NWQuakers
New member
- Jan 6, 2013
- 149
- 0
- Parrots
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Lucky, Quaker, abt 18/male?
Previous birds: 2 Quakers, 2 budgies, Nanday conure, Indian ringneck, 2 tiels, Red Lory, 300+ finches.
I usually let my quakers' wings grow out a bit in winter, since the doors are mostly shut, and only one of them actually flies much anyway.
Lucky, the male (I assume) bird was a stray that flew into a friend's yard years ago, and we took him in as a companion to my older quaker (a female, who died a couple of years ago). They got along fine, but we re never inseperable.
A bit after Mark died, my vet called about an older quaker needing a home, so we brought Percy home. Lucky and Percy bonded, and Lucky is especially protective about Percy. Last year we had to take Percy to hav eher beak done at the vet, and left Lucky at home. Lucky was so upset he plucked really bad. He's always been slightly plucked, mostly his lower neck area, but every so often goes for broke and does his chest and upper legs. Then he quits except for the 'maintenance plucking' of his neck.
We started using a sleep cage and they really do well with that, esp since they get a nutriberry as a bedtime snack. ANyway...spring is springing and things have been a bit hectic at home dealing with some family issues and havign the flu, etc. but nothing that disrupted thir routine. But Saturday Lucky kept flying off the cage and yelling. Sometimes he did loops right back, but often i had to stop what i was doing and carry him back. We have dogs and cats, so I closed the cage for a bit, which usually redirects the flying urge. But nope. Let them out later and more flying. So i broke down and clipped his wings.
He calmed down after that, and even got more chatty. I thought everything was ok. Last night they got put to bed later since we got home from work late, and Lucky was acting like the bottom of the cage or the floor near the cage was spooky.
I had gotten the carrier out to take Percy to the vet today for another beak trim, and had planned to take them both in hopes that it would be better for Lucky to go with than be apart. But I don't think that's waht worried him.
This morning I uncovered the sleep cage and the tell tale waft of plucked feathers poofed out. His whole chest was plucked and the skin was red, so I know he did it soon before I got them up. He wasn't very interested in the usual treats, but ate some kibble and cuddled with Percy a little.
I decided to leave him at home, and now I'm worried what shape he will be in when I get home after work & picking Percy up at the vet. Percy is a big lug and nothing fazes her, so what ever is bugging Lucky isn't bugging her at all.
It just gets stressful and depressing that Lucky gets like this. I wonder if he has PTSD from his time being homeless...
Lucky, the male (I assume) bird was a stray that flew into a friend's yard years ago, and we took him in as a companion to my older quaker (a female, who died a couple of years ago). They got along fine, but we re never inseperable.
A bit after Mark died, my vet called about an older quaker needing a home, so we brought Percy home. Lucky and Percy bonded, and Lucky is especially protective about Percy. Last year we had to take Percy to hav eher beak done at the vet, and left Lucky at home. Lucky was so upset he plucked really bad. He's always been slightly plucked, mostly his lower neck area, but every so often goes for broke and does his chest and upper legs. Then he quits except for the 'maintenance plucking' of his neck.
We started using a sleep cage and they really do well with that, esp since they get a nutriberry as a bedtime snack. ANyway...spring is springing and things have been a bit hectic at home dealing with some family issues and havign the flu, etc. but nothing that disrupted thir routine. But Saturday Lucky kept flying off the cage and yelling. Sometimes he did loops right back, but often i had to stop what i was doing and carry him back. We have dogs and cats, so I closed the cage for a bit, which usually redirects the flying urge. But nope. Let them out later and more flying. So i broke down and clipped his wings.
He calmed down after that, and even got more chatty. I thought everything was ok. Last night they got put to bed later since we got home from work late, and Lucky was acting like the bottom of the cage or the floor near the cage was spooky.
I had gotten the carrier out to take Percy to the vet today for another beak trim, and had planned to take them both in hopes that it would be better for Lucky to go with than be apart. But I don't think that's waht worried him.
This morning I uncovered the sleep cage and the tell tale waft of plucked feathers poofed out. His whole chest was plucked and the skin was red, so I know he did it soon before I got them up. He wasn't very interested in the usual treats, but ate some kibble and cuddled with Percy a little.
I decided to leave him at home, and now I'm worried what shape he will be in when I get home after work & picking Percy up at the vet. Percy is a big lug and nothing fazes her, so what ever is bugging Lucky isn't bugging her at all.
It just gets stressful and depressing that Lucky gets like this. I wonder if he has PTSD from his time being homeless...
