So Jade, my BH Pionus, soon to be 15 yrs old started picking and plucking her feathers with a vengeance last August. She had never messed with her feathers except for normal preening until that time. She was doing this in specific areas- on her back under her wings and on the inner aspects of her legs up to the thigh.
I took her to her longtime avian vet in Miami who performed an exam, blood work, swabs and cultures and all were negative. He thought it might be food allergy related. I stopped the new food. I am trying to get away from the 2.5 hr drive so a month or so later, I took her to a local Avian and Exotics vet who also suggested a food allergy and said it could take some time to vacate her system.
A month or two later a friend said her bird was picking and she took him to another avian trained vet nearby who found mites and treated it. On the off chance, I took her there and although she did not have mites, that vet suggested that since Jade was around 15 yrs old and the area where she picks has sexual significance, he thought she might be experiencing "BIRDIE MENOPAUSE" as her hormones may be fluctuating. His only suggestion was a birdie Prozac which he said may or may not work and I am hesitant to try.
She still picks today only most of her feathers have grown back. At one time she had quarter sized bald spots. These now have downy feathers in place and it seems she only pulls the new green ones that have yet to fully open. She will go for a time with little picking and then as if on a cycle, she will pull a couple a day for a period. Her legs were filling in and then one day she started denuding one of them again.
I mention this to you all in hopes that someone might have some suggestions or experience with or thoughts on this. I keep hoping if it is a hormonal thing, she will outgrow it in time as many menopausal women do.
I took her to her longtime avian vet in Miami who performed an exam, blood work, swabs and cultures and all were negative. He thought it might be food allergy related. I stopped the new food. I am trying to get away from the 2.5 hr drive so a month or so later, I took her to a local Avian and Exotics vet who also suggested a food allergy and said it could take some time to vacate her system.
A month or two later a friend said her bird was picking and she took him to another avian trained vet nearby who found mites and treated it. On the off chance, I took her there and although she did not have mites, that vet suggested that since Jade was around 15 yrs old and the area where she picks has sexual significance, he thought she might be experiencing "BIRDIE MENOPAUSE" as her hormones may be fluctuating. His only suggestion was a birdie Prozac which he said may or may not work and I am hesitant to try.
She still picks today only most of her feathers have grown back. At one time she had quarter sized bald spots. These now have downy feathers in place and it seems she only pulls the new green ones that have yet to fully open. She will go for a time with little picking and then as if on a cycle, she will pull a couple a day for a period. Her legs were filling in and then one day she started denuding one of them again.
I mention this to you all in hopes that someone might have some suggestions or experience with or thoughts on this. I keep hoping if it is a hormonal thing, she will outgrow it in time as many menopausal women do.
