Cosmo has been cranky

EdgesofTwilight · Jun 3, 2015

Over the past few days Cosmo has not been himself. He's been a little nippy and hasn't been his normal vocal self in the morning. My friend came over the other day and Cosmo wouldn't let him pet him. I then noticed he had a lot of pin feathers coming out. I lost count after 40. Mostly on top of his head and back of his neck and a few on his cheeks (especially right below his eye). I just spent over 30 minutes helping him get the coating of most of the new feathers and he seemed happier. Probably because it's hard for him to get to those spots. I'm guessing that's probably why he has been grumpy?

I was amazed at how much birdie dandruff I had on me. Lol

Birdman666 · Jun 3, 2015

Hard molt.

Yes they do get grumpy. Those pin feathers are uncomfortable. They're itchy and they hurt sometimes, and they get defensive about it. Please don't touch me...

Increased bathing helps. After he dries off, then sit down and try and open them for him.

Dopey · Jun 3, 2015

Poor little guy. You are lucky he let you work on him. My birdies like it for a few minutes and then they are done...long before I want to be done.

EdgesofTwilight · Jun 3, 2015

Birdman666 said:
Hard molt.

Yes they do get grumpy. Those pin feathers are uncomfortable. They're itchy and they hurt sometimes, and they get defensive about it. Please don't touch me...

Increased bathing helps. After he dries off, then sit down and try and open them for him.

He was dipping his head in the water dish and running around the playstand like a mad bird. So after he settled down he came to the edge wanting me to pick him up. So I held him and opened up most of the feathers.

Birdman666 · Jun 3, 2015

I have two that absolutely love it, and will sit there with their heads upside down and their feathers fluffed for as long as I care to continue it. (Maggie & Sally)

I have one that tolerates it for a limited amount of time, but then wants to roll around and play. (Sweepea)

And I have two that just push my fingers away. "Don't even think about it." (That would be Tusk and Lila)

I just respect their choices and give them space (or deal with clingy bird "preen me" nonsense.)

EdgesofTwilight · Jun 3, 2015

Yeah, I think Cosmo would fall into the clingy bird "preen me" category lol

GreatBlue320 · Jun 3, 2015

Poor Cosmo. I'm glad he let you preen him

Flboy · Jun 3, 2015

My JoJo hates help with pin feathers, wifey's Bongo will sit for hours an let her crack them open!

EdgesofTwilight · Jun 4, 2015

He's still a little cranky, but better. I opened up most of them. You open just the tip of them, right? There were a few that were dark blueish/gray colored and I left those alone figuring they were blood feathers and probably would hurt.

Cosmo has been cranky

EdgesofTwilight

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A big scare and a warning.

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