Lighting-Can parrots get migraines ?

[HannahBean]

I have a lovebird that plucks chronically. We’ve checked off the list from everything from the avian vet, diet, enrichment, vitamin d ect...
I noticed that while in her flight cage outdoors in sunny days she hides her face in the ridges of her hammock I made for her (shes only gets it under supervision)-shes not in her hammock, just perching under it and placing her head in the folds with her eyes closed. I thought it was cute at first and assumed she was just taking a nap. But it began to become more regular.

I had a hunch that direct light was bothering her. I covered half of her long/wide indoor cage with a cotton table cloth and she seems to enjoy being able to get out of the light when she choses.

-does anyone have any experience/knowledge about parrots getting migraines or light sensitivity?

-Im also not concluding the reason is “ migraines” of some sort, it could possibly be a need for Seclusion /a place to hide when stressed.

 

[Birdbabe]

Bump!

 

[Hankmacaw]

I don't know about migraines, but parrots can and do get headaches. My vet said that if a bird shakes his head a lot that he may have a headache.

 

[Birdie Mama]

So what can we do if they did have a headache other than maybe dim the lighting....watching this as did not know they could have headaches, never thought about it..

 

[Hankmacaw]

Giving them an NSAID (such as Meloxicam or Celebrex) is the same as us taking an aspirin.

 

[webchirp]

Florescent lighting may flicker to her. Take a video in slow speed and see if it flickers from your lighting.

Does the flicker frequency of fluorescent lighting affect the welfare of captive European starlings? | Request PDF

Request PDF | Does the flicker frequency of fluorescent lighting affect the welfare of captive European starlings? | It is common practice for captive birds to be kept under fluorescent lighting, which typically flickers at either 100Hz (UK) or 120Hz (USA). Such... | Find, read and cite all the...

www.researchgate.net

"Although the illumination from such lighting usually appears constant to humans, as the lamp flicker rate, commonly 100-120 Hz, is greater than human CFF (i.e. 60 Hz; Brundett, 1974) the flickering of fluorescent lamps may be apparent to some birds, which, as a consequence may experience general stress and impaired welfare (Greenwood et al., 2004;Nuboer et al., 1992;Prescott et al., 2003). ... "

 

[Destiny]

Do you feed buckwheat sprouts or buckwheat greens?

The green parts of the buckwheat plant contain a toxin which can cause photosensitivity. Buckwheat seeds are safe.

 

[HannahBean]

Do you feed buckwheat sprouts or buckwheat greens?

The green parts of the buckwheat plant contain a toxin which can cause photosensitivity. Buckwheat seeds are safe.

yes I have given her buckwheat seeds before. That is so interesting! Ill be sure to avoid the actual plant as I have some growing in the backyard now.

 

[Shezbug]

Do you feed buckwheat sprouts or buckwheat greens?

The green parts of the buckwheat plant contain a toxin which can cause photosensitivity. Buckwheat seeds are safe.

Very interesting!