Clipping wings

[Beingfahad]

Hello everyone
I’m new here. My African grey parrot keeps clipping his wings (attached). Do you think it’s normal or should I be worried?

 

[HeatherG]

I see some chewed feathers on his shoulders. No, that’s not normal. You could start off by giving him more baths or showers. Also is there something new in his life that he might be stressed about?

 

[Beingfahad]

I

I see some chewed feathers on his shoulders. No, that’s not normal. You could start off by giving him more baths or showers. Also is there something new in his life that he might be stressed about?

I do give his shower once a week. Should I give him more? And nothing new in his life, he’s a happy parrot and I spend a lot of time with him after work. My family takes care of him when I’m not home.

 

[SailBoat]

I fully agree with my good friend above in offing more showers each week.
He appears to be barbering, which is commonly a result of over attention to preening. Sometimes this is connected with boredom /lack of self-entertainment actives or skills.
The concern is this can become a locked behavior, so although he is happy, maybe making him a shoulder-watcher while you are busy doing things may help.
What is he doing when you are a work? What activities is he part with the other family members.
Grey's are very intelligent and can become bored fairly easy.

 

[Beingfahad]

I fully agree with my good friend above in offing more showers each week.
He appears to be barbering, which is commonly a result of over attention to preening. Sometimes this is connected with boredom /lack of self-entertainment actives or skills.
The concern is this can become a locked behavior, so although he is happy, maybe making him a shoulder-watcher while you are busy doing things may help.
What is he doing when you are a work? What activities is he part with the other family members.
Grey's are very intelligent and can become bored fairly easy.

When I’m at work he spends his time talking and teasing my family members by copying their voices. He has many toys and we provide him healthy food. His cage is always clean. When I arrive I take him to my room and we spend our time together. He also watches tv with me and I play his favorite shows and copy their music. I make sure he’s happy and not lonely. That’s why I worried about this behavior. I also spray him daily with Feather Fancy spray, and once a week with Scalex Mite & Lice spray.

 

[HeatherG]

He doesn’t need any special spray and if he’s barbering his wings, he may not like the residue it leaves on his feathers. It would be best to only spray him with water and not any treatment at all.

 

[Beingfahad]

He doesn’t need any special spray and if he’s barbering his wings, he may not like the residue it leaves on his feathers. It would be best to only spray him with water and not any treatment at all.

I spray him with Feather Fancy for years. But the Scalex Mite & Lice is new.. been using it for two months now

 

[HeatherG]

I think it would be better to only spray him with water. He may be chewing his feathers to get the coating off them.

 

[wrench13]

Treatment for mites and lice should only be done at the direction of a Certified Avian Vet. Its rare for a indoor bird like a parrot to acquire either unless he has been outside and in contact with the ground or tree branches. And I second the vote that water is the only needed spray for a healthy parrot. Really I would curtail both of those, especially the mite and lice one, for a few months and see if your Grey leaves his feathers alone. 'Boats is right, you don;t want this 'barbering' to become a nervous habit!

 

[Beingfahad]

Treatment for mites and lice should only be done at the direction of a Certified Avian Vet. Its rare for a indoor bird like a parrot to acquire either unless he has been outside and in contact with the ground or tree branches. And I second the vote that water is the only needed spray for a healthy parrot. Really I would curtail both of those, especially the mite and lice one, for a few months and see if your Grey leaves his feathers alone. 'Boats is right, you don;t want this 'barbering' to become a nervous habit!

I will take your advice and stop the mite and lice spray.

Thank you so much everyone for your helpful replies.