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panda
Egg
Joined: 30 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
Location: north west new south wales |
| help with feather problem ? |
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Hi,
tis me again, sorry to bother everyone again but i have a problem with my eastern rosella. He started dropping feathers from his tail and butt area last week and this week is down to no tail feathers at all. Is this normal ? I realise that they mault yearly, is this a normal mault?. The feathers on his body and wings are perfect and he hasnt lost any from his head either, just his tail is gone and the fluffy butt feathers. His overall health seems good apart from yesterday where he really seemed to be suffering in the heat. He is eating and drinking normally, nattering away occasionally to himself and me. The only other odd thing he has done was hanging his head way down in front of him yesterday but i assume that was heat related because a fan and a water bottle on light mist seemed to solve that problem. I would appreciate any help at all.
cheers  |
Thursday December 8, 2005 9:33 am |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7956
Location: Australia |
Hi Panda
I'm not sure if I can help you here, but just wondering, have you seen your rosella playing with it's tail? Does it still have the fluffy down on it? Have you checked the vent area to see if it's infected or anything? It could be just molting, but I highly doubt that is the case.
Oh, and also I hope you don't mind, I've moved the topic to a more appropriate forum. |
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Thursday December 8, 2005 4:08 pm |
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panda
Egg
Joined: 30 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
Location: north west new south wales |
| feather problem! |
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no problems about moving to the proper section.....i was a tad unsure of where to post. No i havent seen him playing with his tail feathers at all apart from the usual preening and primping for cleanliness. He doesnt have any bald patches at all....apart from having no tail all of a sudden he is perfect. Only the tail feathers and the grey fluffy down feathers |
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Thursday December 8, 2005 11:17 pm |
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panda
Egg
Joined: 30 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
Location: north west new south wales |
had to continue couldnt get any further down the previous window ...is there a limit on characters?......ok was up to fluffy down feathers have fallen out. He seems bright and cheerie with the cooler weather today and is moving around and fossicking in the bottom of the cage, eating and drinking well, so i am really at a loss as to what the problem could be. Any idea how long before i know whether there is new feather growth coming or not ?...1 week 2?..really appreciate your time.
thanks so much
panda:) |
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Thursday December 8, 2005 11:20 pm |
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shells picasso
Flier
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 900
Location: Sydney |
Could he have mites? they get that sometimes if they have been exposed to wild birds. He could also have an abscess somewhere in the area. I've also seen a few birds pull at their tail and their feathers break off when they have been trying to fly and crash land or have gotten a fright. Call the vet and ask him about it if you are worried. |
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Friday December 9, 2005 12:24 am |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7956
Location: Australia |
New growth should comes through pretty soon. probably 2 weeks or so. But you may have to really look for it as it might just be small little pin/blood feathers.
I agree wtih Shells.. if you're worried about it, please do take it to the vet. |
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Saturday December 10, 2005 6:21 am |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
I think you should take him to the vet. If he's not picking out the feathers himself, then he most likely has some kind of skin infection. There's an article about this type of feather problems in this months issue of Bird Talk Magazine, if you're interested. |
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Saturday December 10, 2005 3:49 pm |
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panda
Egg
Joined: 30 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
Location: north west new south wales |
Hi,
Thanks for your replies and yes as i was very worried so i did ring several vets. One opinion is never enough:) They dont seem to worried about it at all have told me to wait and see if there is any new growth in two weeks if not take him in then. i think he may be starting to lose the feathers off his chest have found a few in the bottom of the cage but he still looks good across the chest region except for the odd patch of white feather here and there.
In relation to mites do i need to purchase a spray of some sort for them or does someone have a good herbal home remedy as opposed to chemicals as i am not to keen to go putting the added stress of dealing with chemicals on his list atm
thanks again
cheers
panda:) |
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Sunday December 11, 2005 1:55 am |
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birdielover
Bappie
Joined: 07 Sep 2005
Posts: 73
Location: Australia |
I would be worried about the amount of feathers he seems to be losing. I have had many birds molt and the worst was my ekkie, but never have they lost their entire tail feathers or the entire of any section of feathers. I have also had a couple of birds with mites (yes they were house pets, but they did get mites due to all the wild ones around here) and I sprayed them with a pump bottle spray that I got from the pet shop and the entire cage as well. Read the instructions well and make sure to take all food and water out of the cage. i take their toys out too and wash them. Perches should be ok and let them dry thoroughly. I have only had to do this twice with my galah and I can vaguely remember doing it to a couple of new birds. But never have any of mine lost so many feathers. Personally I think a vet to an avian vet might be needed. Just my opinion without seeing the bird. |
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Monday December 12, 2005 6:22 am |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7956
Location: Australia |
Hi Panda,
If you seriously think that he may be loosing feathers from his chest as well, it may be time for you to take in the vet. You bird may be plucking and you don't know about it... in either case, you need to make sure that it isn't medical reason why the bird is looking it's feathers! I say go get it checked out by an avian vet!!! |
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Monday December 12, 2005 4:14 pm |
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panda
Egg
Joined: 30 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
Location: north west new south wales |
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Hi,
Have been to an avian vet. Apparently the best expert in the district according to the vet that referred me to him... his first response was that someone was pulling his feathers out ...i said not possible as the bird is next to my computer
desk all the time in my view or in view of whoever is in the living areas. He isnt
plucking any of his feathers out at all. I have been watching him very carefully.
It has been suggested that the pet shop i bought him from may be trapping wild birds for sale and that he may have a disease that australias wild parrots get that cause their tail feathers to fall out and their beaks to disintergrate but as i said to the specialist.......his beak seems fine no roughness or pieces missing ... so basically is a wait and see outcome. He seems very healthy and happy except for no tail and as for cant fly ....lmao....he can fly just fine without a tail .....except he turns into a low flying projectile instead of a high flying one! Having said all this i am still extremely worried about my friend and i really appreciate everyones time spent in giving me advice. i will keep you posted as to what happens with Sunshine.
cheers
panda:) |
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Tuesday December 13, 2005 10:53 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
Did the vet think that he has beak and feather disease? Did you get him tested for beak and feather disease or any other infections? |
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Tuesday December 13, 2005 10:58 pm |
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Greg Sujecki
Experienced flier
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 1650
Location: Australia,Melbourne |
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Moulting in my opinion for birds start and finish in different area's... like Mylo is still moulting and his tail feathers just about dropped together "so to speak"now all his tail feathers are growing together and just to play games with me a few primary wing feathers are growing out when l thought it was all over  The only other factor l can think of, is the
gene
factor where your parrot is
bred-related
which feather problem's like this can come out of..Do you know the parent's and history of your parrot? just wondering for if it's gene-related, try increasing it's protein intake to strengthen its immune system... things like green veggies(broccoli or beans) or even pellets?.Pellets are high in protein and strengthen a birds body where they require it.Don't want to start an argument  but pellets are used for birds all over the world to cover the related factor in genetics in family breeding,where the owner doesn't know? where the bird come's from in parent breeding "so to speak", that why pellets are so good and people use them instead of natural food.  Anyway just try some pellets or greens to increase it's protein then wait 10 days and let us know how things are progressing..hope all goes well for you and your parrot..
(I am no avain vet and only spread my knowledge through experiance.My thoughts are my thoughts and l only have my knowledge to help and spread)
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Wednesday December 14, 2005 11:39 am |
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panda
Egg
Joined: 30 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
Location: north west new south wales |
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hi greg...
sorry its been a few days before my reply, i plead insanity at this time of year, trying to organise pressies for five rug rats. lol...as for sunshine and in answer to your questions ...
don"t know the parents history or much about the bird except i have the sneaking suspicion he was taken from the wild. I have only had him three months and bought him from a local pet shop in gunnedah (next town over )
could it be connected to depression?......i tried moving his cage outside all day and bringing him in in the evenings....his whole outlook seems to have brightened. He seems to not be losing any more feathers and too early to see if they are growing back, especially when he wont let me anywhere near him to see let alone touch him. I give him a hugely varied diet including pellets that are vitamin c enriched, wild bird seed, grasses, oats, flowers, fruit he likes macadamia nuts and cashews but isnt fussed on normal peanuts much. Has expensive tastes this bird. He seems to be eating and drinking fine. The only thing that has been worrying me is that he is laying down quite often. I dont know if this is normal behaviour or not. I have a birds ladder set up like a little platform in the corner of his cage and he tends to stretch himself out on it full length hanging his head down between the rungs of the ladder for a nap attack.
On that note i will leave it there....i wish all of you a very merry xmas, happy and safe new year.
cheers
panda:) |
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Monday December 19, 2005 8:38 am |
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Greg Sujecki
Experienced flier
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 1650
Location: Australia,Melbourne |
Don't worry about the nappying for it's normal about 1 pm and 4pm for these type of birds to napp like many other specie's of parrots(maybe it's an Aussie thing..he..he..  )Anyway it's good that he gets outdoor exposure, the sun has many natural ways to help though moderation is always the rule.When leaving your parrot outside in the sun always allow a shady spot for your parrot to go to when he/she has had enough  Also try to cutout certain food you feed him, like start with flowers for example and wait a week to see if there is any progress..sometime's certain foods can cause allergies/reactions and effect birds in different ways..just like us humans.Good luck and keep us posted in the progress and don't worry Santa keeps everyone busy this time of year???They call it Downunder the holiday season though l call it the work season..he..he.. |
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Monday December 19, 2005 9:46 am |
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