Senegal - plucking, rarely fully preening

[jasond]

Hello,

I've just joined this forum and ask for some advice on plucking. Sorry for the long post...

My parents have a Senegal who bonded to me since he was a baby and I moved out of the house about a year ago and only visit once a month or so... Unfortunately, for the past few months, he's been plucking around his head as well as a spot behind his left leg just under the wing. His emotional response to me leaving I'm assuming. He's plucked the coloured feathers and seems to nibble at the tips of the white down. I've seen him pluck a few pin feathers than were growing back which was very discouraging. He also seems to not preen much at all now, even after a bath (with some watered down aloe). His feathers are less water repellent and shiny than before.

Some info on Tango:
- 13 years old
- clipped wings (unfortunately)
- my mom is home most of the day and pays a LOT of attention to the birds, even though they don't like her and will not step up on her, only sometimes on a wooden perch
- been to an avian vet several times about this and they found no health issues
- eats Zupreme coloured and some brown pellets (forget the name), will not eat Harrisons, eats fruits, green veggies etc.
- tons of toys and in a large cage but has never really showed much interest in his toys, they are changed every so often

My mom spoke to a well known avian vet from Guelph, ON (can't remember his name) at a parrot club meeting and he didn't think Zupreme could be the cause, but I'm still skeptical. Another vet mentioned that I shouldn't spend any time with the birds when I visit even though they can recognize my car and see me. Is this even good advice?

I feel really bad for leaving the birds but cannot take them to my condo on a busy street. The birds cages are currently situated in the front window across from a wooded area.

If anyone has any suggestions for how I can help Tango, please let me know as I need to kick his habit quick! Please ask if you'd like to know anything else

Thanks in advance!
Jason

[GreenWing]

I think Pajarita could comment on this best, but I think you already figured out the issue: Your bird is plucking because he is lonely and misses you. Can you get another bird, perhaps? I don't know if this would solve your problem, but I know of two Amazons (a lilac-crowned and a yellow crowned) that bonded in their loneliness. So, perhaps you could get another Senegal as a friend? 'Just an idea.

[Pajarita]

Hmmm, what a quandary! Well, personally, I do not like pellets but I don't think that might be the issue here. I think he is depressed and lonely and, if you cannot take him and he doesn't like your mother, I really do not know what you can do about it (although I do agree that seeing you for a little while once a month is worse for him than not seeing you at all because I bet he gets his hopes up every time you visit just to be crushed when you leave). You could get him a mate and that might solve his problem but if he doesn't like the female you get then you would have two depressed and lonely birds. Would you consider rehoming him? Sometimes, the best thing we can do for them is to find them a home where they will be happier than with us...

[jasond]

Hi GreenWing, Pajarita, thanks for your responses!

My parents considered getting another bird but that would make 3 and its hard enough with 2... They have a green cheek conure as well but the senegal seems to hate the conure and screams when he comes close and we're worried there will be a fight.

Tango, the senegal is like a grumpy old man and Chacha, the conure is like a rambunctious teenager. Oddly enough, the only time they were friends was when they were at a bird-sitters house - maybe because they were out of their normal element? No idea how to get them to be friends at home.

One vet recommended putting a mirror in the cage but he wouldn't even look at it.

So unfortunately, we need to work on Tango's plucking without getting another bird -- or trying to get him to be friends with Chacha. I think he's stubborn.

I'd feel really bad to just give up and give Tango away. Who knows if he'd like the new place.

Jason

[Pajarita]

Well, he is not liking where he is now so, most likely, a new home will be an improvement as long as you make sure the person who is getting him doesn't work outside the home, has previous parrot experience and no other bird (senegals usually prefer been the only object of our affections). I understand that you feel bad about giving him up but you need to think about the bird's needs instead of your feelings. I've rehomed several birds that I loved dearly but they are happier now in their new homes than with me and that makes me happy.

[jasond]

Hello,

I just wanted to post an update on the plucking situation that's been going on with Tango over the past few months.

Thankfully, he's stopped plucking altogether and his feathers are almost fully grown in... just in a different colour!!! What we ended up doing is revamping his diet, added more greens and other vegetables but the biggest was switching to Roudybush Daily Maintenance from the Zupreme. Both Tango and ChaCha, the green cheek took to the pellets immediately. Their features are much shinier and even their mood seems a little different, though I don't know if that's related to food

My parents are also exercising the birds much more, unfortunately they will not stop clipping their wings. Before I moved away, I'd have the birds on my hand and would run around the house while they were flapping their wings (it looked ridiculous but the birds liked it)... now my parents are doing that, just with the birds on a stick. Seems to work ok.

We're still monitoring the plucking but everything seems well now... hopefully it stays that way!

Jason

[Harpmaker]

Glad to hear the plucking has stopped, Jason! It sounds like Tango is adjusting to seeing less of you.

[Pajarita]

Ditto! Glad to hear he is doing better.