feather plucking

[derekismyname]

Hello everyone, my name is derek and I have 2 african greys, one timneh and one congo, they are both rescue birds and 5 yrs old respectively, the timneh i've had for 4 years and was clipped when i got him,he was a problem bird and can now happily say that he has a full compliment of feathers,(of which he is quite proud) and is a model citizen of the household (most of the time , lol). The congo I have had for 2 months and I thought her wings were cut a little short when I got her but thought nothing of it at the time.I am distressed to tell you that she bites her feathers clean off , ( the flight ones and the tail ones). I took her to the vet and have been giving her anti anxiety medication orally for a time now Over the past number of weeks she has let her wing tubes grow as well as allowing the feathers to come out a good inch or so,but over the last 12 hrs. she has removed her tailfeathers and is working on the wing ones again,including the tubes.She would make them bleed (her wing tips) when she cut the tubes off before but I haven't seen any blood lately.The vet has suggested an elizabethan collar if the meds don't help but i am concerned about how that would affect her mentally. Please, if anyone can help me with a solution,I would be indebted as I am quite beside myself to say the least, thank you, Derek

[dohcsvt]

I have no input for your problem, but just wanted to wish you the best of luck with your situation. I can't imagine having that situation with my boys. I truly hope that all works out. I am assuming that you will do whatever it takes to come through this.

[liz]

Welcome to the forum and ditto to the last post.

The only thing I can think of is give it a piece of birlap or loose bound piece of rope. Hang things on the side of it's cage. Give it more out time. Give it twigs and things to pick at other than toys. Mine like to destroy stips of cardboard and plastic lids.

I gave my Amazon, Myrtle, a tree branch in a Christmas tree stand to keep her busy. She chews it, climbs on it and even hangs upside down. I hang things off the branches like cardboard egg cartons.

Try more enrichment before you go to the collar.

[shanlung]

Provided birdies have no other underlying health problems, and given loads of emotional and mental caring for, birdies with plucking problems stop plucking when the mash was given to them. Folks have written to me to let me know their plucking problems ceased after transition to Tinkerbell Mash.

See how it is made. Do you want to give your birdie the best food that you can ever provide to them? Made with love and care from you.

Morning with Harry & the decision// Sultan of Oman Palace// Tinkerbell Mash Batch 7
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/109957.html