NerdyBirdie
Meeting neighbors
So, I have a mystery. My male SI eclectus has been plucking a lot more than usual, but my vet said there's nothing I can do. Here's his conditions...
He's 8 years old.
I suspect that he has seasonal depression because he plucked during this time last year as well.
I've had him for just over a year, but he has had some trauma in the past.
He spent most of his life in a cramped cage. Once I adopted him I got him a large macaw cage, yet he didn't like to be kept in it for long so recently I purchased a large tree-like play set for him, and he likes that much better because he has full access to the room (bird-proofed.)
He has become very attached to me over these last few months and has been increasingly hormonal.
He doesn't like to play with toys at all, but he has many many available.
He is on a mostly pellet (roudybush) diet as he just throws anything else on the floor. He does like scrambled eggs, however. (cage-free organic, no added salt or anything.)
He stays home and talks to the roomba while I am away at school. He doesn't pluck much while I'm away, mostly sleeps.
He goes through phases of hating different people. He used to love my father but now if he even sees him he'll say "ouch!" and "no!" like he's imagining hurting him.
He has been chewing on his feet and toenails a lot.
He regurgitates on me all. the. time. (but is discouraged from doing so... nothing smells worse than half-digested roudybush)
His poop is normal.
He has plucked much of his neck, where there is now skin showing. Under his wings it's mostly patchy down. His flight feathers and tail feathers are partially chewed, but not as bad as last year.
He's had his blood tested recently and all is well there..
Not long ago I noticed a black patch on the roof of his upper mandible. I'm worried! I e-mailed my vet but haven't heard back yet.
He's a chatter box and is energetic and just seems overall happy yet his plucking is only getting worse.
My thoughts are that he is needing another diet change, perhaps more leafy greens, (though I don't know if I can get him to eat them.." and some pretty severe hormonal frustrations, if you know what I mean. At this point his plucking may just be a habit now, as the vet has told me.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
He's 8 years old.
I suspect that he has seasonal depression because he plucked during this time last year as well.
I've had him for just over a year, but he has had some trauma in the past.
He spent most of his life in a cramped cage. Once I adopted him I got him a large macaw cage, yet he didn't like to be kept in it for long so recently I purchased a large tree-like play set for him, and he likes that much better because he has full access to the room (bird-proofed.)
He has become very attached to me over these last few months and has been increasingly hormonal.
He doesn't like to play with toys at all, but he has many many available.
He is on a mostly pellet (roudybush) diet as he just throws anything else on the floor. He does like scrambled eggs, however. (cage-free organic, no added salt or anything.)
He stays home and talks to the roomba while I am away at school. He doesn't pluck much while I'm away, mostly sleeps.
He goes through phases of hating different people. He used to love my father but now if he even sees him he'll say "ouch!" and "no!" like he's imagining hurting him.
He has been chewing on his feet and toenails a lot.
He regurgitates on me all. the. time. (but is discouraged from doing so... nothing smells worse than half-digested roudybush)
His poop is normal.
He has plucked much of his neck, where there is now skin showing. Under his wings it's mostly patchy down. His flight feathers and tail feathers are partially chewed, but not as bad as last year.
He's had his blood tested recently and all is well there..
Not long ago I noticed a black patch on the roof of his upper mandible. I'm worried! I e-mailed my vet but haven't heard back yet.
He's a chatter box and is energetic and just seems overall happy yet his plucking is only getting worse.
My thoughts are that he is needing another diet change, perhaps more leafy greens, (though I don't know if I can get him to eat them.." and some pretty severe hormonal frustrations, if you know what I mean. At this point his plucking may just be a habit now, as the vet has told me.
Thoughts? Suggestions?