Great progress with plucked scarlet

I have great progress to show with my 23 year old scarlet male, (Des)Tino. I received him severely plucked and he had been plucking for 10 years. I got full vet check ups on him with full organ profile and he was tested for every parrot illness, the vet was able to test for. All test came back fine.

This is what he looked like:


I then started to help Tino the best I could. I started with giving him a cloth(nylon) collar, where he could pluck if he really wanted, but it would be difficult. I also covered his bare skin with a soft "sweater" to keep him from shivering.

Tino in collar and sweater


I also tried to give him as much exercise as possible and took him for walks. His body was very crooked and he got massages from a professor in animal anatomy from my countrys veterinary school.

After some time he started to destroy my slippers and behave like a real macaw :smile015:

After about 2 months with the large collar, I gave him a smaller collar, that basically did nothing other than be there for him to bite, whenever he became frustrated or angry (where he before would bite at his own bare flesh :smile040: )

I started to see small pin feathers appear around his body, but did not dare to take off his sweater. A month ago there were so many feathers on his body I finally took his sweater off and this is what he looks like today


He still has his small collar on and I don't know if I will ever take it off as he still has the habit of biting it, when he's angry or frustrated for some reason. At any rate I have come further with Tino, than I could ever have hoped for and I hope this is not the end of his progress.

Thank you so much for this, it made my day!


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Wow! He looks amazing! Excellent progress!

That is FANTASTIC!

How wonderful! You are an amazing human.


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He is looking so much better! I thought they couldn't grow the feathers back after that long of plucking. Amazing!

Kiwibird said:

He is looking so much better! I thought they couldn't grow the feathers back after that long of plucking. Amazing!

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Some of the feathers he "just" ate and didn't pluck from the follicle.

I don't think his feathers on his back will ever grow back. Some feather follicles may be forever damaged. There are bare patches here and there on his stomach as well.

Some have told me that in a circle of 7 years a bodys cells are all new and that should make even dead follicles come to life again. Only time will tell if that is the case.

Fantastic progress, Tino is so fortunate to have you as an extraordinary companion!!

Well done, fantastic news, you are an inspiration!

Just amazing!!

Tino is indeed a lucky Mac, because Im sure that i addition to helping him re-fledge you working on WHY he is so angry or frustrated, the real seat of his problem. Really outstanding work and a inspiration for others.

wrench13 said:

Tino is indeed a lucky Mac, because Im sure that i addition to helping him re-fledge you working on WHY he is so angry or frustrated, the real seat of his problem. Really outstanding work and a inspiration for others.

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He's much better now, but the biting seems almost like an involentary act.

Most of the time he's ok, but every now and then he gets frustrated. It could be me making dinner and him sneaking up on me, when I then take a step back close to him, he gets scared I might step on him and he will then bite his collar. It could also be if I am petting another bird and he can't get to me or if some of the other birds comes to close for comfort.

I don't really know what else I can do. He's never caged, I hide treats all over the house for him to forage, I have other birds, but he doesn't seem to care for them (other than Trudi, the female scarlet), I take him for regular "flights" (he has an old injury in his left wing, which means he wil never fly again- but he gets to "fly" in a harness, where he glides through the wind and he flaps his wings), he gets lots of love and cuddles, he get to go on walks and drives to the pet store.

SilleIN said:

wrench13 said:

Tino is indeed a lucky Mac, because Im sure that i addition to helping him re-fledge you working on WHY he is so angry or frustrated, the real seat of his problem. Really outstanding work and a inspiration for others.

Click to expand...

He's much better now, but the biting seems almost like an involentary act.



Most of the time he's ok, but every now and then he gets frustrated. It could be me making dinner and him sneaking up on me, when I then take a step back close to him, he gets scared I might step on him and he will then bite his collar. It could also be if I am petting another bird and he can't get to me or if some of the other birds comes to close for comfort.



I don't really know what else I can do. He's never caged, I hide treats all over the house for him to forage, I have other birds, but he doesn't seem to care for them (other than Trudi, the female scarlet), I take him for regular "flights" (he has an old injury in his left wing, which means he wil never fly again- but he gets to "fly" in a harness, where he glides through the wind and he flaps his wings), he gets lots of love and cuddles, he get to go on walks and drives to the pet store.

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What you’ve described is bird paradise! To have that much freedom, quality time and love from you is all any bird could want! ❤️

Bless you for adopting him, he might have his quirks but that’s what will make his progress so much more worth it!!

My GW I just rescued 4 weeks ago still won’t let us touch him sometimes, but he’s come a long way! He used to lunge constantly and now it’s gotten so much better!

Adopting comes with its challenges but it’s just so rewarding to give a bird a better life and see those milestones ❤️


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Our rescue birds~

23 yr old Katie - Catalina Macaw
34 yr old Max- GW Macaw
1 yr old Nibbles- GC Conure
ADOPT DON’T SHOP [emoji172]

Tino and I have a very special bond. He had been living at 2 different aviaries as a breeder bird. Was not tame, when I got him, but Tino stepped up on my arm and climbed onto my shoulder and did not want to budge.

Tino is the only animal allowed to sleep in my bed with me. Here is a snap of Tino under the covers.

Or here where he sleeps on the covers


He needs daily long cuddles and he will let you know if I have not paid him enough attention. Here he gets his evening kisses

Tino really loves you, SilleIN! He looks so happy and satisfied!

Cthebird said:

Tino really loves you, SilleIN! He looks so happy and satisfied!

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And it is reciprocated 100 times over :smile015:

(My name is Sille, IN are my initials (and it is not pronounced Silly ) )