oh no Ollie :(

[marie83]

Ollies ripped out a load of feathers overnight

All round his wing pits and round to his back, he has literally gone bonkers overnight.

Have to say I am devastated, we haven't had any problems at all since I took him off of Harrisons in 2013!!! This is worse than ever

[shiraartain]

Oh noooooo. I am so sorry to hear that, Marie.

[Wolf]

It sounds like he has a really powerful dislike for this new bird. I sure hope that he will get over it by the time breeding season begins as that is the most likely time frame.

[marie83]

Do you really think it's to do with Rena Wolf? I maybe More inclined to agree if he hadn't had issues before.

[Wolf]

Well, I don't really know what his previous issues were, although I am sure that you have mentioned them, I just don't remember. But to answer your question, yes, I do. Consider that even with the stress of losing his other friend that he did not resort to plucking. This has only become an issue for him, since he has seen that you obviously like her and are spending time with her, so he just knows that she is not going away. I am assuming from what I have read that despite your continued affection towards him, that he is resenting the time that you are spending with her and that he feels that this was time that you would hava and should be giving to him. You could try not letting him see when you spend time interacting with her for a while and see if that helps. Also one has to consider the timing of this new bout of plucking and its relation to the arrival of Rena, a new bird always has an affect on flock dynamics, even when that flock is one or two birds and humans.

[marie83]

Ahh ffs. Who was it who told me little birds were easier? Lol.
It would be a struggle to interact with them both completely separately. Do-able but a struggle. I was looking forward to spending more time with both of them now the daylight hours are lengthening but this means less time for them.

Previous issues are detailed here

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7977&hilit=Not+again

but be warned it's a very long thread as the issues spread over a couple of years

[Wolf]

I will read it and get back to you on that, but in the mean time don't lose heart as his attitude will probably begin to change once their hormones start kicking in. I am not suggesting that you breed them, but there is no valid reason that I can think of to not use their natural behaviors to assist them and you in getting through this and bringing this behavior to an end. When that happens then you get to face the new disappointment of them probably wanting to spend more time with each other than with you, at least for a while. And the only answer to that is just to continue to spend time with both of them together and separately if possible.

[marie83]

Thanks Wolf. I have no plans to breed them but was going to allow them to go through the motions if they wish to. I have dummy eggs on order just in case so I can switch them if necessary.

[Pajarita]

Ahh ffs. Who was it who told me little birds were easier? Lol.
It would be a struggle to interact with them both completely separately. Do-able but a struggle. I was looking forward to spending more time with both of them now the daylight hours are lengthening but this means less time for them.

Previous issues are detailed here

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7977&hilit=Not+again

but be warned it's a very long thread as the issues spread over a couple of years

It was me who told you that little birds bond easier than large ones - and that has always been my experience but, as everything else with parrots, just because 99 out of 100 do it, doesn't mean that your is not the number 100 who doesn't.

I reread the entire thread even though I did remember the issue. Personally, I think it might be a combination of sexual hormones and his not knowing how to direct them now that the girl is there. My birds are all going or are already in breeding condition, the amazons are so aggressive and territorial that I had to put them in the large double macaw cage, Freddie and Linus have both chewed up everything they could find (Linus even went for a pipe!) and Sophie CAG laid an egg early this morning so it definitely is the season for hormonal surges!

[marie83]

I don't think it was hormonal on previous occasions. It may well be this time though but it's only going to get worse if he is already like this, it's still early! He isn't showing his usual hormonal behaviour yet.
How the hell do I help him?