Thriving on neglect?

[J.P.]

I brought J.P. home on 12/30. He's a picker and pretty much naked. He was hatched and hand fed at a store, bought and then brought back for being a picker. He's 11 months old now. He's been tested for everything and it was all negative.

I bought him and took him home and bought him a larger cage. I have figured out that he likes it quiet - except for when he is making noise! He does not like music or loud talking. I have him in my bedroom. When I first brought him home, he'd pick his feathers constantly. He'd also pick them until he bled whenever he was put back in his cage.

So, I'm keeping it mellow in my bedroom and no longer play any kind of music. (I tried many different types and he'd start pulling out his feathers and screaming.) I announce myself before entering my room as to not frighten him, I've not been taking him out of his cage and if I leave the door open, he doesn't come out.

I spend a lot of time in my room to be around him and talk to him a lot. He seems to wait to eat until I'm in the room with him and then he chows down. I can tell he enjoys my company and he does call out for me when I leave the room and I call back to let him know I'm still there.

He is now growing his feathers back in like crazy and I'm not sure what to do. I feel like he's neglected since I'm not taking him out. I'm sure he can live without music but I feel like his life is boring. He has a zillion toys and plays with 2 of them frequently but ignores everything else. He has the wild flock of conures that visit so they can scream back and forth and now he's been talking to some other wild bird that stops by that I haven't ID'd yet. It actually sounds like a lovie but I've yet to see it.

I'm very happy he's not picking and he does seem happy but I worry I am not doing enough and am concerned about him not being out. He's not the friendliest guy and does like to bite. I'm not sure how he really reacts to me since he was very moody at the bird store and when I first brought him home. Sometimes he was a love and other times he'd chase people with his beak open, ready to strike. He seems to have mellowed and I can put my hand in his cage to put in food and he doesn't move towards me anymore to bite.

Any thoughts or ideas? I'm sorry this is so fragmented and long. I'm not even sure what I'm asking! I want to do what's best for him and am concerned if I move towards taking him out and taming him that he'll start to pick. I also don't want him to lose what "tameness" he had from being handfed.

Any advice is appreciated.

[linda040899]

Sounds like whatever you are doing, you seem to be doing it right! Could very well be that J.P's plucking issues had something to do with fear in his past situation. Growing new feathers is a HUGE positive step in the right direction!

The best suggestion I have is to let the relationship unfold as it will. You are not pushing an up close and personal situation and J.P. seems to like that. Each bird is different and you have to take your clues as they come. As trust increases, J.P. may change the rules again and want to be with you more than he/she does now.

You're doing a great job!

[Gill]

You seem to really care from him, im so glad you bought the naked lovebird from the petshop! :D

[J.P.]

Thanks to both of you for your comments.

I have 2 cockatiels and wasn't looking for a bird - clothed or nekkid! But, as soon as I saw him, it was all over with as he was so sad looking and everyone liked to talk about how no one would want him. He was on the front counter of the shop and they really did care about him. They spent $1,000 having the lab work done - which saved my wallet - and had him sexed. But, I don't think he liked all of the attention, noise and being taken out of his cage all the time.

The woman who had him previously has several birds and a bunch of small barking dogs. I could see his anxiety and just had to have him. I've had bad anxiety in the past and kind of related!

He's doing so well and seems happy but I still feel awful having him locked up in the cage all the time. I will set aside time to leave his cage door open and sit and wait and leave it up to him. I bought him a really nice play pen and I hope he actually uses it someday.

Thanks for the advice and encouragement.

[Cannuck]

Kudos to you for taking him home! I would say you are right to be taking things slow. Keep doing what you are doing as well as set aside time with the cage door open, put some of his favorite treats out and just sit and talk to him or do whatever you normally do. I have a cockatiel like that who is finally coming out of the cage, it just takes a lot of time and patience!

[michael]

How wonderful to hear J.P finally has a real home with someone who truly cares about him. This is nothing short of a true rescue!

I wouldn't at all feel like your neglecting him as surely he's found enough comfort to allow his feathers to grow back. Who knows, maybe the ever constant changes that took place at the pet shop as well as his previous home were just too much activity for him to handle. And yapping dogs?...My single male lovie does not at all enjoy our neighbors dogs whenever they begin barking. This sends him into a frenzy of uncertainty.

My only words here are to make yourself comfortable, whereas likewise he will undoubtedly do the same. Rest assured too, that your amazing insight has already paved the way for J.P to have a much better life. Thanks for sharing J.P with us!...............:)

[Chickobee]

Wow! It sounds as if J.P. likes his new home and is doing wonderful. You have definitely found a new friend who is way happier than he was before--and is growing new feathers to prove it!

Since lovebirds are naturally inquisitive it may not be much longer before he is coming out to explore and to investigate you.

I have used millet to tempt birds that were not tame. I saved it for that purpose only and didn't put any into their cage. I found that they wanted it badly enough to venture forward on their perch to eat it, and eventually stepped up onto my hand for bites.

Going slowly (days, not minutes) I was finally able to get them to stay on my hand while I took them out of the cage right by the door. Eventually they would come right out and now I don't need any millet to get them out of their cages.

J.P. has made a lot of progress with your loving care.

[lemonypickett]

What a great story. You did a nice thing.

We would love to see some pics of JP's progress.

[J.P.]

Well, I made a mistake today. I was sitting by his cage talking to him and he was eating. He took a break and stretched out his legs and then his wings. I told him a few times that he was such a big bird. I swear, I could see the panic in his eyes. His body language changed and he screamed and then starting picking out some feathers. I ignore bad behavior and praise him when he's not picking so I ignored it and went on about my business in the room. He did stop and went back to eating but it was time to cover him up and put him to bed so I'm not sure what I'll find in the morning.

One thing is clear -he either doesn't want to be a big bird or he knew a big bird that was a meanie. I keep finding things that trigger him and it's quite interesting. My 15 year old daughter was sitting next to me when it happened and she was also quite shocked to see his reaction.

I do have pictures of him as I took some today of his feather growth. I'm computer lame and don't know how to link or post them. I'll have to work on that later.

I hope I don't have a naked bird in the morning. :omg:

[michael]

Best I can add when it comes to feather pluckers, is we'll take whatever feathers we can get, even if its one at a time! ......Thanks for the update J.P.!

Regarding photo links; First you download pics from a digital camera to your computer. (I use a cheap Canon Power Shot A530).... Then find a free photo hosting website and upload whichever photos you choose to their website. Most will generally offer to provide you the necessary links for posting on other various websites like this one. Personally, I use Flickr as my photo host for their swift uploading times. Photobucket seems to take forever. The only problem i'm having with Flickr is their threat of suspending my account because they'd rather charge me for the "Pro service" (which I don't need). What they fail to mention (unless you look a bit further) is their basic service is still free. Hope this info helps.................:)

[kk and tango]

You are doing such a great job working with him! The fact that you leave the door open for him to come out (with supervision, you get three stars!) means he has the opportunity to expand his horizons if and when he chooses. Bless you for taking care of the little guy and rescuing him to provide the sanctuary he needs.

[J.P.]

I'm attempting to share a link with photo's of JP but don't know what I'm doing. I'll try this and see if it works. If not, I'll be happy there's an edit button.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shantidass/

I think it's working. If not, please let me know.

[lemonypickett]

I hope he stopped plucking... I am sure he did.

I love Photobucket. It is free, has a multiple image uploader and has lots of cool custom slideshows you can make.

[lemonypickett]

Ahhh... just say the pics. He is soooo adorable. I had a bird that plucked around an ecollar when he had an injury, and although I was shocked at first.... he really grew on me!

[J.P.]

I'm so glad I got it to work! That's a first for me.

You'd sent me the pic of Marley with his crop plucked from the collar when JP had a full crop and I was concerned he was ill. I'd not seen a full crop before except on a baby and hadn't put it together.

JP plucked the incoming feathers on the one side of his crop today. You can see it in the photo.

He likes being told he's handsome just not a big bird. Who knew???

[linda040899]

Thank you for posting the photos of JP! It helps when we can see what you are seeing.

JP is a very nice looking Blue Fischer's Lovebird, or at least he will be once his feathers grow in. While you don't know much about him, I can tell you the tip of his upper beak has been broken off (Photo #2). When you look at the beak, you can see the break ridge and the growth beneath that. You will probably never know how that happened but I'm sure it added to the trauma that plagues JP at this point.

My best guess is that JP has severe trust issues, courtesy of his past. It may take some time for him to feel safe and there's no way to predict just how long that can take. Birds have incredible memories so it's just a matter of wait and see.

I think you are on the right track with JP and I would just continue to follow your gut instincts. He's growing new feathering so that says you are doing something right! :)

[michael]

Regardless how he appears now, J.P is a beautiful Fischer's lovebird.......Obviously, he's been carrying around some heavy baggage for quite sometime......:(.......None the less, you now can see a level of comfort in his eye's that was surely not there before you took him in...... J.P and his family certainly have my prayers for a much brighter future ahead. Scritchies and beak rubs for J.P.!.........:)