upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Could someone explain how to post pictures on this site please?

Hi Jercie -- Mfids has done a great step-by-step, but I'm not spotting it right this minute to link for you. Saw it this week though, so I know it's around! She'll probably come to your rescue soon.

Is this your red-front you're eager to show us at last? I haven't seen you here since you were searching all over for one.

Paca

MFids's guide can be found here.

Make sure you don't post pictures that are too big! Especially not if you use one as an avatar. More discussion of this can be found here, with a resizing pictures how-to guide here.

Paca

Well here's the thing with that and if anyone can give me some help on the subject that would be great. I did finally get a RF, however not from the best circumstance and Sky is 4 and not a baby, but that's okay and not the issue. The issue is that my B&G HATES Sky and even started to self-mutilate when I brought Sky home. We made it through that crisis, but Jake continues to be extremely jealous and can't stand the sight of Sky. Even though the self-mutilation has resolved, he still has had a major setback with his plucking and I don't want to keep Sky at the cost of the emotional well being of Jake as I don't think that would be fair. Does anyone have any advice, I'm not sure what to do and whether I should keep Sky or not? HELP!

I'm probably as reluctant as anyone on the planet to think plucking is behavioral. Especially a B&G, the easy going clowns of the parrot world. Few of us has the $$$ to do ALLLL the testing it sometimes takes to know these things, but I hope you've either got a 5-star avian vet or your vet has consulted with a 5-star avian vet s/he respects.

The way you set your birds up with respect to their environment and relationships with you, their amt of sleep and nutritious food all matter greatly. What can you tell us about what you've learned in your efforts to solve the problems?

Very sad for each of you, Paca

OK, I've done a little research and see that you got your 3yo RF in early Dec and your 18yo B&G with a longtime plucking and mutilation history mutilated on Dec 10. You disappeared from here and the Strut a few days later, 'til now. You did say you were lucky to have ANY avian vet, so I'm guessing you've not been able to get the care for Jake that you'd like. How has it gone in the 4 months since? Obviously downhill, but how exactly? And with what testing? Did you treat Jake for giardia?

I can give you the names of great vets. Some close to you, but all willing to do phone consultations, looking at the lab results from your vet's tests and talking with your vet about what they think might help Jake. Nod if you're interested.

You were still honeymooning with Sky, but pleased with how well behaved s/he was. How has that gone? What did the well-bird testing tell you? I would expect little problem rehoming a young RF and am very willing to help you if you decide to do that.

Still very sad for each of you, Paca

Is it possible to keep the birds in separate rooms and to not allow them to see eachother?

I've actually had Jake to 3 vets since I got him. He was a plucker when I got him, but began to get better with the advice of my vet without bloodwork. Then I got Sky, his well visit went good and he got a clean bill of health with bloodwork. When Jake started to self-mutilate I freaked and brought him to a second vet, all bloodwork/fecal/skin scrapes turned up nothing, but he was treated for giardia and she also had me give him bene-bac and a skin creme for the lesions. This cleared him up, however I did take him for a third opinion to a vet that the local parrot rescue uses and he agreed with what had been done so far and also agreed that it was most likely due to the bringing in of the third bird. I think it may be because of how loud Sky is, I know that's weird to say since I have a B&G, but it seems to really bother Jake. Both Jake and Kiwi are very reserved birds and well Sky isn't. I don't hold that against him, but at the same time I don't want to sacrifice Jake's emotional health. Yes I could keep them in separate rooms and their cages are, but they do all congregate in the living/bird room when they are out. I just wish I can find a way to live in harmony without anyone being upset.

Would you like me to put the word out about Sky needing a new home?

Paca

In your opinion, are there any other options? I don't want to be one of those people who take in birds only to rehome them and would try anything.

I think Jake is the problem, as I'm sure you do too. Rehoming Sky might remove an irritant that prompts Jake to pluck and worse, but the reason Jake's so easily irritated is because whatever is the REAL cause of his plucking makes him feel bad. That's my guess, but I'm no vet.

Have you experimented with foods known to cause allergies in our birds? I've learn a LOT just reading the articles and archives at Yahoo's Feeding Feathers site. Do you have a HEPA filter near Jake? That might help him, as might a warm-air humidifier if you can keep it well cleaned.

Have you already memorized Tammy Jenkins' wonderful paper on causes of feather destructive behavior? http://www.featherpicking.com/Basics_of_FP.htm And another great one: http://wiki.allthingsfeathered.net/inde ... estruction

Nod if you want more ... Paca

The closest I can say to coming to your situation, I had a flock of 13 birds, and all was fine. One of the cockatiels, Casey, would always fly to me (at the time, all budgies and tiels were cage-free - budgies are caged now as of the 21st) and demand scritches. Noel, a cherry head, was doing fine, although she has a history of mutilation when she is in a situation that makes her nervous or scared, or if I may be really upset and she picks up on my moods...

I added in a mitred conure, Charlie, and couldn't keep him separate from the other birds when I brought him home (for some VERY lame reason's, mind you...) and he upset the flock. Noel mutilated herself, and Casey stopped coming to me. He was also annoying the other birds with his loud incesstant screaming. As soon as I could, I removed him from the bird room and that solved the issues. Although later, I did try and bring out Noel to be in the same room with Charlie, however this didn't work out as Noel didn't like being out of the birdroom, and the two simply don't get along.

Therefore, I now keep them (them as in flock and Charlie) in separate rooms, although Charlie is in the birdroom at night and early morning. Noel has only mutilated a couple times with this arrangement, and so it works out for all.


Your best bet is to give it a few more months and if you can't find a way to keep them satisfied (any way to allow them out at separate times?) then you may want to consider rehoming Sky. I know the feeling. If your not interested in speaking with Sky's previous owner, then I'd suggest getting a hold of vets, asking them for advice, and maybe to keep a lookout for anyone who may be a suitable home for him.