Yellow-headed Amazon (aka the Yellow-headed Parrot and the Double Yellow-headed Amazon)
Lupe asks
My yellow-headed Amazon (Chelsie) has been seeing a vet for feather plucking since Feb.
We have done several things to correct the problem.
From a Facebook fan last night
I’ve got a Catalina macaw that has a problem of plucking, I took her to the vet, she has a clean bill of health, now if anyone can help with the feather plucking problem, I would appreciate it, Thanks
From a customer on the West Coast during a phone call this week
“My 14-year-old lovebird began to pluck for no reason at all.
We have him on the best foods we can provide like Harrison’s pellets but we had to put a collar on her to stop the feather loss.
Nothing has changed in her life and she is fully flighted”
Yes I have another question for you, my green-cheek conure seems to be molting all the time and he’s lost the two big red feathers in the tail and I can feel the feathers under his skin in between his back and wing feathers is this normal or is he short on calcium he will not touch a cuttlebone or any calcium bone to rub down his nails or beak so I have two perches, that are rough, he is a year and a half old, already really molted.
Thank you very much! Jane
Hello, knowing of your holistic approach to things here is a synopsis of our bird and situation.
We have an 11 1/2 yr old Goffins Cockatoo, Taedo ( we have had him since 2008 when he was 3 mths).
We did have him sexed and know he is a male.
I Have An African Grey And A Triton Cockatoo.
I hand fed both and have had the Grey since 1985 and the Cockatoo since 1987.
They are housed separately in AE bird cages and I have perches around the house for them to move to as I work around.
Both are female.
My Gray has begun acting strange.
Spoiler alert: This post and discussion illustrate how I reached my diagnosis:
Jan is plucking his feathers because his feet hurt.He’s using his food dish to sleep.This helps avoid pressure to the bottom of his feet which he feels when they grip the smooth dowel rod perch.That’s why he plucks in the sleeping cage – he wants the pain to ease.
Spoiler alert: This post and discussion illustrate how I reached my diagnosis:
Jan is plucking his feathers because his feet hurt.He’s using his food dish to sleep.This helps avoid pressure to the bottom of his feet which he feels when they grip the smooth dowel rod perch.That’s why he plucks in the sleeping cage – he wants the pain to ease.
Or
Are Mites Making Making My Macaw Miserable?
Hi Mitch,
Always look forward to your Sunday articles, thanks!
Madeleine is a (Blue & Gold Macaw) rescue from a home where she was malnourished, neglected and abused.
I was able to negotiate relinquishment but it’s been a year of learning for me, we bonded and I decided to adopt her instead of fostering.
