More Chatboards | Print | Share | Report Post

Re: HELP!! Amazon plucking!
Posted by angela on 9/28/06

On 9/28/06, Angela wrote:
> Ok, this story may be a little long but here goes:
>
> Since March of 2003 I have been the proud bird mother to a
> Mealy Amazon, he was 8 months old when I got him, so that
> puts him a little over 3 years old now. Every since
> bringing him home I have worked very hard on socializing
> him, I take him on frequent car rides and he has two macaw
> sized cages with about 7-8 toys in each (I attend college,
> so he has a cage where I live during school and one at
> home). Sometimes I leave him at home with my folks for two
> or three days if I dont think I will have the tine for him
> that week or if sometimes prohibits me from bringing him
> along. He has never bit ANYone since I have had him- and he
> has a habit of stepping off onto anyone who gets to close
> and making kissy noises at them, and knows about 30
> different phrases, which is pretty good being that Mealys
> are not well known talkers....ok, now that you have some
> background here is my problem.........
>
> I went on vacation last week and left him for seven days
> with my folks-in his cage and in his home, were he lives
> with me. When I came back on Monday his entire chest area
> was bald!!!!!!! I promptly took him to my vet who (after
> running tests to make sure it wasnt anything else) told me
> that it was a separation issue where I had left him, and
> that he should stop plucking now that I was home (although
> now I must come up with a solution anytime I want to go on
> vacation as it is likely to happen again. Anyways, I came
> home and rearranged all of his toys to change up his
> environment and even have begun showering with him every
> day (the vet said this would be good for him) in an effort
> to get him to stop.
>
> Well, as long as I am home he is fine, doesnt pluck even if
> he is in his cage and not out on his playstand at the
> moment. However, the moment I leave to go to work he must
> begin plucking again because for the past two nights I have
> came home to feathers in the bottom of his cage. It doesnt
> matter if anyone else spends time with him or not. As it
> stands, the vet told me that if he continues that we would
> have to look at other options, such as the dreaded cone.
> Does anyone have any suggestions to get my precious baby to
> stop!!!???

Just caught my typo...I have had him since March of 2004, not
2003.

Posts on this thread, including this one

• HELP!! Amazon plucking!, 9/28/06, by Angela.
• Re: HELP!! Amazon plucking!, 9/28/06, by angela.
• Re: HELP!! Amazon plucking!, 11/27/06, by laura.