Scratching in middle of the night?

[themacinjosh]

Sorry for starting so many threads here, I didn't see anything else quite like this though in this section. My lovebird has been having a bit of a hard time sleeping tonight, I keep hearing her scratch her head. I keep thinking mites because she seems to have all the symptoms, but I don't know where they would of come from since she hasn't been outside at all. The place she came from doesn't seem to be having mite issues with her siblings in the flock.

I will say that this room we're in is really dusty at the moment and we're working on taking care of that (of course, when we dust we have the bird in another room). We can't leave the bird in that room though as it gets too cold at night since the other rooms aren't heated (we're renting the downstairs of a house so there's really only one room to have her in).

Is there an obvious way I can check her for mites to see for myself without a vet visit? I hear if the bird is fine, then actually going to the vet can be more traumatizing and make matters worse.

Also, i've noticed this itching and restlessness for a couple days now, but we just got her on Monday so it's hard to say what's normal and what isn't. She does keep trying to jump off my shoulder, run around a bit and then want back on. Just can't be content. But I was thinking that also could be because she's a baby and curious, etc.

Please let me know, I don't want this to turn into a serious issue but at the same time I don't want to be making this into something if it's not. I appreciate your help and opinions!!!

 

[kc_y0]

Just an idea, look very very closely at the dust and see if it "moves". I had a case of Book Lice here and they made my allergies flare up. They are attracted to dust so that may be it? They are VERY hard to see though, they really just look like pieces of dust crawling along.

If not will she let you check her skin? I'm not sure how big mites are but I imagine you would be able to see them if you looked close enough. Sorry I cant be of more help..

 

[themacinjosh]

I brought her back in to the place I got her, and they checked her out and she's healthy as can be! No mites. So that's a relief, I came to realize how dusty this room is that we're in, so I got an Austin Air Healthmate purifier and I am definitely noticing a difference. I think it will help. Now I'm just trying to find a place in the room for it so it doesn't create a draft in her direction...

 

[sssaucey]

Did they notice any dry skin when they were checking her?

 

[themacinjosh]

No, but I'd like to identify dry skin…what should I be looking for? She isn't scratching much, every now and then she'd scratch her head or something. I'm sure I'm just being overly sensitive. But I'd rather be overly sensitive than not at all of course!

 

[kc_y0]

Dry skin may mean she has little flakes through her feathers close to the skin. A lot like dandruff

 

[themacinjosh]

Isn't some amount of bird dander normal though? I haven't noticed an excessive amount of anything like 'dandruff', just a flake or two maybe from time to time when she preens.

 

[Pedro]

Is it possible that she is molting. Parrots have their first molt at around 4 months. That will usually bring on a lot of grooming. So does handling, they don't like their feathers out of place. Also does your bird have a daily bath?

Usually if your parrot has mites you will know because the mites will crawl & bite you as well.

 

[themacinjosh]

well there's definitely no mites, I know that. And the bird is too young to be molting already, only about 7.5 weeks. She may be growing in new feathers though, which I imagine could be itchy...my girlfriend said she saw the start of some new feathers.

She doesn't seem to bathe herself, so I spritz her at least once a day. She still hates it though, so I'm trying to get her used to it so she'll like it more.

 

[sssaucey]

There is a difference between regular bird dander and dry skin, bird dander is just the dust that coats their feathers. You would notice flaky bits on her if she had dry skin

 

[kc_y0]

It could be new feathers coming through! It could also be because the water isn't getting onto her skin. I dont know how dense her feathers are but I notice if my bird does not fluff up and open up her wings the water doesn't actually go onto her skin it just slides off lol!

 

[themacinjosh]

That could very well be it. When I spritz her she doesn't fluff up or really take it in. But she's getting a lot better about being spritzed, at first she was terrified and now she is just shaking her head and letting it happen. I'm also trying to use warmer water cause i thought that might feel good. I'm just a paranoid new bird owner that's all . She hasn't' even been scratching in the night anymore, it was just a couple times so I'm probably making more out of it than I need to be.

 

[Pedro]

I think your being extremly paranoid, your bird is only a baby so it is highly unlikely to have dry skin & all the scratching would be normal grooming because it's being handled. As far as bathing goes again it's only 7 to 8 weeks old give the poor little thing time to learn how to bath.

If you concentrate on giving your baby a healthy well balanced diet He wouldn't have any problems.