Pictures My yellow headed Amazon

[Alexandraa]

Hello, I'm Alex and my yellow headed Amazon is named Seymour. I inherited him from my grandma when she passed away a few days ago, she said he was about 42 and he's been a chronic plucker for about 6years and my grandma could never get him to stop just how to get him to calm down for the moment, his scabbing is really bad, he picks at it constantly and he's bald on his top back wing, belly and legs. He doesn't like to be held, touched or pet so I can't put a collar or anything on him. I've changed his food recently to a brand I saw on here and it's helped him a little, he was fed an all sunflower seed diet til I bought him his new food yesterday, I think he's either accustomed to it now and the scabbing is just irritating him along with his skin being dry from it .I bought a humidifier and he loves that but he needs more

 

[DQTimnehs]

Welcome and I'm so sorry about your grandmother!
I'm glad you could take in Seymour and care about giving him a better diet. He really needs to see an avian vet to help with his plucking issue. The humidifier is a good idea, just make sure to clean it regularly so mold or mildew do not grow inside. Showering him with a light mist from a bottle is even better for his skin and feathers. Not saying you shouldn't use the humidifier but direct light spraying is needed as well.

 

[faislaq]

Welcome Alex and your cute, nekkid Seymour. Thank you for taking him in and already doing a wonderful job at parronting! There have been so many advancements in what has been learned about bird's needs so thank you for looking up says to help the poor guy. Stress and diet can be huge contributors to plucking and mutilation. Has he been to the vet yet to rule out other underlying causes?

I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother, and so recently. You and Seymour will both be mourning for some time. I'm glad you have each other to help y'all through it.

 

[faislaq]

I noticed we never see his face? It's always in his food bowl. Either you're just trying to show us where he plucks or that is one hungry bird!

 

[Alexandraa]

Thank you a ton. I mist him every day along with the humidifier, I clean it out twice a day along with his bottom tray every night and food/water twice a day. I've been debating how the vet trip will go because he's not friendly at all, he doesn't like to be around new people, esp when they're reaching for him. He gets stressed so easily and I'm worried the vet visit will put him in a shock. And he hasn't been in like 13 years, due to my grandma not having the funds.

 

[WallyLoopey]

Aw, that sweet baby...

I’m sorry about your grandmother.

 

[Alexandraa]

He was one hungry birdie when I took the pics haha, he was indulging in his new hearty berry food

 

[WallyLoopey]

Does he know you? I know you said he isn’t tame but was just wondering if he’s seen you regularly when your grandmother had him.

Some toys might can distract him from the plucking, things to chew and destroy.

 

[Alexandraa]

I have yet to take him to the vet, I just got back from getting him where they were living in california, I live in illinois, I'm saving up funds now to find a vet to take him to soon, I'm just worried about the stress from it on him. He's older, doesn't like to be handled and stresses out so fast and so bad

 

[WallyLoopey]

Also try some warm foods with veggies mixed in..most will readily accept pasta and rice. Then you can get some red palm oil and mix it all together. The red palm oil will do wonders for his feathers.

 

[Alexandraa]

He knows me very well, I grew up with him my whole life. My grandma got him when I was about 7 and he's been around me ever since and on and off the last couple years due to me moving to illinois

 

[faislaq]

Thank you a ton. I mist him every day along with the humidifier, I clean it out twice a day along with his bottom tray every night and food/water twice a day. I've been debating how the vet trip will go because he's not friendly at all, he doesn't like to be around new people, esp when they're reaching for him. He gets stressed so easily and I'm worried the vet visit will put him in a shock. And he hasn't been in like 13 years, due to my grandma not having the funds.

Wow, you're already good at this! It was hard for me to get Buzzard in his travel cage; it took a couple months for him to go in semi-willingly. And during the exam he screamed so loudly that I cried because I felt so mean. Afterward I was relieved to know he was healthy and glad I remembered to ask them to trim his nails.

 

[Clueless]

Welcome from another old amazon lover. What part of Illinois are you in? I'm in St Louis.

Secret was stressed when she first saw an avian vet. Make sure it is a true avian vet you take her to. Those vets should know about how to handle stress.

In fact, Secret bit the first vet she saw on the back of the neck. He was cool with it and shook her off, gently, on the table. We were mortified. Didn't know how to handle the bird.

 

[Alexandraa]

Red palm oil mixed with his food sounds like a great idea! He loves pasta a ton.

 

[Alexandraa]

It took him about an hour to go in his travel cage on his own, he loves car rides and everything, he just doesn't like to be touched. He talks to everyone in our house all day long and he goes on top of his cage to play and crawls on the floor to sit with me.

 

[Alexandraa]

@Clueless we're in Peoria. Oh my! I would've been mortified too!! I plan on looking around for a really good vet, more trustworthy the more comfortable I'll feel in the long run.

 

[Clueless]

@Clueless we're in Peoria. Oh my! I would've been mortified too!! I plan on looking around for a really good vet, more trustworthy the more comfortable I'll feel in the long run.

Cool! My hubby worked there for a while so I'm a bit familiar. He lived in Pekin during that time.

Dr. Sakas is at Niles, IL ......

 

[Clueless]

Dr. Sakas may be a bit further than you want but I believe several members here go to him.

I personally go to Dr. Kersting here in St. Louis now (not the vet that was bit in the neck).

@Macawnutz @SandraK. Any suggestions?

 

[iamwhoiam]

Welcome to AA. Sorry about the loss of your grandmother. Good idea to take Seymour to vet for a check up. Hope you and the vet can help him stop the plucking.
I have used Nekton Bio with plucking birds and it was beneficial for one but didn't seem to help another. Still might be worth trying that.
Amazon.com : Nekton-Bio for Bird Feathering, 75gm : Beauty Products : Pet Supplies
Amazon.com : Nekton Labs BNK207035 Bio Feather Grow For Birds 1.23 oz : Pet Health Care Supplies : Pet Supplies

First link 75 gm container
Second link 1.23 ounces (@ 35 gms)

 

[SandraK]

Maybe @Milo has a recommendation?