newbie with bald nanday conure

This past weekend I was browsing craigslist and found a nanday conure that was obviously in bad shape and sad looking, so much so that I felt compelled to adopt/buy/rescue whatever to get him out of the situation he was in. He is so plucked that his full chest is completely bald. I am no bird expert but I remembered a macaw my great-grandmother had and I HIGHLY suspected this was due in a large part to neglect. (The macaw thrived with my great-grandmother but had problems after she died, and my grandparents ended up having to rehome him)

When my wife and I went to see him, he was being kept in a cage that seemed too small in my opinion, and in a room that looked like it was in a stage of partial reconstruction with plastic draped in the doorway, and the walls in the process of being painted. The original owner also had several other small cages filled with other kinds of birds, making me think he intends to be a breeder. When the original owner tried to get him out of the cage he even used a pair of jeans to cover his hand and actually grabbed the bird. The whole time I am trying to look unphased and calm while thinking to myself ‘holy f*ck, dude’.

We got him home and all setup; nice big cage, good food, toys, etc. He imminently bonded with me and has preferred to be on my shoulder since he got home. He is very hand tame and affectionate. In the 1st 48 hours he learned to go up and down from my hand on verbal que, even trying to imitate some noises from me, including a cough I have.

I realize I am a newbie, I realize it may have been impulsive for me to rush out and get him, I am happy with my choice to do so, and he seems happy that I did. I have to admit I am shocked at how well things seem to be going because I really expected a complete disaster. He is so friendly I want to learn all I can to help my new little buddy.

He hasn’t tried to pick or pluck at all since he has been home, although it may still be too early to know for sure. I do plan to take him to an avian vet, but I am curious if his behavior is as positive as I think it is?

Any idea how long it will take for his feathers to regrow? He is bald across his chest, part of his back near his wings, and some of his wing feathers.

Is there any way to estimate his age?

Hello and welcome to the forum!
I'm so glad you brought your new buddy home with you and away from the situation he was in. It's awesome that he is so tame, and already bonding to you.
As far as his feathers go, I would recommend taking him in to an Avian Vet to have him checked out to make sure it is not something physical causing the plucking.

He may regrow some or all of his feathers, it depends on whether the follicles have been damaged. He also may continue to pluck sometimes, once they start it can be a hard habit to break.
I wish you the best for him, sounds like he is in good hands now. I'd love to see a picture!

Terry57 said:

Hello and welcome to the forum!
I'm so glad you brought your new buddy home with you and away from the situation he was in. It's awesome that he is so tame, and already bonding to you.
As far as his feathers go, I would recommend taking him in to an Avian Vet to have him checked out to make sure it is not something physical causing the plucking.

He may regrow some or all of his feathers, it depends on whether the follicles have been damaged. He also may continue to pluck sometimes, once they start it can be a hard habit to break.
I wish you the best for him, sounds like he is in good hands now. I'd love to see a picture!

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windows screen capture

Awww, he is precious! Have you named him yet or was he already named?

Oh, how precious!!!!
A thousand blessing on you!!!!!
I love this story, and will follow it as long as you are kind enough to keep us posted.
Big Patagonian hugs to the three of you!!!!!

Terry57 said:

Awww, he is precious! Have you named him yet or was he already named?

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Ibon, its Bisaya for bird, maybe silly but hay it works.

I got so excited I forgot to answer your question... YES, I am profoundly optimistic about this little bird's potential. His progress so far is amazing!

I wouldn't be surprised to see him grow a bunch of new feathers successfully.

Congratulations!

P.S. I'd like to get ahold of that former owner and take that pair of jeans and
hogtie him with 'em!

GaleriaGila said:

I got so excited I forgot to answer your question... YES, I am profoundly optimistic about this little bird's potential. His progress so far is amazing!

I wouldn't be surprised to see him grow a bunch of new feathers successfully.

Congratulations!

P.S. I'd like to get ahold of that former owner and take that pair of jeans and
hogtie him with 'em!

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Ya, I have the same feeling. When he did that I was thinking that I have no idea what I am doing, but that just can’t be right in any way, shape, or form. I had to bite my tongue to not use some special words.

I texted the guy earlier to ask if he knew his age. He responded “No, check the ring should be there”. I didn’t see what looks like a date on the ring. Maybe I am missing something.

He also said “put as much you can toys in the cage so he can be bissy with them so he don't pick his Feathers”

Everything I have read said not to overdo the toys, he has 3 in now. I think he needs real interaction more than toys is my guess. I really think I will pass on advice from a guy who clearly couldn’t even get him out of the cage without a fuss and resorted to what honestly felt like violence.

Hes Gorgeous so glad you got him ...hopefully the feathers will regrow and that he wont pluck them but even if he does pluck out of habitual addiction to plucking them he is happy with you and thats really all that matters. Im so glad you had that impulse Enjoy your new Buddy

No way to estimate age, but as far as his feathers go... they may never grow back. As mentioned, it depends on how damaged the feather follicles are. My first conure had a bare stomach and a bald patch on the back of his head. Part of it at least was from a ferret attack in a previous home. The feathers never did regrow...


And plucked feathers isn't always an indication of neglect. I've seen birds in huge cages *full* of toys, eating a great diet and even have a bird lamp, and the birds still pluck! These aren't rehomed birds, either, but birds that were bought at a young age and only had one home.



I don't feel as if 3 toys is enough. Ideally, they should have 6 or more toys, and more to swap out!

What a lovely looking little bird. He sounds friendly too (which is a very good thing!). I wouldn't be surprised with plucking that extensive if he never fully re-feathers and only gets them back at random or in patches. That's ok though, he is still positively adorable naked

Just a FYI- the ones we feel "compelled" to bring home often work out the best. There's something to be said for a gut feeling about some things, and an animal who just "speaks" to us is on of those things to trust our guts on. I bet Ibon will quickly become a friend and family memeber

MonicaMc said:

I don't feel as if 3 toys is enough. Ideally, they should have 6 or more toys, and more to swap out!

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i bought more than 3 toys, but am only keeping 3 in his cage. sorry if i made it sound like a total toy limit.

Although so far he has not shown any interest in toys but seems to want out with me more than anything.

I have noticed our first problem.

While he is very playful and loving with me, he keeps nipping at my wife. its really starting to p*ss her off, she thinks he don't like her. I keep trying to reassure her that he just needs time.

She took care of him today while I was at the office, they did fine, but he did scream rather often. When I got home and he saw me he started screaming, once i took him he was as quiet as a church mouse other than some playful chattering.

What can I do to help my wife and him make friends?

I figured you had more than 3 toys. I just don't think that 3 toys is sufficient for a caged bird.

You can try getting him more interested in toys by hanging food and treats in, on and around the toys. Also, any time he touches a toy, even if it's by accident, make a big deal about it! Like it's the most amazing thing ever! He'll be confused at first, but keep it up, and sooner or later, he'll figure it out!



It may come to a point that he has separate relationships with you and your wife. Having her interact with him when you aren't around, feeding him treats, doing things with him that he likes will help....

And if possible, socialize him with other people.

My bird HATES my husband... and the feeling is mutual. The bird is very pair-bonded to me and suspects something is going on between me and my hubby (though he can't prove it! lol). I've tried since the Rickeybird reached sexual maturity, almost 30 years ago, to help build a relationship between those two. No dice.

I hope you have better luck since your wife is so caring and motivated. Those are all good suggestions above though. Good luck!

No matter what --- you two are my heroes for the rescue!

GaleriaGila said:

My bird HATES my husband... and the feeling is mutual. The bird is very pair-bonded to me and suspects something is going on between me and my hubby (though he can't prove it! lol). I've tried since the Rickeybird reached sexual maturity, almost 30 years ago, to help build a relationship between those two. No dice.

I hope you have better luck since your wife is so caring and motivated. Those are all good suggestions above though. Good luck!

No matter what --- you two are my heroes for the rescue!

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He seems mostly ok with her while I am at the office. Screams often, but bites far less. She is able to handle him fine until I get home, then he acts like he wants nothing to do with her. It hurt her feelings and she felt rejected by him, i told her to just give him time. I love my wife dearly and don't want her to feel hurt.

Next week I will be working from home and going back to a 50% telecommute schedule, I hope that wont work against the two of them getting more socialized to each other.

He is making progress like I couldn't have imagined. I was listening to some music on Youtube and he was dancing to it. He has also picked up some new phrases and noises from me. I can even que him to say them. Do these birds usually learn this fast? My dad had some sort of bird for a while and it never seemed to learn anything. I am so shocked by his progress and eager to get home and see what new he will learn each day. I have to admit, to me this is like the coolest thing ever.

I've about given up stereotyping birds or breeds or species... they're so individual!

I think it's clear that your little guy is a PHENOM. And after all he's been through...

Imagine all that love and funniness and energy and beauty all cooped up in that lonely cage, just waiting and waiting. Then he hit the Jackpot. And so did you.

And if he stays shirtless, well, he looks as good that way as Brad Pitt.

Grefyne I think it is wonderful at you felt the need to rescue this little guy from such a terrible man. Obviously your new little friend thinks so too,just by the way he has been interacting with you. For a newbie your a doing everything right!

As far as him being bald in his chest area. I had adopted a goffin cockatoo that was pretty much in the same shape due to him being stressed at his previous home,and within a month or two of him being with me,a proper diet and a lot of attention,all of his feathers grew back. Like someone mentioned,it'll depend on any damage to the follicles.

Great job! keep it up and keep us posted.

Jim

From the sounds of it, he was very much loved at some point in his life and he remembers that kindness. Whether or not that was his previous home, who knows. Some people may greatly *love* their birds, but otherwise ignorantly neglect their birds in other ways.