This can't be normal???? Please help!

Abzeez · May 27, 2011

So I woke up this morning, uncovered Ida's cage and on the floor were 6 of her tail feathers. They didn't appear to be chewed on, or broken. I would think she is to young to molt, and I have never seen a parrot molt that many feathers at a time. Do you think she is plucking???

I just had her to the avian vet on Wednesday, they said everything checked out as normal. She seems fine in all other ways. She is eating, and drinking. She doesn't seem stressed to me. She plays. The only thing I can think of, is I heard her early this morning fall off one of her perches and it took her a min before I heard her climb back up the side of the cage.

EH!

merlinsmom13 · May 27, 2011

Poor Ida. I read about another young grey that had started plucking. Her owner took her to 3 vets, tried every test, topical treatment. She finally discovered that she had moved her cage & she didnt like where she moved it. Hope its that simple. Im sure she needs time to adjust. Merlin was very clumsy as a baby w/clipped wings, but his feathers always looked broken when he had boo boos.

Abzeez · May 27, 2011

I hope this is just part of her adjusting. I really, really do. I can't think of anything that goes on in my house that would be stressful. When I put her to bed last night she called to me a few times, maybe being put back in her cage for the night, and being away from everyone stressed her enough to pluck? Eh! I don't know.

andrea.faerie · May 27, 2011

perhaps she doesn't like being covered at night?

MikeyTN · May 27, 2011

There's a possibility she may have knock some feathers out. It tend to happen with young birds. I wouldn't worry too much unless you see feather loss to the extreme.

Abzeez · May 27, 2011

Maybe not, but she has been covered since I brought her home on Friday, and last night was the first night she did this. I will leave her uncovered tonight.

Abzeez · May 27, 2011

Ok update...(sorry I am just super paranoid about this) She has been playing on her playgym, and eating normal. I have noticed her preening normally. So hopefully she just had a boo boo, and knocked some feathers out in the wee hours of the morning. She really doesn't seem stressed to me at all. I vacuumed about an hour ago and she started whistling and became more vocal. The maintenance man drove by with the lawn mower. She just watched. Didn't even bat an eye. So maybe I am just over thinking.

suebee · May 27, 2011

dont panic like what mikey says, an look for signs of chewed feathers, thats what nut did, she chewed till she had to pluck

and yes she has lost loads of fluffy feathers an flight feathers in this molt she is goin through

keep going about your daily routines, around her so she get use to everything you do

Ratzy · May 27, 2011

Probably a night fright.

Abzeez · May 27, 2011

This is not night fright.

MikeyTN · May 27, 2011

JeremyG said:
Ratzy said:

Probably a night fright.

Click to expand...

Where exactly is any evidence of night fright? There's no reported damage to any other feathers and the feathers are not broken. There's no report of screaming or other noise.

Night fright is a very serious concern and there is no reason at all to jump to this incorrect conclusion. If you are going to level such a serious concern, at least give some reasons and dont just drive-by post...

Night frights do happen! I don't know what you mean by it can be a serious concern? A animal or a shadow go by, flashing lights, etc can spook them when a bird is asleep.

Young birds are known to be a bit clumsy and have a tendency to fall and either break or tear out feathers. One of the main reason why I remove grates from the bottom of the cage and have their perches a bit lower closer to the bottom. That's what I used to do when I used to breed.

Ratzy · May 27, 2011

Sorry, didn't have time to go into detail.

I've had my cockatiel lose 4 tail feathers ( no other feather damage ) from a night fright. They get spooked easily, especially when the cage is covered.
It's not too serious in that way and the feathers grow back.

It sounds like she/he just freaked out one night, no flight feathers are missing and the bird is acting fine.
Of course, still keep an eye on it, but it just seems to me that that may have been the case.
Even a small noise will freak them out in the dark sometimes.

This can't be normal???? Please help!

Abzeez

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Wing clippings

Off to the vet

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