard to tell if that's what the brown part is from the picture, but maybe since he is going after that specific area, he has something wrong with the gland?

 

[Sasha]

Located South Wales UK

 

[Bandespresso]

It's definitely time for a vet visit. I can't tell 100% from the picture (and I am not even familiar with Australian King Parrots so they might not even have them?) but, based on the location and picture, it looks like he might have an infected preen gland? Is it in the middle at the base of his tail?

 

[Bandespresso]

Hm, the preen (oil) gland is around there, hard to tell if that's what the brown part is from the picture, but maybe since he is going after that specific area, he has something wrong with the gland?

great minds think alike :09:

 

[Sasha]

Yes it is right in the middle

 

[Bandespresso]

Definitely time for a vet visit then. If it is an infected preen gland, it will only get worse.

Something you can do for not to help the itchies is spray him with 1/2 aloe and 1/2 water solution. Don't spray the area itself too much but saturate his feathers because, without the oil from his gland, he is going to get itchy all over and that could lead to plucking.

 

[SoCalWendy]

You should get him to the vet could be an impacted preening gland

 

[ZephyrFly]

Another UK resident here. I hope you have an avian vet closer to you than I do (Bristol is my closest).
I'm with the oil gland theory, I'm not familiar with self mutilation (didn't think the top of the tail was a normal first spot for that) but that being so close to the oil gland I'd talk to an avian vet because of potential infection (I assume that birds with oil glands all have it around that area?). Even if it's not anything and just an accidental bump/scratch then another worry is infection to that area anyway.

TL;DR
Go see an avian vet for potential infection, there might be more to it but a trained avian vet will have more solid answers.

Hope all goes well and please keep us updated, good luck.

 

[Sasha]

Thanks guys for all your help took charlie to vet seems he has an infected feather shaft and has to take antibiotics for a week

 

[Sasha]

Thanks guys for all your suggestions took charlie to vet seems he has an infected feather shaft so has to take antibiotics for a week

 

[Bandespresso]

Yay! I'm so glad it's not self mutilation!?

 

[RavensGryf]

Great, I'm glad Charlie was diagnosed and is being treated . Hope it's all healed up asap!