RadiantG
Moving in
- Joined
- 9/12/20
- Messages
- 8
Hi everyone!
We have a wee 16-year-old GCC chronic picker (about the last 3 years, but we've had her since she was just under 1yo) called Pippin, and I've reluctantly decided it might be time to try collaring her.
We worked out why she started picking a long time ago -- we'd rescued a kitten, and Pippin decided it was a load of fun to get down on the floor of her cage and do roly-polies and beep so the kitten would stand up to watch her (the cage bottom is at a height where the kitten could just see in if he reeeeeeeached up). Unfortunately, this kitten was especially inquisitive and impressionable, and by doing this Pippin taught said kitten that she was very entertaining, so he started poking his head up under the covers at night to try and see her. Obviously that was scary and not on her terms, and she quickly started picking. Once we realised this was what had been happening, we made a bigger effort to secure the bottom of her cage cover and put a little fence around the base of the cages, and the kitten was no longer able to reach her cage or look in under the cover. The picking slowed down, but over time she's ramped it back up again. At this point, she's basically picked her underwings, legs, and some of her tummy completely bare. We've ruled out what we could -- diet, toys, boredom, surroundings, sleep, vet, etc -- but it seems she got into the habit of picking and can't break it. So I've reached the 'try a collar?' point in my list.
Pippin's a little bit special, so I just want to make sure I don't get her further out of sorts by going about this the wrong way (she doesn't seem to be able to see too well out of her peripheries, so she's prone to startling, and she has a bit of a wonky foot -- though I doubt that'll cause problems with a collar).
Anyway, my actual questions for ya'll!
Is a collar left on all the time, or do you take it off? She seems to be doing the bulk of her picking at night.
Given her sight's questionable, do you think I should try and get a collar colour that's close to her body colour?
I'm guessing how long she ends up wearing this would be totally dependent on her ability to break the habit?
I'm also guessing there's a reason they're all made from fleece? Is it harder for our birdies to chew up and swallow or something?
And lastly, any tips for getting it on (and keeping it there) with hands intact, haha?
I'm also going to try giving her a proper forage box -- she has a lot of shred, but I saw some neat boxes in another thread with fun things inside that I think she'll love for Xmas! She freaking LOVES to preen and shred things.
We have a wee 16-year-old GCC chronic picker (about the last 3 years, but we've had her since she was just under 1yo) called Pippin, and I've reluctantly decided it might be time to try collaring her.
We worked out why she started picking a long time ago -- we'd rescued a kitten, and Pippin decided it was a load of fun to get down on the floor of her cage and do roly-polies and beep so the kitten would stand up to watch her (the cage bottom is at a height where the kitten could just see in if he reeeeeeeached up). Unfortunately, this kitten was especially inquisitive and impressionable, and by doing this Pippin taught said kitten that she was very entertaining, so he started poking his head up under the covers at night to try and see her. Obviously that was scary and not on her terms, and she quickly started picking. Once we realised this was what had been happening, we made a bigger effort to secure the bottom of her cage cover and put a little fence around the base of the cages, and the kitten was no longer able to reach her cage or look in under the cover. The picking slowed down, but over time she's ramped it back up again. At this point, she's basically picked her underwings, legs, and some of her tummy completely bare. We've ruled out what we could -- diet, toys, boredom, surroundings, sleep, vet, etc -- but it seems she got into the habit of picking and can't break it. So I've reached the 'try a collar?' point in my list.
Pippin's a little bit special, so I just want to make sure I don't get her further out of sorts by going about this the wrong way (she doesn't seem to be able to see too well out of her peripheries, so she's prone to startling, and she has a bit of a wonky foot -- though I doubt that'll cause problems with a collar).
Anyway, my actual questions for ya'll!
Is a collar left on all the time, or do you take it off? She seems to be doing the bulk of her picking at night.
Given her sight's questionable, do you think I should try and get a collar colour that's close to her body colour?
I'm guessing how long she ends up wearing this would be totally dependent on her ability to break the habit?
I'm also guessing there's a reason they're all made from fleece? Is it harder for our birdies to chew up and swallow or something?
And lastly, any tips for getting it on (and keeping it there) with hands intact, haha?
I'm also going to try giving her a proper forage box -- she has a lot of shred, but I saw some neat boxes in another thread with fun things inside that I think she'll love for Xmas! She freaking LOVES to preen and shred things.
@irenefrijns that one lovebird you're going to foster is in a collar, do you have any thoughts?
