It's been a long time

[ruffledfeathers]

First of all, i haven't been on here in months, so hello again. I wasn't able to access the site from my work PC and i just get frustrated with the mobile app.

I'll try to 'catch up' with people by reading through old threads.

I also have a Gilbert issue i wanted to throw out there for opinions. Some of you may recall about a year and a half ago he got really annoyed during his molt and temporarily pulled a bunch of feathers. I got some aloe mist and used to spray him and he ultimately got over it. His feathers were all good and he stopped picking at them.

Then came his next molt. For a few months now, he has been pulling the pin feathers on and off. He just had his annual exam with blood work a couple months ago and everything checks out perfect. His behavior is same old Gilbert, sweet and chatty. He is at the office with me right now, his cheerful self. BUT, he was just sitting on my shoulder at my desk and i saw a pin feather flung onto my paperwork. I am really afraid this is going to become an ongoing habit. He has no bald spots yet but down at the very bottom of his belly he has only the downy fluff and pin feathers, not his green.

So far i've tried changing the timer on his light and altering the diet a little, in case it is partly hormonal (i had his light basically set to 'spring time' cycle and now i'm on winter). I bought a new toy for him to pick at/shred. Honestly he does not seem stressed or upset in the least but just like his feathers annoy him and so he pulls them. What the heck do you think i should try to break that habit quickly?

Been bringing him to work to keep an eye on him a little closer. I do think he is a little spoiled and gets a lot of 'out and about' adventures but i truly don't think he is doing this because it's winter and he can't fly around on the beach all day. It just doesn't seem like it. He is perfectly cheerful and playful.

What do you guys think??

 

[GaleriaGila]

Just my thoughts on the light issue. Ever since the Rickeybird hit sexual maturity at about 3-4 years of age, I've had to manage his hormones! If kept on too steady a long day, and too much light, he stayed "in the mood" (aggressive, even louder than usual, pleasuring himself on my neck) year round. If I keep him on a natural light schedule... up with dawn, down with dusk, year around... THEN he's only a little monster rooster from July to September). He has his own room, so I can do that easily. Light determines healthy moulting and sexual behavior, at least in large part, so... maybe you could look into that?
P.S.
He has a few big windows by his cage in his room, and his cage is partially covered, so he can hide or come out and look outside, so he really gets himself up in the morning and then goes to sleep as the sun goes down.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Thanks. I really did think my light schedule was screwing him up. I hadn't even thought of it at first because my Georgie (sun conure) was never a plucker and only was hormonal when she was young. Gil is 4.5 years old and he has a few other mild hormonal behaviors (he always goes under the paper like a tent and he wants to regurgitate for me but i don't let him, and tends to be possessive of me more than usual. I even think the pattern of plucking groin only may say something). I'm hoping since i changed the light, that he will mellow out more.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Best of luck to you!

 

[SailBoat]

Hi, I knew I had seen the Avatar before!

The Aloe Spray (Avian Aloe Spray) is a good tool to target specific areas on his body!

This time of year is really tough of Parrots in North American's Great White North. Yes, even the Eastern Shore Line areas!

One of the biggest problems is the Low Humidity that comes every Winter. This drys our Parrots Skin and tends to increase their frustration with their pin feathers. The result is that 'some' will pick at and pull the pin feather to eliminate the itching. After all: No Pin Feather, No Itching.

Assure that your home has a Humidity level not lower than 40 at a target room temperature of 70 degrees F. We like a reading of between 40 - 50.

Increase misting Showers etc...

Clearly, this is not the only thing that could be causing this, but this year has been very dry and it has been a problem across North America.