grey plucking

[Munchy]

I have e-mailed to to let her know I cannot take him. I also mentioned that Red Dragon offered a temporary home. Her daughter is coming home for a visit May 5th, so they will discuss it. I told my sister that she needed to take the bird to the vet before that and gave her this forum link. Whether she will take the bird to the vet or come here for more information to try and help him, I don't know.

[greybentley]

Hi everybody,
It's my bird, Bentley, that she is referring to. I got Ben when he was just weened (idk if that's the proper term for a bird) and have had him for almost 3 years now. He started chewing his feathers about six months before I left for school, so after a couple months of thinking it was a phase, I took him to the vet. The vet couldn't find anything wrong with him: his levels were good, muscles well developed, and bones were healthy. The vet also said he was surprised at how well-behaved and calm Bentley was so he doubted it was a nervous habit. Ben gets taken out and socialized with daily, and is fed properly (even in my absence), so the chewing is beyond me.
I plan on taking him back to the vet when I get home for summer, but are there any suggestions for what else can be done?
Thanks. ~B

[pennyandrocky]

i have a feather chewer she was bald from neck to tail when we adopted her 10 months ago.one of the causes is taking the bird away from parents too soon so they don't know how to properly preen. you say you got him when he was just weened so since there are no health problems this is probably the cause. mya is now fully feathered so i can tell you what i did. when he chews or pulls on feathers it should be ignored,for example if i'm talking to her and she chews or pulls i'll stop talking to her, if we're just sitting in the same room and she does it i'll put my head down or turn away from her.another thing you can look up is how often you should bathe him you could be bathing too much or too little.get alot of preening toys and foraging toys to keep him busy.flight helps too so it's good yours is flighted i give mya a hot breakfast usually plain oatmeal or scrambled eggs and she does laps around the house right after.flight burns extra energy so there to worn out to be stressed.

[RedDragon1288]

You can mix pure aloe vera juice with water and spray the effected areas every other day and spray baths with regular water inbetween those days. When Ruby starts picking at his feathers or pulls out some down. I wait until he stops than give him a bath and try to soak those areas that he picks at to the skin. Or I have him do some short distances flying in the living room.