Hello!

[Marc.cheshire]

Hi!

Im Marc, I live in cardiff and I have a 16 year old (had him about 12 years) african grey (congo) called pepper.

Ive joined up to learn about these birds behaviour and specifically the problems they have with feather plucking.

For the past couple of years he has been plucking the feathers around his neck/chest area. Ive tried tonics, oyster shell and various calcium supplements, none of which seem to work particularly well. He seems 5o be happy enough, can be a bit nippy at times, but most the time likes having scratches from us and never has a problem with coming onto our hand etc

He sleeps upstairs with us in his cage and when were back from work stays in the living room on his playstand, we try to give him as much out time as possible.

I feel like his main problem is the lack of attention in the day, im considering another parrot to keep him company....

Any help would be appreciated!!!

 

[MikeyTN]

Welcome to the forum! What diet do you guys have him on??? Chew toys? Recent vet visit?

 

[Marc.cheshire]

He is fed mainly on nutribird p15 tropical, occasionally mixed fruit and nut parrot food as a treat. Also whatever he can nick off my dinner plate...

Plenty of chew toys, have just started giving him willow sticks which he seems to like destroying.

He has never seen a vet. He's only once been in a car and that was when I moved out, he didn't enjoy the trip to say the least...

 

[MikeyTN]

Try giving him more fruits and veggies as his daily food source! Not saying eating people food is not good for them, but keep it at a minimum, like an occasional treat! I'm not familiar with nutribird and I'm not sure what's available in your area if you were to change a different pellet brand. Where are you from???

Maybe it's time for a vet visit! Willie, my macaw does not like going for car ride cause he knows where he's going which is to the vet. When I took him by myself the second time he freaked out and almost caused me to wreck my car. He will not go in a carrier so I have to hold him on my arm. I've always had my partner drive us there while I sit with him in the back seat, but the first time I brought him on my own he did pretty good and I thought oh good I can do this myself, how wrong was I when I almost ran over a stop sign and almost ended up in a ditch when I did a emergency stop. He went crazy and started fluttering and his big wings kept smacking my face and him screaming on the top of his lungs and he kept going crazy trying to climb on my head while fluttering. So instead of killing us both I had to push him off my arm into the passenger seat while breaking heavily. So use a carrier or have someone take you, too dangerous with a bird that don't care for car rides!!!

 

[antoinette]

Welcome
MikeyTN has given you great advice
A bird should visit a vet at least 3 times a year, is there a reason you have not taken them?

 

[Marc.cheshire]

I thought this was a uk based forum when I registered, not surprised you guys dont know where cardiff is its in south wales, uk.

This is his food NutriBird P15 Tropical Maintenance

He simply wont eat veg, he quiet likes bananas, oranges and apples though so ill get more of that in him.

will also try getting him to the vet, from previous experience he isnt too bad as long as he is sat on me. The challenge is getting him out of the car and into the vet without him flying!

I cant help feel like its the lack of attention he gets in the day time that is his main problem, I run my own business and am working a good 70 hours a week, ive made the effort to come home and work from home more, but my attention is always on that and not him.

is a friend (I think a cockatoo, mainly as they are quiet a dusty bird) is a good idea?

Thanks for your help btw guys

 

[D13H4RD]

Welcome to the forum, I'm a noob myself and also from the UK, North east,Hartlepool : )

 

[Marc.cheshire]

No particular reason for not taking him as aside from the plucking he seems to be in good health, is tame, talkative etc etc

but I will get him to a vet asap

thanks for the welcomes also!

 

[Marc.cheshire]

Some pics of pepper, just been reading up on visually sexing greys, cant wait to get home and try it!

First day he had his stand... it has toys now.

 

[Marc.cheshire]

Some pics of pepper, just been reading up on visually sexing greys, cant wait to get home and try it!

First day he had his stand... it has toys now.

 

[D13H4RD]

Great pics, gorgeous too, dunno why my pic didn't work like : (

 

[Marc.cheshire]

Thanks mate