tail feather regrowth rate

deds

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Jun 13, 2010
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jakarta
Parrots
eclectus & great billed parrot
i have a great billed parrot with almost all tail feathers broken, keep him for around 4 months and didnt see any new tail feather growing.

how long does it takes them to regrow? i was told plucking the broken feathers will faster the growing process. but im kinda scare that will hurts the bird.

any idea?

thanks
 

suebee

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Jan 13, 2011
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hummm best to ask a vet, but if all tail feathers are broken, for you to pull them out would cause your bird alot of pain!

the feathers will molt and drop off and then new ones will re-place them, and depending on the damage and when your bird molts i'd say about a yr, so if is un sightly, just put up with it for now

how did your bird break its tail feathers??
 
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deds

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eclectus & great billed parrot
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the bird is wild caught so its probably damaged during transport.

well i waited for 4 months so i guess i can wait for another 8 months, hopefully faster.
 

Boo

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Feb 21, 2011
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Do you have a mineral block, a cuttlebone, and an iodine block for him? If he didn't break them himself, then a lack of certain vitamins/minerals could cause weak tail feathers. How long have you had him? It could also be that another bird broke them before you got him.

EDIT: Oh oops, late post!! If they were just broken during transport then I wouldn't worry about anything. I don't know if it's a gireat idea to take a bird out of the wild though.. was he injured or something?
 
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deds

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eclectus & great billed parrot
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i know its not a great idea of buying wild caught bird but in indonesia its very hard to find a breeder.

the tail feathers broken before i got him so it could be damaged during transport but i cant be certain...

keep him is 1.5"x1.5"x3.5" cage

feeding him varieties for fruits and vegies, ocassionally sunflower seeds. no mineral block or cuttlebone.
 

suebee

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Jan 13, 2011
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ok how is the bird settling in your home?? and reacting to you??

and they do look funny in a very pretty way with that great bill of theirs :)

well the diet in wild is mainly fruits, but you need to get it some hard wood toys to chew on to keep its beak in check, i would use wood perches with the bark on

but please be patience with your bird and how it looks for now, and with it being wild caught watch out for signs of parasites

i don't like to see a caged bird myself, but keepin my parrot locked in the house is the same thing, but your bird was use to having all the freedom outside and a family, but now you are his family, so be patience with him, and maybe at some point you can let him wonder about his new home and in time he might let you pet him, but take it very slow

but please come back with any other problems you come across, as i am not sure the advice of pulling off his tail feathers to promote growth, was the best advice!

http://avalonaviary.com/great-billed-parrots.aspx
 
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deds

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eclectus & great billed parrot
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it was quite skinny when i first got him that you can see his keel bone protuding after a bath, now it has fatten up :)

i have plastic chain, sisal rope and lots of wood to chew in his cage.

now he will step up most of the time when i put my hand in front him and let me touch him and of course handfeed him.
 

Ozzy

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Sep 28, 2010
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Orlando
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Ozzy- 5 year old Dna'd male Blue Front Amazon
You are very lucky! I have seen them in the wild and they are so beautiful :)
 

suebee

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Jan 13, 2011
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thata really good then, glad your bird is settling in :) and liking his new family
 

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