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I'm extatic to say that ours was a case of a neurotic mom, not PBFD (psitisine beak and feather disease). My vet had told me Buddy didn't have PBFD but I had to read up on it, after learning about it here. Of course I decided she (Buddy, not the vet) had all the symptoms & got worried about false negatives. I had a long talk with the vet, which calmed me down quite a bit, but had Buddy retested just to be sure. The vet called me today. Buddy is still old, still in "fragile" health, but she does NOT have PBFD . And, she doesn't seem to be feather picking quite as much as she has been. Perhaps because her Uric acid levels are down some again, and perhaps because she is getting used to her new diet. She is now eating cooked whole grains, cooked brown rice, cherries (especially good I am told for birdies with kidney and bladder problems), baby bird formula, green grapes, strawberries, blue berries, carrots, corn, canary seed (the only kind of seed she likes), rowdy bush pellets (limited quantities), and whole grain pasta--she especially likes quinoa. She still thinks anything green (except grapes) is to lick water from Right now I'm cooking up some beans from a bean soup mixture. After setting aside some for her I will add the rest of the ingredients to make it real soup, & we will both soon be "full of beans" I am sooooooooo relieved. Sometimes a little knowledge is a dangerous thing

I'm delighted with your good news of Buddy's test results and diet improvements. But ... you might want to reconsider feeding beans to a bird with kidney disease. I'm no expert, but I'd check it out carefully before I'd do it if I were in your shoes. Good luck keeping that sweetie happy for years to come

Thanks for the suggestion. I got the mix in bulk because it had lentels & other things that were on the list of suggestions for "mash". I'll save all the bean for me & just give her the lentels. Turns out she doesn't like her foods in "mash" or "kitchen sink" form. She like things one at a time--fussy little girl. Guess she's like the kids who cant have their foods touch each other on their plates. And I don't spoil her, of course HA! (I should come back in my next life as one of my birds!). Fortunately she WILL eat the whole grains mixed. I got several kinds at Whole Foods (bulk), mixed them together, soaked them over night, & cooked them. Ended up looking a lot like my morning oatmeal. I tasted it, and it was pretty good. So next time when I shop, I'll buy larger quantities & make my own whole grain breakfast cereal mix. I, too, like the quinoa better than whole wheat pasta. Have been making enough for both of us & giving Buddy hers "naked" & eating mine with various kinds of pasta sauces. Maybe we will both get a little healthier