Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,845
Member is Online
|
Post by Marianne Marlow on Nov 23, 2012 11:12:52 GMT
Hope someone can give me some advice.
Roswell started mutilating his feathers out of the blue about a month ago. We took him to the vet, a good vet that I trust, he has nothing physically wrong with him.
It's psychological. But we do not know why. He lost his best friend Jerry 8 months ago, but could the reaction be that delayed?
The vet had to clip the mutilated feathers and Roswell cannot fly.
I have to keep him in a cage, which he hates, he pings the bars, bites the perches angrily, paces back and forth and does acrobatics.
I have been talking to him, bringing budgies in to see him, letting him run about on the floor for a little while, also clipping herbs to the cage so that he can eat with the others.
I need help!
What can I do to make him happy, I hate to see him so upset.
Thanks
Marianne
|
|
|
Post by stace on Nov 23, 2012 11:14:51 GMT
Why do you have to keep him in his cage? Because he can't fly and might hurt himself?
|
|
Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,845
Member is Online
|
Post by Marianne Marlow on Nov 23, 2012 11:17:50 GMT
Why do you have to keep him in his cage? Because he can't fly and might hurt himself? Yes Stace. He cannot fly at all. If I let him out he just throws himself off things in a dangerous manner.
|
|
|
Post by moonkira *Julie * on Nov 23, 2012 11:25:02 GMT
Could you get him a friend ? I felt sorry for Beauty when she was in the cage on her own but now Bobby is with her she is a different bird and so happy and active
|
|
|
Post by stace on Nov 23, 2012 11:38:14 GMT
If some health/disease is ruled out, I'd look at his diet and environment.
Get his cage in an area of highest sunlight. I don't think you've got direct sun without windows at your place, but more light might help. Maybe try one of those special lamps, or Vit D supplements.
Have a look around for which foods/supplements work for stress relief. I think B group vits are good for that (as is sun/Vit D). You could also try giving him some weak camomile tea to calm him.
Maybe spraying him with warm water might help?
Does Roswell like to shred things? If he's plucking when in his cage, a shredding toy next to his perch might redirect his attention.
Aside from Jerry's passing, has anything else happened recently that is different or unusual?
Who does Roswell bunk with? Has this changed? Should it change, perhaps?
|
|
|
Post by stace on Nov 23, 2012 12:10:54 GMT
This is a very long piece by an Australian parrot behaviouralist. You might want to print it out.
What might be causing feather loss in my companion parrot? (Part 1) [+]
Added: Nov 30, 2002 Author: Jim McKendrey
As a behaviour consultant I am regularly asked about feather condition in my clients birds. The dilemma with such situations however is that many factors can impact on feather health and feather loss, including clinical health issues. In almost all cases my advice is to seek a consultation with an avian veterinarian first.
As with any potential health problem that includes the possibility of clinical illness, it is essential that a thorough evaluation of the birds nutritional and health status be achieved by a qualified vet and an assessment as to whether the feather loss is clinical or behavioural be made. No amount of work on the behavioural and enrichment side of care will provide the solutions for health issues directly related to disease and/or malnutrition. Unless you are certain that feather loss in your companion parrot is behavioural, seek veterinary advice first. Heres a few situations where an avian vet evaluation would be imperative&
1) Feather loss around the head of a bird kept on its own 2) Localised feather loss or damage in a specific area on the body 3) Feather loss that has progressed to tissue injury 4) Failure of a juvenile parrot to fully develop its feathers 5) Poor general feather condition and/or colouration 6) Rapid loss of feathers resulting in inability to fly 7) Continual state of moult (constant presence of pin feathers)
Your avian vet is the best-qualified person to then offer insights into the potential clinical causes, which may range from parasitic problems to localised infection to nutritional abnormalities to viral and bacterial diseases.
Ive observed quite a few parrots kept by new parrot owners who were concerned about the feather loss in their bird only to find that the bird was actually moulting quite normally. Moulting patterns differ depending on the species. Some species experience very obvious seasonal moults (such as Asiatic parrots), some may undergo minor, but definable moulting periods throughout the year and some species may maintain regular, but difficult to observe, moulting and replacement of feathers.
In captivity we tend to see the added variable of inconsistent or altered photoperiod effects on feather health due to the keeping of birds indoors and in artificial light environments. This can further cause confusion when determining whether feather loss is `normal. Every parrot owner should therefore get into a routine of regularly monitoring the amount of feathers they observe lying around the cage each day combined with the general state of feather condition on the bird. Over time you will develop a picture of what is `normal for your parrot.
Combine this evaluation with an examination of the state of the feathers found in the enclosure. Feather that are fully intact and undamaged are most likely normally moulted feathers. Observations of obviously damaged feathers can provide some insights into whether the situation is outside of the normal spectrum and may suggest the need to discuss the issue with your avian vet. Its a good idea to take the feathers you are concerned about with you when you go for your consultation.
If feather loss in your companion parrots has been diagnosed by an avian veterinarian as behavioural then the first stage of developing a support plan for that bird is to successfully categorise the situation. In next months newsletter well look at how a behaviour consultant categorises the different forms of behavioural feather loss and damage and examine the potential causes. In part three of this Q&A well then progress to developing some remedial strategies to support behavioural feather loss and damage.
If you are experience behavioural feather loss in your companion parrot then contact me to discuss a support plan that best suits your situation. Alternatively, why not come along to our next Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Parrot Workshop. In this workshop well discuss the behavioural and environmental enrichment needs of parrots that will help to prevent feather problems developing.
What might be causing feather loss in my companion parrot? (Part 2) [+]
Added: Nov 30, 2002 Author: Jim McKendrey
In last months edition of Q&A we focused on the initial evaluation of feather loss and the importance of seeking avian veterinarian advice as the first point of reference if concerns arise about the feather condition of your parrot. Once an evaluation has been made by your avian veterinarian that the feather loss is behavioural, its time to focus on the potential causes and underlying issues that may have led to the condition.
Firstly, at a surface level we can usually categorise feather loss and damage into:
Feather Picking: Damage to the feathers via improper preening that does not result in their complete removal. Feather Plucking: Complete removal of feathers from the body.
In some circumstances it may even be a combination of the two, where the feathers are first excessively preened, resulting in damage to the feather barbs, and then removed completely. Other terms occasionally used are feather mutilation and feather destruction. These are essentially synonymous with the above.
I ve personally managed and consulted with feather picking and feather plucking in companion parrots for more than 10 years now, including parrots in my own flock. Over that time I have been able to establish some general correlations between the observable feather damage characteristics and the most likely causes. In every situation however, a thorough examination of the environment and all of its dynamic components must be made.
Feather picking and feather plucking is considered a `stereotypical behaviour, and by definition is not a normal and functional behaviour. All behaviour however, functional or otherwise, is linked to the environmental context. We need to acknowledge and appreciate that this is a captive phenomenon that is not observed in wild parrots. For a wild parrot to remove or damage its own feathers is equivalent to suicide. The accountability for self-induced feather damage in captive parrots ends with `us as ultimately, this behavioural problem is an indicator of our failure to provide the captive conditions and experience conducive to proper behavioural health. Sometimes achieving an optimum captive environment can be extremely difficult; indeed despite my own best efforts, we still struggle to find solutions for some of the birds we have taken on with this condition.
Evaluating the situation below the surface level we can draw some potential insights into precipitating causes
Behavioural feather picking: In such cases there may be mild damage to body contour and wing contour feathers resulting in damaged barbs and barbules and a general appearance of poor feathering. In my experience this is often related to boredom, lack of access to regular bathing opportunities and lack of access to a partner in the case of those species that indulge in mutual preening with flock mates (such as Conures, Cockatoos, Amazons, Macaws, Lories, African Greys). Unfortunately, many companion parrots lack the presence of a conspecific partner, are not provided with species appropriate bathing opportunities and are not provided with an enriched environment.
Managing feather picking at this level requires an approach that focuses on re-evaluating the environmental enrichment on offer, being more creative with feeding schedules to extend time spent engaging in feeding activity and ensuring that bathing opportunities are increased to promote proper preening behaviours.
In cases where the enrichment, bathing and feeding schedule is appropriate and the bird is provided with access to a conspecific partner, consideration of incompatibility stress in the environment may be required. Stress from being housed with, next to or near incompatible parrots or other animals can potentially result in self-induced feather damage due to anxiety-based stress. This is where a sound knowledge of parrot body language will provide insights as to the observable degree of comfort level that the parrot may be at in its environment.
In addition to the above, handraised juvenile parrots are often exposed to stressors early in life that may result in juvenile feather problems. In appropriate weaning schedules, lack of opportunity to fledge, improper clipping of wings and early removal of parental figures can all potentially result in stress-induced behavioural feather picking in juvenile birds.
In the case of certain species such as Gang-Gang cockatoos and African Greys, removal of juvenile birds from environments that allow access to parental support can be considered highly contributory to feather picking and plucking observed before 12 months of age.
Behavioural Feather Plucking: Feather damage that extends to complete removal of feathers is usually either an extension of long-term lack of enrichment (considering all forms) and/or the result of stress induced by inappropriate housing, inappropriate exposure to aversive stimuli (including incompatible animals within the environment), inappropriate interactions with humans (excessive use of negative reinforcement and punishment), inappropriate feeding schedules and potentially, psychogenic issues related to hormone dynamics and sexual maturity. Hormone relationship to feather plucking has not been adequately studied and profiled to my knowledge therefore, in my opinion, the common blame for feather plucking being directed towards `hormones in sexually mature parrots is an inadequate response to this situation and may fail to empower the owner with need to focus on environmental change for effective behaviour change.
In some cases the situation extends to tissue damage and self-mutilation. At this stage significant clinical care may be required and involve a combination of strategies, including medication, which will involve consulting with an avian veterinarian as well as a qualified behaviour consultant.
After reading this Im sure you can appreciate the potential complexities of self-induced, behaviour feather damage in companion parrots. Successful remedial management of the situation in many circumstances is often dependent on a `holistic approach that seeks to cater for numerous potential causes. In next months Q&A well take a look at such approaches.
What might be causing feather loss in my companion parrot? (Part 3) [+]
Added: Nov 30, 2002 Author: Jim Mckendry
So far in this three-part Q&A, weve examined behavioural feather damage in the contexts of identifying and evaluating the potential causes and then categorising the problem. These initial diagnostic steps are extremely important in developing a remedial plan to resolve what can be the most perplexing behavioural issue we deal with when keeping parrots in captivity.
The focus of this final part is to provide an overview of the general remedial strategies commonly implemented by behaviour consultants to assist clients with managing behavioural feather loss in their pet parrot.
As mentioned in Part 2, often a holistic approach, that is multi-faceted and targets a range of potential precipitating factors, may be required to provide the greatest relief to symptoms of the problem. This may be particularly important if the cause of the problem is not readily identifiable. In any case, it should be obvious to experienced parrot owners that each of the following represents best practice for successfully maintaining behavioural health in pet parrots.
Diet Management & Foraging Opportunity: Scientific studies have demonstrated a significant disparity in the time spent actively engaging in foraging and feeding behaviours of wild parrots compared to captive parrots. Reduced active foraging can be considered a precursor to boredom or lack of activity. This activity deficit has been linked to excessive amounts of time spent preening by captive parrots, which of course has been linked to improper care of feathers over time. The more dynamic, variable and creative the captive parrot owner can be in terms of food allocation, presentation and access, the longer the parrot will need to spend engaging in feeding activity. This strategy has been used for decades now in the zoo industry to reduce stereotypical behaviours in a range of animal species.
Diet management involves more that just withholding favoured foods for training treats. Creative diet management for parrots is concerned with a range of goals. Initially, it is important to establish a formulated diet as the daily base for food consumption and then supplementing this with a range of other food types, including fruit, vegetables, seeds, natural foliages and livefoods. The composition ratio of each of these supplements should be considered at a species-specific level. Not only will a diet based on a formulated food offer a sound level of nutrient value, whilst minimising fat intake, it will also support the motivation for the parrot to engage in foraging activity for items of `higher value. Essentially therefore, you can achieve improved physical health combined with enhanced behavioural benefits by effectively balancing a daily food intake with formulated pellets. Diet management then extends to catering for food allocation at various times of the day. Most parrot species do not feed for only an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon as some articles claim. Feeding durations of up to 8 hours have been observed in the wild at all times of the day so therefore we need to cater for the natural tendency to forage outside of the established feeding regime. All parrots, regardless of species, benefit from the opportunity to forage. This is achieved by balancing the amount of food allocated throughout the day with the provision of natural browse. This is where a species-specific understanding of parrots is required and an appreciation of the huge variability in foraging behaviours and preferences. What works as a foraging motivator for one species, or even one individual, may not work for another. In any case, if the daily food intake is staggered for a companion parrot then it is important that natural foraging opportunities are provided outside of those times to reduce boredom and relieve pressures associated with behavioural feather picking.
Enclosure Variability & Suitability: A dynamic and creative approach to food management needs to extend to providing a captive enclosure that facilitates normal behaviours. In my experience, most pet parrots are maintained in enclosures far too small, and for too long, to maintain optimum behavioural health. Larger enclosures obviously facilitate the provision of a wider range of materials, substrates, perching and food positioning options. If small enclosures are used then it may be beneficial to maintain a regular schedule of variability and change in terms of enclosure furnishings. Care should be taken with sensitive individuals with a history of aversive reactions to changes. Such individuals should be catered for via gradual desensitisation of enrichment items, and even new perches. Parrot owners also often over provide enrichment items such as toys and inadvertently create a cluttered environment that reduces healthy movement within the enclosure. Providing excessive amounts of artificial enrichment may also result in lack of interest in such items so a rotation schedule, with a minimum number of artificial enrichment items being provided for no more than a week at a time, may be far more beneficial than a saturation approach. This is often particularly relevant for young parrots.
When we consider enclosure suitability we also may need to consider the position of the enclosure.
It was mentioned in Part 2 of this series that incompatibility stress with other animals in the environment might be a potential contributor to feather problems. This therefore prompts reflection and careful observation of any parrot that is damaging its own feathers and is housed with or around other birds and animals and appropriate modifications made if necessary. The ideal, in my opinion, is to provide companion parrots with access to an outdoor aviary. This facilitates enhanced provision of natural browse and exposes the bird to a huge variety of natural stimuli, particularly visual and aural stimuli, that is rarely achieved indoors.
Bathing Schedules: Skin and feather health may be dependent to varying degrees on humidity and access to bathing opportunities. Owners of companion parrots kept indoors, particularly in air-conditioned environments, may need to reassess the bathing schedule of their bird if behavioural feather picking is diagnosed. I have consulted with a number of feather picking birds that were rarely, if ever, bathed or provided with opportunities to self-bathe. This is very important for keepers of neo-tropical species whose natural range is within areas of high annual rainfall. Proper access to bathing promotes natural preening behaviours and can often be a significant component of successful recovery.
For an overview on providing species-appropriate bathing opportunities contact Zarita and request a copy of the July 2005 newsletter.
Balanced Social Interaction: As noted in Part 2, companion parrots are often deprived of natural physical interactions with conspecifics (same species). When we consider that mutual preening is an integral part of natural pair bond behaviour for a range of species commonly kept as pets, the lack of access to such interactions can be considered contributory to some cases of excessive preening leading to feather damage. Aside from the physical aspect, balancing social interaction for pet parrots encompasses the behavioural and psychological side as well. Most parrot species (the kakapo is one exception) are highly social and often form strong pair bonds. It is extremely unnatural for most parrots to be alone for most of the day, as many pet parrots often are. I firmly believe that many parrots fail to cope with the inconsistencies of the human-parrot bond and as a result we often see behavioural abnormalities arise. Obviously there are exceptions but there is little arguing that captive parrots that are kept alone and without the stimulation of other parrots in their environment or without regular human interactions will benefit from being provided with another parrot, preferably of the same species, in their environment. A whole suite of behaviours can be observed between parrots, even in different enclosures, housed in the same environment that would otherwise be absent in a solitary individual. Such stimulation can equate to increased activity and engagement in enrichment items and less time spent damaging feathers. The key to this strategy is achieving compatibility and minimising incompatibility stress. When considering taking on another parrot it is important to access advice and input from a parrot behaviour consultant first.
For more information on developing a multiple-parrot/social interaction dynamic ask Zarita for a copy of the October 2005 newsletter.
I havent covered all bases with this Q&A, particularly from the enrichment side of things. If you would like to delve deeper into environmental enrichment then please contact Australian Birdkeeper magazine at birdkeeper@birdkeeper.com.au and consider ordering the back issues from 2005 that I have written articles for on the topic of environmental enrichment.
If you are experiencing behavioural feather problems with your companion parrot then consider taking the opportunity to contact me and discuss your situation. Attendance at one of our Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary workshops, a phone consultation or even an in-home consultation might provide some of the solutions that youre searching for.
|
|
Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,845
Member is Online
|
Post by Marianne Marlow on Nov 23, 2012 12:19:17 GMT
Cheers for all that Stace. Will read it later on, and respond x
|
|
|
Post by samwiseg on Nov 23, 2012 13:05:41 GMT
Would administering some Guardian Angel help if he is getting a tad stressed Marianne? Poor poor Roswell What about putting a "buddy budgie" thats gets on fairly well with him just for the time being whilst being in the smaller cage? I hope you manage to sort something out Marianne x
|
|
Aug 27, 2012 20:57:32 GMT
annieones
Normal Green
Posts: 393
|
Post by annieones on Nov 23, 2012 18:28:06 GMT
Poor Roswell, sorry can't help not experienced enough, but hope you sort something out soon x
|
|
May 17, 2024 8:32:35 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2012 8:30:00 GMT
so sorry marianne i dont no how to help but ... i do hope someone can help roswell...
|
|
|
Post by BudgiesBuddy on Nov 24, 2012 16:15:46 GMT
It's so sad to know about Roswell's condition. I hope he gets better soon.
|
|
Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,845
Member is Online
|
Post by Marianne Marlow on Nov 24, 2012 17:08:18 GMT
Thank you everyone. He has had some time in with Sky today and perked up a bit.
|
|
|
Post by Rachael Kellett on Nov 24, 2012 17:29:19 GMT
I really wish i knew what to suggest. Maybe try keeping him occupied by treats, toys and things to do? x
|
|
Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,845
Member is Online
|
Post by Marianne Marlow on Nov 24, 2012 17:32:13 GMT
Thanks Rachael. Already doing those..
|
|
|
Post by samwiseg on Nov 24, 2012 18:33:41 GMT
Thank you everyone. He has had some time in with Sky today and perked up a bit. Aww bless him, thats sounds positive As you know I am no expert but perhaps thats all he required is some one on one time to make him feel "needed"? Love to Roswell x
|
|