Chewing Tailfeathers

[lisazartsi]

Hi there!

My four-month-old green cheek is beginning to molt some of her baby feathers due to her transition to adolescence and the change in the weather here in Ontario. She's been to the vet for a checkup and has been determined to be very healthy, but she tends to chew a bit at her tailfeathers. I've been giving her little bits of virgin coconut oil throughout the week (also putting it on her feet to help with dry skin), and she has a mineral block, loves eating her Zupreem pellets and her fresh veggies, etc. so I know it's not a nutrition issue. She isn't chewing due to boredom - I believe she may either be chewing because of dry skin or irritation with the pin feathers coming through. I'm wondering if there's a way that I can stop her from doing this?

* Note, before adopting her, another bird pulled out her tailfeathers during an aggressive playing incident. She was also trimmed before we got her, so lots of feather-growth happening right now :/

Thank you

 

[Laurasea]

I posted in a different post that have concern with low calories in zooprem.

Growing feathers takes a lot of calories and protein. I would suggest adding seeds to the diet, maybe some boiled ir scrambled egg. A little yogurt with no artificial sweetners. Maybe a first joint of the thumb size pice of boiled chicken no skin.

Over all the feather quality looks a little poor.

 

[lisazartsi]

I posted in a different post that have concern with low calories in zooprem.

Growing feathers takes a lot of calories and protein. I would suggest adding seeds to the diet, maybe some boiled ir scrambled egg. A little yogurt with no artificial sweetners. Maybe a first joint of the thumb size pice of boiled chicken no skin.

Over all the feather quality looks a little poor.

I agree, her feathers aren't looking great... The new feathers she has coming in under her wings are looking much healthier, but her current set looks quite rough. Thank you so much for your suggestion - I'll definitely add more protein to her diet.

 

[Laurasea]

add the yogurt too, it has a little vitamin D. I would suggest taking your baby outside fir a little sunshine. But I imagine it's cold up north lol

 

[lisazartsi]

add the yogurt too, it has a little vitamin D. I would suggest taking your baby outside fir a little sunshine. But I imagine it's cold up north lol

Unfortunately you're right - it's getting quite cold out there We've had some nice weather recently, so I've taken her out for some time each afternoon lately, but we're headed into winter, so I'm concerned she may become deficient in vitamin d.

 

[Laurasea]

I like oven fresh bites by all living things. You could offer them in addition to the zooprem. All my parrots likes them. Zooprem should have the needed vitamin D tho

 

[noodles123]

Make sure she has no huts/dark or even remotely/partially shaded spaces (I mean, no shadows). Boxes, huts, under furniture etc can lead to this behavior via increased anxiety and hormones.

Also, pet on the head and neck only (or you can trigger sex hormones)

and make sure she gets 10-12 hours of sleep on a very set schedule each night (lack of sleep messes with hormones, immunity and mood).

**if ** you take your bird outside, do not assume that a clipped bird will not fly away. A bird that glides down in the house can easily fly off with enough space, and the right wind. It happens.

A temperature shift of more than 10 degrees at once can harm your bird unless the adjustment is gradual, or unless the temperature is relatively mild and very brief (e.g., 60s). Much lower, and they need time to acclimate or they can go into a sort of shock (not saying they all do, but it can happen if the shift is too abrupt and they are used to warmer temps).

Birds can be okay indoors during the winter. Lights are semi-controversial, but I am saying that there are birds w/o lights that have been fine for years indoors. I am not saying this is right or wrong, but there is a lot of controversy around this issue.