feather sheaths and preening

[sjbales]

Our 10 year old CAG was fully flighted and very happy until a few years ago when she began having feather trouble. We first thought it was a diet issue, then barbering, but nothing has worked. I now think the trouble started with a sheath problem. The sheathes on her new feathers do not come off like they should. We bathe her every day, but they stay on and stay hard. Eventually, she gets frustrated and bites the feather off when it won't preen and feel right. Any other ideas what the problem may be? This has robbed her of flight! Thanks!

[Chantilly]

Hi sjbales.
This link may help:
http://www.2ndchance.info/molt.htm
it seems to go into quite a bit of detail...
It talks about abnormal molts and problems more towards the end,
Is she getting plenty of time on shoulders? From what I've gathered of this forum CAGS are'nt very cuddly birds, but still enjoy sitting around. Her diet is proper? Is she getting enough UVB? Is her skin dry? How many years ago did this start?
Hopefully we can help you and Sierra out.

~Chantilly

[liz]

myrtle looks like her head has been spiked. myrtle preens Rambo's head but he only preens her feet. though I am the center of her life she still only lets me touch her head when she is hormonal. any chance I get I crack the wax so she can scratch it off.

[Wolf]

The first thing to do is to rule out any medical possibilities so I must ask if you have taken her in and discussed this with your avian vet? There could be disease issues, parasite issues, nutritional issues. and if it is due to any of these the vet is the best way to find out.
Very often feather plucking and barbering issues with Greys can be the result of them not receiving enough out of cage and personal attention and interaction with their chosen human, or from a lack of mental stimulation, although this does not sound like this is responsible for this problem. It very much sounds like a medical or nutritional issue causing this.

[sjbales]

First the medical stuff. Yes, good diet( tried very expensive hand made from an avian specialist for over a year to no effect). Now back to Pretty Bird CAG. Plenty of light, no dry skin, it started about 3 years ago and I first thought it was just a crazy molt. Then noticed the sheaths did not come off properly when the new feathers started coming in. She has been to the vet, thought not about this specifically. They assumed it was behavioral. We went the "barbering causing the sheath problem" route, but I no longer think that is it. She doesn't bite them off until they get grown nearly out and the sheath is still covering too much of the feather. She is out of her cage most of most days. Goes where she wants, mostly and is with us nearly all the time. Her cage is large and in front of a window with a view of lawn and woods. (We live in the woods.) I don't think its boredom and I don't think it starts with the barbering. I think that is the result of the sheath problem.

[Toggsy]

I'm no expert or do I claim to be but I think a trip to an avian vet is order even just to get her tested she maybe lacking in something least by have her tested and it the test comes back clear you can rule out diet issue which would lead to perhaps a looking at a psychological issue with her.

[Wolf]

What does she do about bathing? I mean does she bathe herself do you mist her or what? With the breeding methods that are mostly in use today there is a possibility of this being a genetic problem but I am still leaning to a nutritional problem even a possible allergic reaction to something in the food that she eats. I know that this is all mostly guess work right now but lets examine everything that we can and maybe we can find out what the cause is.

[Wolf]

While looking through some of my links looking for answers to another members problem I came across this one that may contain information that pertains to your birds feather problem here is the link, I hope it helps http://parrotnutrition.com/articles/som ... et-parrots

[sjbales]

We mist her as she isn't crazy about water. We met her a 3 days old and started hand feeding her then. We weened her at the breeders house and brought her home when she was fully feathered and weaned. I totally changed her diet after this began and kept it that way for over a year. i'll have to save for a vet visit and testing.

[Wolf]

We would be happy to go over her current diet with you and try to help you with this if you will share your feeding schedule and what foods you give her at each feeding.