Help ... healthy happy GCC pulled tail feathers???

[Shanti10]

I have a 10 month hand raised/hand fed, i've had him since 6 wks old and finished the handfeeding. We have been completely bonded with eachother since then, i am his "mommy". He has been healthy happy, no huge changes etc.. and all of a sudden he has pulled out all his tail feathers? I was looking at them lastnight and some had blood.

I work full time, always have since I got him. He comes out right after work, and doesnt go back into his cage until bedtime. Weekends off, he is out and about. Eating, healthy, shiney feathers. I am not sure what to do?? any ideas? I ahve not moved his cage. he has always had a wildish budgie that he hangs out with now and then, nothing has changed... and i am a bit confused.. any ideas .....

His cage is full of toys etc so boredem is not a reason!

 

[MonicaMc]

Are you sure he pulled them out and he didn't accidentally damage or "drop" them? Are you sure the budgie isn't the culprit?

 

[weco]

Young conures are very rambunctious and often break feathers, but yours may have damaged one and possibly enjoyed the experience.....strange ? ? ?

Maybe not as strange as it may sound. For the past few years there has been some thinking that some parrots may have may have discovered endorphins.

If I can get a small PDF uploaded, it will show below, otherwise feel free to send me a message requesting the 'endorphins file.'

No luck uploading.....it said that I can only upload 19.5kb file size.....if you're interested, just message me.....it could be a day or two, but I'll send it to whoever's interested.....while I titled it endorphins, it's actually about parrot self mutilation.

MonicaMC could be right & the budgie did it as a preening gesture.....I have a pic of a parrotlet trying to preen a 'zon chick's pinnies......

 

[Shanti10]

The budgie and him play through the cage, as i dont feel it's safe for a small runty budgie (size of a parakeet) to be with a conure freely.He is a pretty tolerable bird, we take him on car rides/walk around the mall etc.

Why would he just "drop " his feathers?

I know a few weeks ago pesto was on the floor running around (becuase he think he's a dog sometimes.. lol) and my son got the edge of his tail with his foot, but this was 3 weeks ago. would it take that long for the feathers to drop?

 

[Shanti10]

hopefully the pic works... tryin to post pic

 

[weco]

Pic worked.....he does look funny & will have trouble flying and landing...

Bird's tail feathers have a safety mechanism built in....they're designed to be easily pulled out & normally without blood. This gives them an added escape time from predators.

After seeing the pic, I'm more inclined to believe he had help.....just more their cages further apart & if he doesn't show further feather plucking or inclination to mutilation, he will regrow the feathers, though it may not be until the next moult.....

 

[MonicaMc]

Birds, when frightened, have a 'fight or flight' response. If their tail and/or wing feathers are trapped, or if the bird feels trapped in some way, they can drop those feathers in order to escape. (a rewording of what Weco said).

Is it possible that another incident could have happened since a few weeks ago that resulted in the loss of tail feathers? Because, at this point, I'm going with that. (possible that your son did it accidentally?)


Do you have the feathers that he lost? Do they look chewed up or?


As Weco said, keep an eye on him and see if the behavior continues or if his tail feathers regrow.

 

[Shanti10]

Yes, i am pretty much chopping it up to my sons accidental incedent... Pesto seems completely healthy and happy and normal.. hopefully they grow back soon.. he looks very akward.