help w/ BF Amazon parrot

Esmarelda · Apr 10, 2014

my parrot, Lucy is her name is chewing on one ankle, the left one and pulling feathers out only on the one spot, I took her to the vet and he said it is an itch and he gave me some spray, that was several months ago and now she is at it again.... it's not really that bad, and she has drawn blood only one time.... I am worried about it, overall she is healthy, she has a good diet, good posture, eyes are clear, she plays, screams, and does all the things a healthy parrot would do... if anyone can offer any insight to this problem I would really appreciate it. she hasn't been on the leg the past couple of days.... but I can't figure out why she is doing this just to one foot/ leg..... so please anyone if you have an answer please let me know, thank you very much. oh and by the way I live in Germany the selection of avian vets is sparse... here in the area I live in.... but as I said this is not life threatening, but I am worried just the same.she is four yrs old, and has been doing this for about 4-5 months, maybe its puberty!

MomtoPercy · Apr 10, 2014

Hi and welcome to the forum.

What else did the vet say when you took Lucy the first time? 'An itch' sounds very vague. I would recommend you take her back to the vet if you can or at least try to get more of the spray he prescribed back then.

How is the skin where she's plucking? Is it red? Dry? Flaky? If she's not using the leg, I'd be very concerned about infection perhaps having set in. I've read that infection can spread to the actual bone which is very serious.

Good luck!

MonicaMc · Apr 10, 2014

Reading about your zon reminded me of another one who is currently mutilating one of her legs as well. You might want to read through the thread.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/39981-amazon-plucking.html

The following website also lists a variety of reasons why parrots might pluck themselves!

Avian behavior

Esmarelda · Apr 11, 2014

hi thanks for your insight, actually she has not bothered it in the past three days. and the skin is a little dry it is not red, it was before, and I put some zinc cream on and it cleared up. she is not rally mutilating the leg just picking on it, and the spray I got from the vet did not really work.... I went thru two bottles of it and no difference, but like I said, she is leaving it alone, and I thank god for that... honestly I think it is a behavior issue, like pay attention to me! ya know? and yes she is using her leg, I see nothing sick or unhealthy about her, I just keep praying for her, god hears,,,,

labell · Apr 11, 2014

Zinc cream is highly toxic to ingest! If your bird has picked at any of this cream you put on it she could be in real trouble.

Zinc poisoning can occur in dogs, cats, and birds secondary to ingesting metal pieces (e.g., nuts, bolts, hardware and other galvanized metals), certain topical ointments (e.g., diaper rash creams), or coins. While some coins can be safely ingested and passed out in the stool a few days later, some types of coins contain large amounts of zinc, resulting in zinc poisoning.

Esmarelda · Apr 11, 2014

hello, thanks for the links, it is so sad looking at those birds that have mutilated themselves,it breaks my heart, I can't look at it. I thank god that my Lucy is not that far gone not even close she was just picking at her ankle, but the past three days she has stopped. maybe it is an attention getting thing, like here I am! because she is a single parrot, and usually I always put something on her ankle, cream spray, and I wash it a lot, maybe she is tired of it and will now stop!!!!! God willing, thank you god bless

Esmarelda · Apr 11, 2014

Hi Iabell, it was zincoxide, and is a healing agent, I know for certain that Lucy has not ingested any of this cream, I am always home, I do not work, due to disability, and when I am out there is always someone here to Lucysit...besides at this point she knows to leave her leg alone, if she so much as gets near it I say no! and then she puts it down, thank you for your concern, she has not bothered it in thank god three days and I always watch her..... what would cause the ankle picking??? maybe as an attention getter... anyway she is not bothering it now!!! thank the good lord.

labell · Apr 11, 2014

Please don't put creams that are formulated for people on your bird and certainly not ones containing zinc.

That kind of cream has zinc in it hence the name zincoxide!

JerseyWendy · Apr 11, 2014

Esmarelda said:
Hi Iabell, it was zincoxide, and is a healing agent, I know for certain that Lucy has not ingested any of this cream, I am always home,......

Please, STOP USING zinc oxide cream on your baby.

It is most definitely VERY toxic. There is NO way you can watch her 100% of the time.

All you have to do is go to Google.com and then type in "zinc oxide parrots", and you will see exactly what we are talking about. It is NOT worth the risk.

help w/ BF Amazon parrot

Esmarelda

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MomtoPercy

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MonicaMc

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Esmarelda

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labell

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