under wing pluck. help

okinawasupra · Feb 14, 2013

i rescued a 9 year old blue and gold macaw.
ive had her for about 2 months and i also got her a new stainless steel cage with plenty of toys and she loves them.
since before i had her, the inside of her wings and inside of her legs are baldish from her pulling or pluking her feathers.
she lets her feathers under her wings grow about 1/4'' to 1/2'' and then when i check on them she plucks them and it breaks my heart. what can i do?
i had a vet check her before i adopted her and she was healthy.
but she was kept in a garage next to a radio before i adopted her. because she was being fostered because the owner passed away.
*why are those feathers under her wing blue and thick????
***please help.

goalerjones · Feb 15, 2013

Plucking can be due to several things. Diet, stress, changes, boredom, etc. Plucking if due to diet or skin irritation can stop when the issues are addressed. However, since she came to you in this state there is always the chance it will never stop.

There are sweaters that some people put on thier birds to cover the bald spots, but once the sweater comes off the plucking tends to start again.

Plucking in and of itself is a stimulus response. The bird encounters anxiety for instance and then plucks a feather. The pain releases endorphins and those endorphins in turn calm the bird. It works much like people who ritually cut themselves or get serial tattoos.

Bottom line is love your baby for who she is now, if things improve if you discover a food allergy or skin irritant or are able to destress her and the feathers grow back, great. If not...?

okinawasupra · Feb 15, 2013

do those feathers in her side look weird and thick. and there also blue????

LoveMyParrots · Feb 15, 2013

Have you thought about her diet? Diet is a big one when comes to plucking. Parrots that's on a poor diet, diet that is too high in something, diet that is too low in something, food allergy, etc, can all cause plucking. Do you feed her pellet or seed? What about fresh fruit and vegetables?

Do spray her with water? Dry and itchy skin can cause plucking. Parrot should have a shower at lease once a week.

You may also need to think about worming.

okinawasupra · Feb 15, 2013

i feed her both pellet and seeds and for treats nuts.
i also give her, and some veggies. i tried sprouting some beans and lentils but she does not like sprouts. or veggies too much.
it seems like her old ownes gave her alot of people food since she always yells when we sit down for dinner. and shes is like a dog when we eat. because she yells untill we give her tortillas or bread. or potatoes.

LoveMyParrots · Feb 16, 2013

okinawasupra said:
i feed her both pellet and seeds and for treats nuts.
i also give her, and some veggies. i tried sprouting some beans and lentils but she does not like sprouts. or veggies too much.
it seems like her old ownes gave her alot of people food since she always yells when we sit down for dinner. and shes is like a dog when we eat. because she yells untill we give her tortillas or bread. or potatoes.

Don't give food to her if she yell. If you do, you will be training her that if he yells, she'll get food. This is a lot like training a dog not to bark and beg food from your table.

Featheredsamurai · Feb 16, 2013

okinawasupra said:
do those feathers in her side look weird and thick. and there also blue????

Those are blood feathers. There is blood in the feathers as they develop, when he feather is mature the blood dried out leaving a clear feather shaft.

okinawasupra · Feb 18, 2013

thanks for the replies.... i wont feed her like that when she yells any more... thats a good idea... shes just sooo cute.

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