|
|
|
Quickpoint
Egg
Joined: 10 Feb 2007
Posts: 10
|
| plucking/self mutilation |
 |
|
my african grey "Hey bird" is mutiliating her tail feathers. no all of them just the ones on the right side of her body. and its not just the tail feathers it extends in a circle to her wing. its about the size of a nickel now. it changes from week to week. normaly stayed around a dime sized wound. this is the largest i have seen it ever.
this has been going on for about 6 months or so now. the is always picking on it no matter what. i put the clotting power on it one time and got it on there very good. the next morning it was all off and open like always. the bird shows no change in personality or any problems with health, seams like a perfectly happy healthy loving grey.
more info on it, its ALWAYS the same spot. its not mites because the other 3 birds are fine, its always shows some sign of blood, she has TONS of toys thinking its a boredom thing. the bird shows no change in personality or any problems with health, seams like a perfectly happy healthy loving grey.
anyone have any idea about why she is doing this or how to stop it? |
Monday February 12, 2007 8:14 am |
|
|
|
|
Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7972
Location: Australia |
i'm confused... is she mutilating her feathers or herself? my understanding is that she's wounding herself on the skin which is why there's blood? I'm not understanding very well sorry.
Have you taken 'hey bird' to the vet yet? There might be an underlining reason that you might not know about. Birds may concentrate on certain area that are 'painful' to them and try to make it better by 'playing' with the spot. It might be an idea to take her to the vet if you haven't already to rule out any medical reason. sorry I can't really help much more. |
|
Monday February 12, 2007 3:42 pm |
|
|
Quickpoint
Egg
Joined: 10 Feb 2007
Posts: 10
|
the wound is on the right side of her body, from about her middle of her tail feathers all the way to the right side of where they should be, all ripped out and maybe about a half inch up her back. think of the letter D turned so the back of the D is facing down. now her tail feathers are the "l" part of the D and the wound follows the rest of the D.
i will send pic's when i get a new battery for the digital camera.
She has not been to a vet. her brother has said this is normal for birds to do this from time to time, but i am just tired of hearing the same thing form the same person. |
|
Monday February 12, 2007 7:32 pm |
|
|
|
|
shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
Hi there 
No this is not normal behaviour by any means. I agree with Cheeta, that in cases like this you should always check with a certified avian veterinarian first. It could be a physical problem that could easily be fixed and spare your bird more pain and trauma and spare you more heartache. If it turns out that it's not a physical problem and it's emotional, then the vet can guide you where to go from there, and we will also be able to give suggestions. The vet might also want to put on one of those neck collar thingies to prevent her from being able to reach the area and allow it to heal. Just make sure the vet you go to is an avian vet, a regular vet won't know much about birds, and won't be able to help you.
Good luck! Please let us know how it goes  |
|
Tuesday February 13, 2007 3:46 pm |
|
|
Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
|
I agree with what has been said.. I would definitely check an avian vet to see if he can rule out physical causes.
If there's not a real medical reason, I think a collar might just worsen the plucking. And it doesn't really help.. They usually can reach over it.
Except for those wide collars but they cannot eat with such a wide thing!  |
|
Tuesday February 13, 2007 6:59 pm |
|
|
shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
Sue do you have experience with the collars? I don't know anything about them, but I have seen them used, so that's why I thought doctors used them  But the vet might still be able to do something no? Like maybe bandage up the wound to prevent the bird from picking at it? I'm just worried that if he keeps opening up the wound it might get infected  |
|
Tuesday February 13, 2007 7:05 pm |
|
|
|
|
Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
|
Yeah I do.  It actually worsened the plucking. You know I have been very desperate for Zazu's plucking? He went crazy with it. And then he just stretched out his neck, and reached over it.  It also pushed on his crop (I think) giving him the feeling that he was full. So he didn't eat much.
Then he was given a larger collar, you know, the wide ones? He couldn't eat with that at all.  Nor could he move!
This has made me decide that I would love him anyway, plucked or non-plucked. I'd rather have a happy bird that's bald than a stressed fully feathered bird.
By the way, if there is ANY medical need for a collar I totally agree with a collar!!! Also if a bird rips the flesh open!! |
|
Tuesday February 13, 2007 7:13 pm |
|
|
shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
Oh I'm sorry that Zazu had a bad experience
But yeah, the problem with this bird seems to be that he's actually tearing his flesh, since there's blood. At this point I think medical intervention is definitely needed. |
|
Tuesday February 13, 2007 7:19 pm |
|
|
|
|
Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
|
I read it.. But I didn't understand if the spot was so red underneath that it looked like blood or that it actually had scabs (is that the right word?) on it??
Sorry, I think my English is letting me down again. |
|
Tuesday February 13, 2007 7:24 pm |
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is Thursday May 17, 2012 8:21 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
