Please help stress

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Please help stress; feather plucking
Topic Started: Feb 13 2010, 01:07 AM (555 Views)
gidgett17	Feb 13 2010, 01:07 AM Post #1
Newbie Posts: 5 Group: Full Members Member #3,145 Joined: September 20, 2009 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types spectacled What colours green and blue Other Birds ? parakeet I live in house My name is Nancy	Hi my male Yogi has lost his mate a parakeet in November . He was already very stressed and had plucked some feathers. After she died he was ok at first then he began breaking off his feathers and so we were told to try getting another bird a male parakeet they seem to get along but he is still plucking his feathers and now it has it's really bad. I have been giving him lots of attention good food and sleep but I'm worried the vet said he may need medication. Can someone please tell me will this get better in time do I just have to ride it out or should I try medication any advice at this point will help at least he is eating but I'm so worried he hasn't been flying since summer and he just detroyed all his feathers again. I'm afraid it could become a habit also will the new parakeet pick up on this problem? I'm so wooried please help thank you for your time.



scooby	Feb 13 2010, 07:27 AM Post #2
Admin Posts: 4,471 Group: Admin Member #1,461 Joined: December 10, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 7 What types celestial What colours 3 green, 1 blue, 1 pastel blue,1 yellow, 1 albino Other Birds ? Meyers parrot, Gcc ,blue fischer lovebird,2 fischer lovebirds,2 mountain parakeet,2 budgies I live in York My name is Jacqueline ( jackie for short)	I have not had much experience with features pluckers ,so sorry i cannot help much, but i know some other member on this forum have so i am sure they will give you some advice



theexbrit	Feb 13 2010, 08:10 PM Post #3
Co Admin Posts: 4,144 Group: Co Admin Member #74 Joined: March 20, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 3 What types Pacifics What colours Green, pied Other Birds ? 2 Conures - Crimson Bellied & Green Cheeked I live in So. California My name is Andy	Stress is one reason for feather plucking (as most birds are not Opus Dei :lol: ), what's causing the stress is the most important thing. However, sometimes what you think is the obvious cause (a deceased mate), might not really be the main reason. You said he was "already stressed" before he lost his mate, what signs of stress did he show before she died? I would look into what was causing the stress before she died. Also, what changes did you make to his living environment when he started to get stressed? Changes to their environment are usually the main cause of stress, it may be something so simple as a new drape that he doesn't like or a new piece of furniture that he doesn't like. Animals pick upon human emotions very well & if you have stress in your life it can effect the bird too. Look into his diet also, malnutrition is another reason for feather plucking. Have you changed his diet? Have you moved his cage to a different area in your house where he's not getting enough light? Is he getting enough calcium, vitamin D, etc? Here's some articles that might help..................... http://www.2ndchance.info/selfpluck.htm http://www.realmacaw.com/pages/pluck.html http://www.realmacaw.com/pages/pluck.html http://www.plannedparrothood.com/articles/featherplucking.html If you search the "health questions & tips" section of this forum, you'll find some other info there. Hope this helps.



LauraR	Feb 13 2010, 10:24 PM Post #4
Staff Member Posts: 6,297 Group: Staff Member #78 Joined: April 7, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types Pacific What colours Blue Pied Other Birds ? 2 Conures I live in California, USA	Does he take baths or do you spray him? This should make him feel better. I know there's a spray that Gail used, but I can't think of what it is now. I've never heard of medication for plucking. Did the vet tell you what it was called?



kevinp	Feb 14 2010, 07:09 AM Post #5
Administrator Posts: 6,893 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: October 7, 2006 How many Parrotlets do you have I have one Parrotlet What types Celestials What colours One green Other Birds ? Budgeries four off I live in a mess of my own making !!! My name is I'll give you a clue	You have had a lot of information posted for you so spend some time going through it and see if any thing is relevant to Yogi and his plucking. As for the medication I would stay away from this and they mainly give antidepressants or some thing along these lines



gidgett17	Feb 14 2010, 12:24 PM Post #6
Newbie Posts: 5 Group: Full Members Member #3,145 Joined: September 20, 2009 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types spectacled What colours green and blue Other Birds ? parakeet I live in house My name is Nancy	Hi thank you for your help I was thinking at first he was going to be ok until this week when he got really bad . One of the members asked if we had changed our living room around and we did about 3 weeks ago he said that could bring on more stress also we have been under great stress due to a death in my family and a few months later the death of a close friend he said that he may be picking up on our stress also, I did go and get him some food that the pet store said would help him in regrowing feathers. I know how hard this must be for him because I still miss Peepers she was a big part of our home,



Jan	Feb 14 2010, 01:38 PM Post #7
staff member Posts: 3,531 Group: Staff Member #1,157 Joined: November 18, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 3 What types Celestial What colours Blue & Green+Green Dominant Pied, Other Birds ? Zippi & Drummer Cockatiels I live in Wales uk My name is Jan	My cockatiel has plucked since he was very young Ive never found out why... He is nearly nine now and still does it... Ive just left him too it it worries me more than it does him..



Gardengail	Feb 14 2010, 09:19 PM Post #8
Staff Member Posts: 13,943 Group: Staff Member #25 Joined: January 18, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types Pacific What colours Blue Other Birds ? Severe Macaw and 2 Timneth Greys I live in Upstate New York, USA My name is Gail	Any kind of change will promote plucking....especially the loss of a mate. That had to be extremely traumatic for him. I wish I could give you more advice. I found that misting with warm water everyday seems to help. Good luck and keep us posted!



birdgirl089	Mar 13 2010, 02:18 AM Post #9
Senior Member Posts: 263 Group: Full Members Member #3,001 Joined: February 4, 2009 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types Pacific What colours Green Other Birds ? Kakariki I live in Canada My name is Traci	I'm not sure if this will help but maybe try a toy like this or a birdie pacifier?



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