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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
| Stress Marks ? |
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Can anyone tell me if these are stress marks on Manus tail 
http://pic.piczo.com/img/i166237172_69041.jpg
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Thursday February 2, 2006 2:04 pm |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
I'll try to get a better photo to post.
Manus a 3 year old B&G macaw. And has never had a problem with his feathers before. Altho he is very active & his tail feathers do get kind of raggedy at times. These are the only marks like that he has on him.
As some of you know, we've just added a new fid to the flock. Other than that, the only change is that I've recently started added NEKTRON-S bird supplement to his water. Only becuz hubby was talked into buying it on a trip he made to the pet store for me. It cost so much that I hated to not use it at all, but I give it in much, much smaller doses than the directions call for. |
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Thursday February 2, 2006 3:16 pm |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7956
Location: Australia |
It does look a little like stress mark. I see them on my budgies.. mark like that, but I can't quite figure out why they have them.  could be nutritional reason due to that supplement you're giving him, but I doubt that would be the case.. It could be because of Jennie's new presense, but I doubt that too!! LOL...
How long have you noticed it there. Is it like a new feathers that came out, or did the mark just appeared? Generally stress mark appears from the very beginning of the feathers growth (due to stress affecting the feathers growth...). It doesn't just suddenly appear overnight... I don't think there's too much to worry about here. I know that Manu is in some really really good hands!!! |
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Thursday February 2, 2006 3:52 pm |
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ekkiemom
Fledgeling
Joined: 03 Mar 2005
Posts: 203
Location: Saint Louis, MO USA |
Hi Cathy:
I agree with Cheeta. A stress mark is actually part of the feather from the beginning. as soon as the sheath comes off and the feather opens you can see the stress marks.
If this is a feather that he has had awhile and the mark just appeared, I would think he has just damaged part of the feather with his rough playing.
Have you noticed anything odd, less active, eating more or less, changes in behavior?
Genny |
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Thursday February 2, 2006 4:01 pm |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
Well, I hope it's nothing to worry about. I've just noticed it recently, within a week, tho I guess I may have missed it before.
You know, maybe with Jennies arrival, he just has been even more stressed than I figured  If that's the case, hopefully it's something he'll get over? I don't know!
There's just been NO change in diet that I can think of at all. Except for that supplement. Just yesterday I even decreased the amt I use even more. Maybe I'll just not use it anymore, it's almost gone anyway. I've never used a supplement before.
I really don't know anything about stress marks, but just this AM I noticed that it's not just a black color, but actually is a perforation of the feather You know, like it's been chewed, or split, but with the black on it
Last edited by Cathy on Thursday February 2, 2006 4:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Thursday February 2, 2006 4:06 pm |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
No Genny, I haven't noticed any behaviour changes. Except maybe a little more loud & demanding since Jennies been here. But to tell the truth, I've actually been spending MORE time with him in an effort to not make him feel left out, you know?
I'll keep an eye on him & keep you all updated if I see any more of those marks on him. |
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Thursday February 2, 2006 4:10 pm |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7956
Location: Australia |
Hi Cathy,
stress mark occurs when a bird is stress in some ways which somehow causes the development of the new feathers. Usually it means that the feathers are growing as it should hence the little perforation of the feather. Sometimes this can be due to the physical stress on the feathers during rough play. My mum's Lorikeets has a few of these on her tail feathers coz she keeps bumping the new feathers while she's playing!! That silly little girl.
There really isn't too much to worry about in my opinion. Unless of course he starts to get a whole lot of them on his new feathers!!! but I seriously doubt it.
Oh and as long as he's still Number 1 in everything, he'll do just fine with the new addition in the flock. Just make sure when they are together, you do everything for him first. You know getting fed and watered first, getting let out first, getting cuddled time first etc etc... He just needs to know that he's still number 1!!  |
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Thursday February 2, 2006 4:13 pm |
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fionam
Moderator
Joined: 29 Mar 2005
Posts: 1757
Location: Surrey, UK |
Cathy,
Remember I know nothing about Macaws, but, could he be going through a mini moult - what with heating being on etc...
Just a thought??
Fi |
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Thursday February 2, 2006 5:03 pm |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
Yeah, I think you're right there fi. Manu seems to kind of go thru a perpetual moult! Which the avian vet has told me is quite common with house birds.
On further inspectiion, it looks like he might just end up loosing half of that tail feather Hopefully, maybe he'll moult the whole thing & replace it soon with a brand spanking new one! |
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Thursday February 2, 2006 5:25 pm |
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Chaquita's Mom
Experienced flier
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 1028
Location: Pennsylvania, USA |
Maybe during preening when he was molting he accidentally bit onto a bloodfeather, not breaking it but causing that feather crease? That feather could have been just hiding under one of his other tail feathers, therefore, you didn't notice it till now. |
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Thursday February 2, 2006 5:54 pm |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
You know, it actually does look like a crease to me. If you notice in that photo, it's actually on both sides of the feather, but more of a definite tear on the other side of the shaft.
It doesn't bother me nearly as much to think it's just damage he's done to it himself, I guess, as to think that it's been done due to some kind of stress, such as diet, Altho lately he hasn't been eating quite as well as he normally does, but not so much that I've really worried about it much.
I still haven't gotten Jennie into the vet yet for a check up, so when I schedule that, I'll take Manu in too. NOT looking forward to that little outing tho! |
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Thursday February 2, 2006 6:04 pm |
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Chaquita's Mom
Experienced flier
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 1028
Location: Pennsylvania, USA |
He's probably eating a little less because he can sense your worry Mom  I think he probably damaged it during it's early growth. I'm not sure it's possible for every feather to be picture perfect But check with vet if it helps to ease your worries. Boy, just like a mom No harm in that though. |
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Saturday February 4, 2006 3:17 am |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
Thanks CM I think I did kind of jump on the panic button a little too quick there  And I do think that somewhere along the line he did damage it somehow, during play or something. I'm not going to worry any more about it unless I see more of the same thing.
I guess since we got Jennie, I have been kind of worried about how he would react to someone else getting attention, & she has been getting a lot. Sometimes I feel pretty bad about it |
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Saturday February 4, 2006 3:47 am |
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Chaquita's Mom
Experienced flier
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 1028
Location: Pennsylvania, USA |
Make sure you pay extra attention to him with the new Jennie. Show Jennie just how close you and Manu are. She knows that she is the newcomer and doesn't expect the attention that Manu gets right now. As long as Manu doesn't become jealous then their relationship should start to build. He still needs to be #1 and feel #1 for him to welcome her the way you want. In the wild they don't let new flock members come in with open arms, they need to develope a trust and respect with each other and make sure the newbie doesn't take over the flock. I know, it's difficult to not show the newcomer all kinds of love and attention that Manu gets, but you also have to remember that birds are some of the most wild at heart and have a lot of their natural instincts in them, including the new flock members thing  Just be calm and cool about it all. I trust Manu won't let you down |
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Saturday February 4, 2006 4:16 am |
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Fluffy Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10063
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Hi Cathy..
Sorry I read this post so late.. 
I don't think you should worry about this stressmark.. If you're really worried about it, you can always let the avian vet look at it.
My fids sometimes have those marks too.. But my vet keeps telling me that they look good so I guess there's not much to worry about? Only if these marks regularly occur??
I hope this can reassure you a bit more? |
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Saturday February 4, 2006 1:29 pm |
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