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dr_bob101
Egg
Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 3
Location: Lebanon |
| Need help!!! |
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hi i have a problem, i have an african grey parrot few days ago he started scratching himself until red marks appear on his face . later he stopped doing so but started plugging out his feathers until some areas of his body became bared from feathers what shall i do???? |
Saturday July 29, 2006 12:50 pm |
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chispleeze
Flier
Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 475
Location: Upstate NY |
Hi, we need a little more info to be able to help. What kind of diet is he on? What is his cage setup like? Large cage? Toys? Inside, outside? I see you are in Lebanon. (Which means I hope you are safe and okay first off). But are you in an area where there is a lot of disruption and noise that's unfamiliar to him? The sudden onset of scratching and plucking makes me think perhaps mites. But more info would be helpful.
Robin |
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Saturday July 29, 2006 3:14 pm |
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Fluffy Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10063
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This sounds like a serious problem.. Could you take him to an avian vet? |
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Saturday July 29, 2006 4:03 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
For a bird to do that suddenly something has to be worng physically, especially the scratching. I doubt it's emotional. I think you should take him to an avian vet ASAP. Good luck. |
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Sunday July 30, 2006 7:20 pm |
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meg832
Fledgeling
Joined: 16 Jun 2006
Posts: 365
Location: Ohio |
Does he get a bath every day? |
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Monday July 31, 2006 2:44 am |
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dr_bob101
Egg
Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 3
Location: Lebanon |
well thanks for your interest, concering my bird now he is better the amount of plucking decreased but still there are bared areas. by the way he never leaves his cage and concerning the cage size i think it is a moderate one, and as for the toys he was afraid from any toy and by the way i have a cat also at home is it possible that he might be afraid from her although sometime she sits beside his cage and it seems they are in harmony with each other. as for the his diet i feed him sunflower seeds and peanuts and sometimes some friuts as grapes, apples .... as for the bath every now and then like 1 time per week i spray him with water .
thank you again for your concern |
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Monday July 31, 2006 10:00 am |
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Fluffy Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10063
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Hi Bob, would there be another diet available where you live? I have heard that Scenic is available in the Middle East? |
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Monday July 31, 2006 12:02 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
The fact that he's in a cage 24/7 with no toys or any form of mental stimulation is enough for any bird to start self mutilating. Is there a reason why you don't take him out of the cage? Toys can be introduced slowly. He might be affraid of new objects at first but if you play with the toys yourself in front of him and let him get curious he will eventually accept them. Parrots need
at least
1-2 hours of out of cage time daily. It's really important for their health and emotional well-being. Your parrot is self mutilating because he is unhappy and depressed and bored. He's probably also malnourished. Sunflower seeds and peanuts do not provide adequate nutrition for a parrot. They are high in fat and low in nutrients. If you have no access to a pelleted diet, then can you at least offer a mix of different seeds with minimal sunflower seeds. Also offer him vegetables, and legumes for a more balanced diet. |
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Monday July 31, 2006 2:01 pm |
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dr_bob101
Egg
Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 3
Location: Lebanon |
thanks again
well i am not getting him aout of the cage because he hasn't had his wings cut and i am afriad to do so for the time being inorder not to worsen his state and more over as i told u before there is a cat also in the house and concerning the diet which of the vegetables, legumes he prefere? and i heard that some are harmful . and like what is a pelleted diet
and thanks again in advance |
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Monday July 31, 2006 3:57 pm |
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Fluffy Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10063
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A pelleted diet is a diet that is similar to cat and dog diets. You know the small chunks you feed dogs & cats that has everything in it what they need?  |
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Monday July 31, 2006 6:41 pm |
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meg832
Fledgeling
Joined: 16 Jun 2006
Posts: 365
Location: Ohio |
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I agree that a diet of peanuts, sunflower seeds, fruits and vegetables will eventually lead to a sick African Grey. I recently saw a nice article on greys' diet on the internet. I don't know the exact address, but it is something like info@greyparrots.co.uk. Please get out a pencil and paper and work out a balanced diet using that information and whatever ingredients you can get where you are.
I am working with a grey right now that was laying on the bottom of the cage with its eyes closed, toes curled up, wings limp, and shaking the first time I saw it. The vet report had just come back stating that the bird was suffering from malnutrition. Its chloresterol was high, indicating a diet similar to the one your bird has. The well-meaning owner had not researched a balanced diet and thought the plucking was a behavior problem.
With intensive nutritional treatment, it has taken four months for the grey to be able to stand, move its head without falling, eat on its own, etc. It still shakes a little and doesn't perch yet. We don't know if it can ever recover completely. Greys are very sensitive to calcium deficiencies which cause nerve damage and other problems. Improving your bird's diet now will save you a great deal of heartache later and will maximize the pleasure your bird can bring to you. Once your bird is truely healthy, I believe it will be playful, want to come out of the cage, and able to cope nicely with the cat. |
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Monday July 31, 2006 6:42 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
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Monday July 31, 2006 11:46 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
 For some reason I can't make it into a link, but anyway, you can just copy that address into your address bar |
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Monday July 31, 2006 11:50 pm |
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meg832
Fledgeling
Joined: 16 Jun 2006
Posts: 365
Location: Ohio |
Yes! That is the article, however, I also was unable to reach it from that link. The good news is that, in trying to find the article again, I found an additional article (Article VI - African Grey Myths: Greys Are Feather Pluckers) which covers more than just diet, although it mentions peanuts as a possible cause of feather plucking! You may read it at http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww26evi.htm
Then I found the original article at
http://www.greyparrots.co.uk/diet%20(gp).htm which looks exactly like the address shirin found.... |
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Tuesday August 1, 2006 2:34 am |
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