- Joined
- 5/4/19
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Lovie came to his rescue plucking 5 years ago. He was ill and had surgery. He is 100% now and has a clean bill of health. From what I have seen so far, he continues the behavior. He does it whenever, even done it sitting on my lap, but he does not seem to interrupt when he is playing or eating. I have been ignoring the behavior entirely. He probably does it more in his cage, he doesn’t play with his toys as much inside his cage. I think he plucks less when he’s outside. He is a screamer and doesn’t make any pleasant noises so I have just been rewarding quiet. I am thinking about buying a bell and reward the ringing. Or possibly teach him a word/noise that is rewarding. When he preens he seems to do it roughly. Occasionally making small noises that sound pained (especially when he does that head twirl by the preening gland)and focusing on one feather for a minute. I have heard him doing this during the night. I think his wing feathers are the worst. In the past few week or two he seems to be plucking more of his tummy feathers. I think the cause of this increase is spring hormones. I haven't seen that many extra feathers at the bottom, but I can see a larger bare spot. I am sorry I don’t have any pictures. I took some on a camera and don’t know how to transfer them so I will have to take new ones on my phone. And I wanted to go ahead and post this or I'd never get around to it.
His diet consists of chop and TOPS pellets. I try to keep the chop dry (though mine typically starts pretty wet), as they seem to prefer it that way. I warm it on the cold days. Gets sprouts, egg, or birdy bread sometimes. So far he really likes my chop, preferring it to his pellets. I try to make it appetizing, usually adding a new ingredient everyday. His usual weight is about 470-480 grams. He has a night cage/play cage ¾ s infront of a window in my bedroom. His day cage is outside on a porch. He has been home for about 4 months. In the winter I move his day cage inside to replace his sleep cage. I switch them back in the spring when it warms up.
I usually aim for 5 or 6 hours of out-of-cage time. Sometimes he gets less, but I try to make up for it the next day. He has been trying to mate with my hands and face, but otherwise he seems to have healthy behavior. Goes to bed with a cover at 8:30, uncovered at 7:50.
Things I am/have trying: showers as often as possible, lots of sunlight, tv when alone, foraging toys, drop of apple cider vinegar in water, aloe in water shower(1 part or less aloe to 3 parts water) , red palm oil in food, CBD oil
Things I want to try: herb salad, more reusable foraging toys (ones he can’t break), harness and other training, possibly a mop head, possible supplements or sprays (recommendations?), cotton scrunchie
I plan to buy a collar for emergencies or later use.
Not necessarily related, but in these 3 months he has broken two blood feather (and a third when I was fostering him). Caused by a fall.
I would really like to know more about the ins and outs of collaring a bird. When is it the best choice? And if their are any more options.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Any advice or articles you think could help Lovie, feel free to share. It is such a complex subject I don’t think I will ever stop learning.
His diet consists of chop and TOPS pellets. I try to keep the chop dry (though mine typically starts pretty wet), as they seem to prefer it that way. I warm it on the cold days. Gets sprouts, egg, or birdy bread sometimes. So far he really likes my chop, preferring it to his pellets. I try to make it appetizing, usually adding a new ingredient everyday. His usual weight is about 470-480 grams. He has a night cage/play cage ¾ s infront of a window in my bedroom. His day cage is outside on a porch. He has been home for about 4 months. In the winter I move his day cage inside to replace his sleep cage. I switch them back in the spring when it warms up.
I usually aim for 5 or 6 hours of out-of-cage time. Sometimes he gets less, but I try to make up for it the next day. He has been trying to mate with my hands and face, but otherwise he seems to have healthy behavior. Goes to bed with a cover at 8:30, uncovered at 7:50.
Things I am/have trying: showers as often as possible, lots of sunlight, tv when alone, foraging toys, drop of apple cider vinegar in water, aloe in water shower(1 part or less aloe to 3 parts water) , red palm oil in food, CBD oil
Things I want to try: herb salad, more reusable foraging toys (ones he can’t break), harness and other training, possibly a mop head, possible supplements or sprays (recommendations?), cotton scrunchie
I plan to buy a collar for emergencies or later use.
Not necessarily related, but in these 3 months he has broken two blood feather (and a third when I was fostering him). Caused by a fall.
I would really like to know more about the ins and outs of collaring a bird. When is it the best choice? And if their are any more options.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Any advice or articles you think could help Lovie, feel free to share. It is such a complex subject I don’t think I will ever stop learning.
