Apr 30, 2012 19:07:26 GMT
Angelgirl
Normal Violet
Posts: 114
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Post by Angelgirl on Oct 13, 2012 17:32:23 GMT
Alfie has just started plucking his feathers and I can't work out why. He has toys, I leave the radio on for him during the day while I'm out and I give him treats, foodsticks etc but he doesn't eat them. A sprig of millet just isn't touched.
Any advice on what else I can try or is a trip to the vets required?
He's not tame although I was able to stroke him today but he didn't like it and flew round the cage.
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Oct 9, 2011 17:41:09 GMT
sydney
Cruising Cobalt
Posts: 557
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Post by sydney on Oct 13, 2012 18:04:28 GMT
Has anything changed at all? A vet check would be best to rule out health problems. So you change his toys at all maybe he needs something new? Iraq if he is in his own maybe a friend for him would be what he needs
Sent from my GT-I9300 using proboards
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Apr 30, 2012 19:07:26 GMT
Angelgirl
Normal Violet
Posts: 114
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Post by Angelgirl on Oct 14, 2012 15:47:07 GMT
The only thing that's changed is I've put the central heating on. I'm really worried. I've added a couple of pics although you can't see under his wings. Attachments:
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Oct 9, 2011 17:41:09 GMT
sydney
Cruising Cobalt
Posts: 557
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Post by sydney on Oct 14, 2012 21:02:03 GMT
Yeah mine did that and just had to add toys which didn't so to well so brought him indoors chose another budgies Dora him to befriend and it worked well and his plunking improved
Sent from my GT-I9300 using proboards
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May 19, 2024 23:59:39 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2012 23:13:49 GMT
i think you need to ask barrie about your budgie feather plucking .... heres his contact address... show him your pics and give him your info ..so far.. i hope he can help... regads mick... . barrieshutt@aol.com...
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Post by barrieshutt on Oct 16, 2012 9:37:38 GMT
is he plucking or is he just preening as it looks like parrot beak and feather disease , i suggest for the moment you increase his protein levels to help regrow the feathers and treat him for mites which may be causing him discomfort
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Apr 30, 2012 19:07:26 GMT
Angelgirl
Normal Violet
Posts: 114
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Post by Angelgirl on Oct 16, 2012 20:23:37 GMT
Thank you.
I went to the vet today who ruled out mites because the rest of his feathers are in good condition and it's not all over. Alfie looks like he is just preening but is removing lots of feathers. What can I give him to increase his protein?
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Post by Hezz on Oct 17, 2012 1:13:04 GMT
Eggfood, or eggs themselves, are the obvious first choice, for protein. Another thing that could be upsetting Alfie - you say you have recently turned on the central heating? This will cause the air in the rooms to become very dry. If he is in a particular room mostly, a way around this is to put around the room some bowls of water. Just make sure they are shallow and the water isn't deep in case he decides you have put them out for him to bathe in. Something he can get in and out of easily - pie dishes work a treat. Also a misting or two will help as well. The water bowls around the room help increase the room's humidity - the dryness may be irritating his skin, causing him to pick at himself.
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Feb 29, 2012 21:44:11 GMT
Bird Junky
Normal Green
Posts: 458
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Post by Bird Junky on Dec 30, 2012 14:47:40 GMT
FEATHER PLUCKING Cage-mate culprit. If the culprit is a cage mate, usually indicated by feather removal from the victims head area & has been going on for a day or two. The only cure is separation before the victim is badly injured. Hoping it is just a harmless squabble & doing nothing. Is ignoring the pain & stress of the victim. This bullying behaviour has been known to gradually escalate. The bully increases his/her own personal space. Although it may only start as, "keep away from me." It can escalate to, "get off my perch." Finally extending to "every thing in this cage is mine, go away. Or else!" but the poor wretched victim has nowhere to go.
Self plucking. Usually from the chest area but can be any area reachable by the beak. At the very first of suspicion of self plucking. See your vet for a complete check-up. This self mutilation is a serious & unsightly condition the cause of which can only be guessed at without a visit to your vet. He will take various samples for analysis etc & usually send you home with an expensive solution that may or not, help with your birds problem. While you await the results back from the lab.... When the results comeback with good news. Rub on the cream & all is well. If the news comes back that none of the usual parasitic or vitamin deficiency type problems, are the culprits. Then the only ones left are either one or more of either. Poor living conditions, diet, sights, sounds, smells, loneliness & boredom. Perhaps a psychological response to something real or imaginary & any others I've forgotten to mention. All you can do make sure your bird has the best living conditions you can provide..... Even though a cure for the initial cause may be found & the correct remedy supplied & applied. The self plucking in some cases can become habit forming, like nail biting in humans. The birds continue to self mutilate even though it causes them pain & discomfort. No post like this would be complete without an on old wives tale. (Apologies to any old wives,) A possible cause...published in an Australian 1990's, 'Parakeet Care Book'.An overweight bird begins to pluck because its skin feels stretched uncomfortably tight. Like Grandads combinations. ....B.J.
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