He is Going to Drive Me Up a Wall!

riddick07

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Dec 22, 2011
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Yesterday Folger was getting a little picky at his shoulder which is when he got his easter sock buddy put on him. When I cut it off before bed last night he was perfectly fine and leaving his shoulder alone. Then, I wake up this morning and find this....not the greatest pics but you can kind of see the damage...



He is going to drive me completely insane. The bird has more toys then he knows what to do with and food coming out of his you know what. Plus, he gets attention and has out time.... I never expected it to be solved in two months but it would be nice:p I know it has nothing to do with what I'm doing but a habit and his issues from his past but it is still frustrating.

Anyway needed to rant a bit about the brat:D Once I get a collar for him at the shelter I'll make him wear it to bed so he can't get to his chest at night/early morning.

Some pics from yesterday that didn't make it on the easter thread that my mother posted since they were on my phone:)





And a pic from today after I treated his shoulder and stuffed him in another sock buddy:54:
 

jenphilly

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We can sneak him back into the shelter., pretend he's always been there :)
 

RavensGryf

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I love those sock sweaters! Aww so funny in a very cute way :) The first pic with the sock almost looks like a turtleneck lol

Edit: I looked again... They all look like he's wearing a turtleneck. I JUST LOVE IT!! :D

I hope he'll get used to the feel of it. Maybe that's why he plucked his shoulders? I'd keep using them if he'll accept them cause they're adorable. Good luck :)
 
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Allee

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Awww! Poor little guy. It takes time for them to realize they no longer need to pluck. It took months for my quaker to stop the habitual plucking even though everything in her life had changed for the better. Folger looks precious in his sock buddies and so innocent. With the arrival of spring and hormone season, the top of that wall you mentioned may get pretty crowded.
 
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riddick07

riddick07

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He isn't plucking. We aren't sure all the feathers he plucked in the past will ever come back. He is getting some back right now but just not sure how many it will be in the end.

It's the mutilation I can't get him to stop with. You can see it kind of in the pics semi under the wing. I thought the mutilation was the easier one to get them to stop with! He only mutilates his skin enough to get the first layers off but not enough to really bleed. Just enough to look horrible and painful apparently...
 

jenphilly

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He actually hasn't plucked a feather since he's been home... his nervous habit is more like a kid that cuts, we're not sure he even realizes what he is doing. He plays with his toys, so its not an attention or boredom thing. I keep joking he needs a birdie psychiatrist, one that specializes in OCD type behavior. That is the best I can compare it to...

And he may look innocent, but its all a look... :) tho he hasn't been lunging at me much lately, been working on not paying attention to him when I walk past when he is out. Know the bugger loves to see me jump, so he doesn't seem nearly as interested if I don't react.
 

EnglishMuffin

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OH FOLGER! He looks like such a gentle chap tucked up in his fancy socks. Who would think he could be such a nightmare with such an 'a-men' face!! That last picture in the pink and purple vest is too funny. He just needs a pipe and a pocket watch on a chain and he'd look the part!
 

Kiwibird

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Poor Folger:( I wonder if he's picking because it's itchy or something? Don't know much about severe pluckers, but I could see exposed skin getting dry or maybe new feathers growing in being irritating or something. Maybe infuse those adorable socks with some aloe for the little guy:)
 

jenphilly

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His skin actually looks great from when he came home... he gets baths and sprayed with aloe juice. I swear he's just a little nut job :) We thought itchy skin too at first, but he doesn't do this regularly. And he does not wear the sock buddies all the time, she puts them on him when he's picked.
 

RavensGryf

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Oh good to hear! No, I sure wasn't implying he lacks anything to make him mutilate.:11: I know he is under the best care he can possibly be in now.

It's obvious I don't know too much about plucking and/or mutilation (besides the basics that we all hear). :)

You guys do such a great job with birdies! :D
 

strudel

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Has he got any freckles on him? My galah "bites" me and I figured out that she's trying to "eat" my freckles and moles, she's not just mauling me, she's picking at what she thinks are things to try to eat. She has real food, so does Folger, if that could be something to do with it, maybe try some kind of foraging display with "bits" on it that he could focus on instead of his own "bits"????? Focaccia with lots of seeds on top? Just an idea.

He's still a little cutie, despite his "issues". Maybe you could make him a jumper like bjork's swan dress for special occasions, then it'd look like he's got his feathers :D
 

jenphilly

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Has he got any freckles on him? My galah "bites" me and I figured out that she's trying to "eat" my freckles and moles, she's not just mauling me, she's picking at what she thinks are things to try to eat. She has real food, so does Folger, if that could be something to do with it, maybe try some kind of foraging display with "bits" on it that he could focus on instead of his own "bits"????? Focaccia with lots of seeds on top? Just an idea.

He's still a little cutie, despite his "issues". Maybe you could make him a jumper like bjork's swan dress for special occasions, then it'd look like he's got his feathers :D

Can't say I've noticed freckles on him... he's bite a few different spots. It seems to be an issue more when he's upset, like when Victoria was babysitting the rescue for a few days and I was taking care of him. He is just such a weirdo. The woman who makes the fleece collar type bite guards for the shelter is making him one. We hope that might help, just keep him from biting long enough that it breaks the habit. I keep thinking we need birdie xanax, or whatever meds are effective for nervous twitch type of OCD behaviors. But I do like the thought of trying something with lots of seeds, see if its a distraction for him at times when I know he'll be stressed. If it works, I guess I'll be making one huge batch!!!
 

jenphilly

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Oh good to hear! No, I sure wasn't implying he lacks anything to make him mutilate.:11: I know he is under the best care he can possibly be in now.

It's obvious I don't know too much about plucking and/or mutilation (besides the basics that we all hear). :)

You guys do such a great job with birdies! :D

I did not take it that way at all... he's such a puzzle, sometimes just seems no real reason why he bites. I understood when Victoria was taking care of the shelter, he was upset she was missing, but then other times she wakes up and he's chewed on himself. The part that seems so weird is that he does not pluck feathers or anything like that, its his skin and Victoria made a good point, he is not the type of bird who chews a huge hole, we've seen that at the shelter. I just keep going back to him being a little weirdo!! We appreciate your thoughts and suggestions, never know someone might throw out something that might help, like seeing if he'll go after bread with seeds. Try anything!!
 

strudel

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It seems to be an issue more when he's upset
mmm, as you say, a nervous habit, like nail biting.
I keep thinking we need birdie xanax
Is there nothing for birds to "break the cycle"? My dog has a few "issues". He was put on Endep (human antidepressants) and for him scratching at himself he has had steroids and antihistamines. Something will set him off (maybe a flea or mozzie bite (although I can never see a bite) or something in the garden that sets him off itching) and then he just fixates on it and keeps at it. The medications do stop him.
 

witchbaby

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Aww. He looks so handsome in his sweaters.
 

MikeyTN

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The frizz off that sock buddy is dangerous!!!! You should dispose of it and put on new ones! The strings off of it can cause strangulation and it can wrap around their toes to cut off circulation. His eyes looks like they need vet attention cause they look swollen. I don't find it funny to return him to shelter as I feel that IF I adopted one that have problem like that it would be my responsibility and under my care to care for them like they should be!!!!
 

Mishcka

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poor little guy ! that looks painful too. I sure hope in time he comes around, im sure with the love you guys are giving him he will. He couldn't find a better mom that I am sure of !!
 
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riddick07

riddick07

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Yes MikeyTN his sock buddies frizz. Strangely enough that happens when he picks at them nonstop. If I changed the things every two seconds because of random strings he would chew his wing off out of frustration and stress. He hates me toweling him to get them off and on. He doesn't wear them unless he is out with me and I cut them off when I can't watch him or before bed time. Which coincidentally is why he can get to his skin to scrap off sections at night. The collar was picked up today and will be put on him at night or when I'm not around to watch him.

Bare Eyed toos always look like they got punched in the face.... its just how they look and why many think they are butt ugly creatures. If you are talking about the picture with him half closing his eye...yeah not swollen he is scratching his head and closing his eyes part way because it feels good...

He is not being returned to the shelter. If I wanted to give him a death sentence sure that would sound like a grand plan. If you are talking about my mothers comment she was joking. And while I love her dearly she doesn't really get a say in if I keep my animals or not even if she was being serious. We have a morbid sense of humor here so I don't find a problem with what she said.
 

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