aviumcaelum
Meeting neighbors
- Joined
- 10/13/16
- Messages
- 35
- Real Name
- Andrew
Hi everyone,
I’m wondering if anyone can help me with a feather-plucking problem I’ve been having with a green-cheeked conure who is a bit over three years old.
Background: I got him and another bird (a black-capped conure, also approximately three years old) from a man who no longer wanted them about two years ago. He had only had them a month or two. Before that, they had been at a regional pet store (which has a decent reputation with most animals), where they had been hatched. They've never been sexed officially. They are my first parrots. Previously I had a cockatiel for 16 years.
Problem: Until last May, the birds had been housed together in a cage. Last May, the green-cheek started plucking the feathers over the preen gland of the black-capped. Slightly after that, he started plucking his own feathers, primarily under his wings, around his legs, and on the shoulders of his wings. I separated them to two different cages thinking it may be an issue of aggression, but he kept on plucking.
When he first started plucking, it was almost like he was possessed. He also seemed to undergo a behavior change. While before he had a sort of cock-of-the-rock attitude, he's become more timid, while the other bird has become the dominant one. I've tried all types of things: avian lighting, mixing chamomile tea in with their water, spraying him with water mixed with aloe, more toys during the day, moving their caged around. It certainly has improved since then and now it's limited to nights (seems to happen in a cycle of two or three days--nothing for a night or two and then half a dozen or so of the feathers growing in) and, oddly enough, when he's out on my shoulder and he's preening himself. I would say it is moderate plucking: you wouldn't be able to tell just by looking at him that he plucks, but, when he lifts his wings, you can.
During the night, I can hear him squawking quietly when he knows I'm awake. I sleep in the same room with them, although, I recently moved--seemed to help the problem somewhat--he used to be difficult to get into his cage at night, but now he goes in willingly. I am able to sleep in a different room than them at my new place, but I didn't want to suddenly disappear on them in a new place.
To add to the mystery, when I took him and the black-capped home to my parents in IL over the summer for two months (July-August), he completely stopped plucking (and even had a big molt). I was able to spend more time with them and they were outside for several hours each day, so they were very spoiled. Once I came back to Ohio to start work again, he started it up again at his current level.
I cover their cages separately and completely with blankets each night from about 6:30PM-6:00AM. I've run an air purifier as a white noise machine for the past year or so. After I put them to bed, the house is typically pretty quiet, so no frightening noises. Humidity is typically around 65% in the house. They are flighted and out of their cages for 3-4 hours a day. I try to get them outside for an hour or two when the weather and my schedule allows. He takes a bath 2-3 times a week. They eat mostly Zupreem pellets with fruit and some millet daily. I've had him to two separate vets who said he looks like a very healthy, strong bird and it almost certainly something environmental or psychosomatic, which seems to be verified by his stopping it for a full two months.
I'm at a loss as to what to do. I think for some reason he may be frightened during the nights. Ideas I've been tossing around the idea of getting a humidifier, leaving the cage partially uncovered so it's not completely dark, leaving a side of each cage visible under the blankets so the birds can see one another, moving to a different room so he can't hear me during the night.
I'm wondering what those of you who are more experienced with parrots may think. Sorry for the somewhat lengthy email, but I know with parrots the smallest detail can be important. Please let me know if you think I've left some bit of information out. The issue is frustrating because it makes me feel like I am an good parrot owner and I sometimes get to the point that I just want to throw my hand up.
Thank you for any advice you all can give.
Andrew
I’m wondering if anyone can help me with a feather-plucking problem I’ve been having with a green-cheeked conure who is a bit over three years old.
Background: I got him and another bird (a black-capped conure, also approximately three years old) from a man who no longer wanted them about two years ago. He had only had them a month or two. Before that, they had been at a regional pet store (which has a decent reputation with most animals), where they had been hatched. They've never been sexed officially. They are my first parrots. Previously I had a cockatiel for 16 years.
Problem: Until last May, the birds had been housed together in a cage. Last May, the green-cheek started plucking the feathers over the preen gland of the black-capped. Slightly after that, he started plucking his own feathers, primarily under his wings, around his legs, and on the shoulders of his wings. I separated them to two different cages thinking it may be an issue of aggression, but he kept on plucking.
When he first started plucking, it was almost like he was possessed. He also seemed to undergo a behavior change. While before he had a sort of cock-of-the-rock attitude, he's become more timid, while the other bird has become the dominant one. I've tried all types of things: avian lighting, mixing chamomile tea in with their water, spraying him with water mixed with aloe, more toys during the day, moving their caged around. It certainly has improved since then and now it's limited to nights (seems to happen in a cycle of two or three days--nothing for a night or two and then half a dozen or so of the feathers growing in) and, oddly enough, when he's out on my shoulder and he's preening himself. I would say it is moderate plucking: you wouldn't be able to tell just by looking at him that he plucks, but, when he lifts his wings, you can.
During the night, I can hear him squawking quietly when he knows I'm awake. I sleep in the same room with them, although, I recently moved--seemed to help the problem somewhat--he used to be difficult to get into his cage at night, but now he goes in willingly. I am able to sleep in a different room than them at my new place, but I didn't want to suddenly disappear on them in a new place.
To add to the mystery, when I took him and the black-capped home to my parents in IL over the summer for two months (July-August), he completely stopped plucking (and even had a big molt). I was able to spend more time with them and they were outside for several hours each day, so they were very spoiled. Once I came back to Ohio to start work again, he started it up again at his current level.
I cover their cages separately and completely with blankets each night from about 6:30PM-6:00AM. I've run an air purifier as a white noise machine for the past year or so. After I put them to bed, the house is typically pretty quiet, so no frightening noises. Humidity is typically around 65% in the house. They are flighted and out of their cages for 3-4 hours a day. I try to get them outside for an hour or two when the weather and my schedule allows. He takes a bath 2-3 times a week. They eat mostly Zupreem pellets with fruit and some millet daily. I've had him to two separate vets who said he looks like a very healthy, strong bird and it almost certainly something environmental or psychosomatic, which seems to be verified by his stopping it for a full two months.
I'm at a loss as to what to do. I think for some reason he may be frightened during the nights. Ideas I've been tossing around the idea of getting a humidifier, leaving the cage partially uncovered so it's not completely dark, leaving a side of each cage visible under the blankets so the birds can see one another, moving to a different room so he can't hear me during the night.
I'm wondering what those of you who are more experienced with parrots may think. Sorry for the somewhat lengthy email, but I know with parrots the smallest detail can be important. Please let me know if you think I've left some bit of information out. The issue is frustrating because it makes me feel like I am an good parrot owner and I sometimes get to the point that I just want to throw my hand up.
Thank you for any advice you all can give.
Andrew
