Newbie Adopted an African Grey

[Norbert.n.Honey]

I'm Norbert I live in Illinois, and work at a pawn shop.. So I adopted Honey a 5 year old African Grey, very smart and sometime too smart -_- haha but i fell in love with her, the thing is she plucked her feathers for the past 3 years (very sad i know) i took her to the vet yesterday(i got her 2 days ago) ran blood work did the stool sample the whole nine yards(she isn't happy with me at the moment hahahaa) turns out she's healthy but has some kind of bacteria, i got medicine, but from the looks of it, she hasnt plucked them since i got her but one question i have is will the feathers grow back(her tail, wings and belly)? Anyways she's my first feathered friend and on another hand just wanted to say Hi to everyone!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Welcome to the forum, Norbert & Honey. So glad you found us.

Even happier you found your Honey! KUDOS to you for adopting her and HATS OFF for getting her to a vet that quickly!!!

The meds will take care of her bacterial infection. As for the plucking, IF she hasn't plucked to the point where she caused damage, then in time new feathers will grow back. Time will tell.

We have LOTS and LOTS of African Grey owners, and also owners who have successfully stopped their birds from plucking/mutilating.

I'm sure Honey will forgive you soon for having her have the "works" at the vet.

How have you set her up? Does she have a cage equipped with toys, including foraging toys? What diet is she on?

The more info you can provide us, the better we'll be able to help you with your new baby.

 

[Norbert.n.Honey]

Thanks for the warm welcome .. spent alot $$ on the vet yesterday, so didn't want to spoil her XD , but i want to get her an acorn covered with seeds and a bell later today, maybe one of those paper rolls, but think that'll be it for for the time being, well she has the purina seed mix, but i spoil her with fruits and animal crackers (she loves those); She's slowly coming out of her cage for a few mins. then runs and hides inside again hahaah i think she'll be fine, but would really be suprised if her feathers grew back (it looks bad) but she'll always be my Honey; at work my boss has a Macaw but she'll eat anything even beef! Is there something that i should never feed her? i haven't tried meat yet hahaha

 

[JerseyWendy]

Here are some links for you, Norbert. They are quite helpful, I promise.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/449-toxic-list-our-birds.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html

 

[Norbert.n.Honey]

Thank You thats great!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Do you know of pellets? I highly recommend you work on transfering her over to Harrison's pellets, if she doesn't like the course try the fine size. Totally organic pellets are also great, but lack vitamin D, so she would need sunlight on a weekly occasion(something she should get anyway). Others have bad good success with Zupreem Natural(don't use the colored pellets), and Roudybush pellets.

Remember to never give up! Many people do, it took my galah 6 months to be transferred to pellets. What I did was buy several different kinds so she had a variety to choose from. I had pellets in one bowl, seed and pellets mixing together in the other.

Remember, spoiling and giving a bird the care they need are vastly different. Giving high quality foods such as good pellets, veggies, and some fruit, are what they need. Feeding animal crackers is spoiling and is doing honey no good at all.

 

[Mayden]

Welcome! Love the pic of you both, she seems super happy, as do you!

Grey's are actually pretty notorious for plucking, but with time she may let her feathers grow up. For the most part it's usually a habit that's been made and it's very hard to break - so don't be too disheartened if you see her pulling more feathers. Doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong, just that she's so used to doing that that she 'has' to do it again!

Preening toys might help, leather strips or fabric that she can focus her attention on is usually a good way to go

 

[Norbert.n.Honey]

well the animal crackers are just for treats, I feed her "Purina: Garden Recipe; Parrot & Larger Conure" its like a mix of stuff, she enjoys it. I actually got these herbs that I'm supposed to boil(like tea) let cool down and spray her with, i actually noticed it stops her from touching her feathers, she's mad while i sprey her but a min after its as if she wants to kiss me haha, well spent the last two entire days with her, shes alot more relaxed around me now, been reading up as much as i could too. We're gonna be best buds , i wanna get another cage for her so i can start bringing her to work with me, and I'm actually finishing up some chores and about to go get her some toys, and will definatly keep that in mind leather straps sound great actually. Thanks everyone!

 

[SandyBee]

I Love the look on your face, all smiles! and honey looks very content too!
Awesome that you found a new best friend, greys are know for being very smart.
Diet really helps when plucking is an issue(and any bird)
Animal crackers as your trying to bond, fantastic! you have a favorite treat but as time goes on you do want to move her to healthier options. Most parrots will actually prefer nuts as a treat, just have to find her favourite, Lots of good info here on the forums.
Looking forward to more stories and pictures.
I am curious, you work at a pawn shop, Did you aquire honey from a deal or is that just a coincidence?

 

[Norbert.n.Honey]

No not a deal she was my bosses first bird, but he didn't have enough time for her so he gave her to some lady about 3 years ago (who has 5 birds and from the looks of things id say never let honey out of her cage, hence the feather plucking) but she called a few days ago saying she cant keep her, and as soon as i saw Honey i knew she had to come home with me and as luck would have it i adopted her so if not for this job i wouldn't have ever met Honey

 

[SandyBee]

Well I am glad you found each other!
Lots of activity and mind stimulation as well as healthy diet can help with the plucking issues. Greys are as stated above known for plucking if they are not getting what they need. They are too smart for their own good and need lots of attention and stimulation.
Get her on a healthy diet over time, nothing too sudden as you don't want to stress her more.

 

[BillsBirds]

Hi, Norbert. Welcome to the forum, and the world of birds! Pluckers , and all birds, should be showered, or bathed, as often as possible. Take her in the shower with you, with a soft spray shower. At first, she may not like it, but, with time & your encouragement, will come to enjoy it. The moisture helps keep her skin soft, and the new feathers from itching. Good luck with your new baby. There's lots of great info here, and good people who really care about birds.

 

[Norbert.n.Honey]

i actually sprey her ever few hours, she hates it but loves it afterwards