Harry's Dark Side * QMS

Allee

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I know at least a few of you have read Harry stories and laughed with me. Harry's a great source of laughter, it seems only fair to share.
This story is not a happy one, in fact it's hard to write.

Every day with Harry is a gift. I've been through a lot with her. We have a very strong bond. Said a different way, I love Harry so much it scares me. Harry has QMS, quaker mutilation syndrome.

Harry's plucking and mutilating escalates with every molt and with every rise in hormone levels. It's like watching a loved one go through remission. She gets healthy, her feathers glow, she's vibrant and happy. Then one morning I'll find a scattering of soft down feathers on the bottom of her cage, she always starts with her breast and her legs.

Quakers have a ring of scalloped feathers around their necks. It looks like a ruffled collar. Harry had no feathers left around her neck when I adopted her, but she grew a brand new collar after a few months. I think Harry's ruffles are prettier than the finest diamonds. She works hard to have them and keep them.

Harry has been plucking for a few weeks now. I've done everything possible. Well, obviously not everything, this time nothing has worked. I've moved her cage, rearranged her things inside her cage. I put an air purifier closer to her area. Her diet is 100% organic. She gets frequent baths. She's had a thorough exam recently. She's out of her cage most of the day, every day. I'm running out of ideas.

Today when I examined her, her legs were peeled all the way to her tummy. Beneath her wings there are dime sized bald spots. She has a nickel sized bare spot on her back between her wings, the flesh is raw and chewed. Her ruffled collar is completely gone.

Harry knows the drill. Her aloe mist is in a blue bottle that we keep refrigerated. It makes her feathers oily and hard to dry, but she needs it for her skin. She hates the stuff, so do I, but it's a necessary evil. Today she climbed to the bottom of her cage, held up her wings and closed her eyes. No argument at all. She stayed in her cage with her head down for a couple of hours.

Harry has lots and lots of toys, the problem is, they all look brand new. I don't think Harry had ever learned to play with toys before I adopted her. I searched through the toy box and found the only toy she has ever showed much interest in. Getwozzy/Shirre made the toy for Harry. The top is half a coconut shell with four long ropes attached, lots of chew toys on each rope. I hung it over her favorite perch.

She finally flew to my shoulder and we sat together for a long time. She snuggled under my chin and we had a serious talk. I played her favorite music and she bobbed her head, but didn't dance or sing. I read to her for a bit and she listened quietly. Quietly is not in Harry's nature, when I read, she usually helps loudly and enthusiastically.

After more than two years, Harry is still absolutely terrified of hands, even mine. She flew to her favorite unauthorized spot on the TV, this time she didn't poop on it, I would have been delighted if she had. That's one of her bad girl tricks she reserves it for special occasions. Not today.

I added her favorite pasta to her evening meal and put all her favorite veggies in her chop. I covered my hand with a small white towel, held it up to her and said two forbidden words that I never, ever say to Harry. It's part of our guardian agreement and both of us respect the rules of engagement. Step up, usually incites violence immediately, today she quietly stepped onto my hand and let me carry her to her cage and put her inside. Never happens, Harry goes inside her cage on her own power and usually slams the door. Today she ran to her coconut toy, hid underneath it, clamped her beak on one of the ropes and closed her eyes.

She played word games with me for a few minutes when I told her goodnight, it wasn't the loud game we normally play that usually involves the rest of the flock and often the dogs, but at least she tried. She's sleeping beneath her toy.

As weird as it sounds when I asked her to step up, I was really hoping she would chase me down and make me bleed. That's Harry, that's one of the many things I love about her, such an outrageous temper in such a small body. I know how to stop profuse bleeding in both humans and birds. I know way more about plucking than I ever wanted to learn. I hate seeing my Harry depressed, it's not her.

Tomorrow is another day, maybe we'll learn something new and helpful.

When I give advice to members about plucking, I hope I never sound like a know it all, believe me when I say I'm not. Harry has taught me all I know about plucking. She's still teaching me.
 

labell

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Oh my dear friend tears streamed down my face reading this. I know how much Harry means to you and your stories of her wild antics and unique Harry ways never cease to make us all laugh and make me wish so much that I could meet her and her mom in person. I wish there was some magic cure that would stop Harry from this behavior. I do want you to try the chamomile flowers like we talked about, so hopeful that it helps.
 

Terry57

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Allee, I have tears streaming down my face as I read this. Poor Harry...and poor you.
It is the most frustrating, devastating thing when we can't help these beautiful members of our family that we love so much. You are doing everything humanly possible for Sweet Harry, and I pray this passes soon. It broke my heart to read how unlike herself she is.

She is such a lucky girl to have you in her corner, and in her life.
I want to thank you so much for sharing this, it is so important to everyone who has a plucker/mutilator to know they are not alone.
 

Doublete

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You love her and she knows it.
I'm so sorry you are both going through this.
 
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Allee

Allee

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Thank you so much, Laura! I'm going to order the chamomile and several other items tomorrow. Thanks for the tip.

If only there was a magic cure.
 
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Allee

Allee

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Thank you, all of you, for the kind words and hope, it means so much.
 

RavensGryf

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Oh Allee I am so sorry. I know it is extremely rough emotionally, when you know you are doing everything that you can for your beloved baby, and still she has these episodes.

I don't know much about this, but is there something medically that can be done in the way of injections for hormones? Some sort of meds? I'm sure you've already discussed everything with your vet, but I'm just curious if there's something yet up their sleeve that they haven't tried yet. I so wish there was a magic cure for your Harry.
 
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Allee

Allee

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Thank you, Julie. That means a lot.

She's been tested for all possible underlying causes. The next step is an injection to lower her hormone levels. If this episode goes much further we will consider that. The injection itself makes me a little squeamish with such a small bird, but I'm willing if it comes to that.
I won't put a collar on her and I won't give her mood altering drugs. I can't do that to her.
 

Flboy

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I am so sorry! I so understand, I have human family that is doing the same and I already lost one! It hurts and that feeling of helplessness is crushing!
 

Scott

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Allee, I am so sorry you and Harry have these periodic interludes. While it must be heartbreaking for you and painful for her, it no doubt tightens the special bond you share.

I hope this episode quickly subsides, if not an injection may be the best compromise, and certainly better than psychotropic medications. Please keep us updated as able!
 
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Allee

Allee

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David, I'm very sorry for your loss and for what you are going through with human family members. Crushing is a good description, it's awful to feel so helpless. I hope your current situation gets better very soon.

Thank you, Scott. I hope we don't need the hormone injections but we'll see. Every time before, Harry has laid a clutch of eggs and her hormone levels drop back to normal.

You are so right about the special bond. I've had it happen with canines too. And a few humans.

People have trouble believing Harry is a bigger challenge to care for than a U2, but in a lot of ways, she is.
 
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Allee

Allee

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Would the injections need to be done every year (each hormonal period)? I'd seriously consider it. It will be okay :). I hated giving the chelation injections to Robin twice a day for a week when I'd never done it before. At least it would be the vet doing it! It's probably done with a tiny insulin syringe I would think.

We've discussed hormone injections with Harry's vet and agreed not to go that route until we have to. Her vet prefers to let the natural cycle run it's course if at all possible, but it is an option. It would be done as needed rather than twice yearly.
 

EAI

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I am so dearly sorry to hear about his situation, I'm rooting for Henry and I hope the natural cycle will help out. I can totally see why you'd be afraid of the needle and the other options.

Harry is truly blessed to come into your care, I bet if someone else adopted her they would have given up and not gone through so much efforts like you do.
 

Giggleagain

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I am so with you Allee, every step of the way. It seems my Clover is your Harry's twin. She is going through a hard time also. Whatever we gained during the first year together is being plucked out . She looks even worse than when I got her, and no matter what I do doesn't help. ....and then, there's Mr. Pea who takes that extra step and only the collar prevents him from killing himself. Hugs Allee, it's all I can offer you.
 

Anansi

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Allee, it pains me that you both have to go through this. I know how much you love her, my dear friend. And I know how very blessed she is to have you in her life. As bad as it is, I honestly believe she'd be far worse off had she not come under your loving care.

I'm really hoping Laura's idea about the chamomile works. I know it does have calming properties, so maybe that's what Harry needs.

Sending hugs and love to you both.
 

Christinenc2000

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Seeing a picture of a bird that plucks breaks my heart. I can't imagine how you deal with it every day. God has a special place for people like you. Then again maybe he has already put you in the place you need to be at this time.
 

SilverSage

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I'm so sad to read this story, it is heartbreaking. Thank you for being there for her, loving her for who she is, and giving her the care she deserves. I wish all birds had owners like you. And no, I have never thought you sounded like a know it all. We all learn the most about the things we have dealt with. When we ask questions here it is because we need help. God bless you for your devotion to His precious Harry.
 

JerseyWendy

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Oh Allee! You know if I could wave that magic wand and have Harry snap out of her depressed hormonal state, I would have done it weeks ago. :( It is so obvious how utterly this is pulling at your heart strings - and understandably so.

Giving you many gentle hugs! And some scritches for Harry, even though I'm afraid I'd lose my finger in an attempt to do so. :54: Or...I'd be rewarded with some 'niceties' from her beak.

MORE hugs!!!! :smile015:
 
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Allee

Allee

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Thank you for all the kind words and sweet messages, it means so much, and the hugs are very welcome too. I'll pass them along to my girl.

Harry will get to visit with her dad today and tomorrow, hopefully that will cheer her up, especially if he lets her pull his hair.
 

Kiwibird

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This is so sad to hear:( I know how much you love your birds, especially Harry. If nothing else, you KNOW it is not something you are doing wrong. You take such good care of her (and all your birds). Sounds like one of those 'things' that happens in some birds, and poor Harry got it. I hope the vet can do something to stop it, and I'm sure a good AV will be able to give her the hormone-lowering medicine without issues.
 

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