plucking / itchy bird

[mangokiwi]

I found this on quakerparrots.com <http://www.quakerparrots.com/health/feather-plucking-in-parrots/> but I was wondering if someone could tell me if this applies to lovebirds as well??

”Itchy Bird is distinguished by the way the bird acts–instead of casually, calmly preening and plucking, it will dig furiously at itself, act agitated or irritated while plucking, and rub its head or sides vigorously against cage bars, perches, or anything else available."

My Kiwi is having a plucking problem that started about 2 months ago and I started to research it, but nothing seemed to apply to him. He's not upset or stressed, he has lots of toys, nothing has changed in his routine, etc. And while he has not had any blood tests done, 2 vets didn't think it was necessary. However, he HAS gotten sort of spazzy when he preens and sometimes will take off and fly wildly around and act spazzy. Spazzy is the best word I have for it! I read that paragraph and I felt like it was written about Kiwi. That describes the only and all changes in behavior he has had.

It breaks my heart to know that something is wrong and that I haven't been able to help him. He is so beautiful and while I'll love him even if he's naked, I would love to see his beautiful feathers again! Also, we are taking him to the vet again later this week. I am just impatient and can't stop thinking about it :(

[mangokiwi]

That is my main question, and the rest you can ignore this reply, but here is the background information as someone always seems to ask on other plucking threads:

About 2 months ago there were several days where my bird was constantly shaking his tail and preening it. Otherwise, his behavior was normal, eating normal, and nothing significant had changed. (We constantly replace his toys and move them around, but he's used to this and otherwise, his routine has stayed the same and his cage hasn't moved) Then when I got home one day, he had plucked a punch of feathers out from below his tail. He was bleeding, I brought him to the vet (an avian vet, but not our regular vet as this was the emergency clinic), the vet said that there must have been something bothering him in his feathers and he just pulled it out. He basically told me to just keep an eye on it, but that he didn't think it would be a big problem. Well, the spot didn't get worse, but it didn't go away and about a month later I brought him in to our regular vet because he had a runny nose and was snorting. (he had a sinus infection and is all better now from that) She looked at the bare area and sort of said the same thing, to just watch it. Well, this past week all of a sudden he has only 4 feathers left in his tail, I know for a fact there were pin feathers and then they were gone, and the blue on his rump is thinned out and there is a thinned ring around his neck. However, he has not picked out those pin feathers. They are still coming in.

I have 2 lovebirds, Kiwi is a boy and Luna is a girl. Their cages are in a spare bedroom. They do not share a cage at night, but they do play together all day long. We do put them in the same cage if we're in the house or if we are only going to be gone a short time, but long periods of unsupervised time they are in their separate cages. They generally get along, but there is the occasional beaking and they must have their own food and water dishes. They are out of their cages usually between 6 and 8 hours a day. On a bad day they are still out at least 3. They have plenty of destructible toys in and out of their cages and Kiwi definitely is chewing on them. They eat TOPS pellets (and my birds actually love pellets), Golden Beak legume mix and carribean mix (lots of dried fruits), and fresh veggies. I give them fresh fruit, but they just aren't big on fruit, however, it is always offered. And I supply a variety. I give them Lafeber's products as treats and occasionally milllet, thought millet is not even close to an every day thing.

Kiwi is still playful and snuggling and curious as usual. Nothing about him as changed except this picking! The only difference is that he does get spazzy while preening. Occasionally he'll be preening and then just take off and fly around all crazy like.

[linda040899]

I would probably have your avian vet check a Staph infection and possibly an ear infection. One of our members has a lovebird who was picking and was very itchy. Testing returned positive for Staph, which is relatively easy to treat. Additionally, limit the amount of pellets you feed them to no more than 40% of their total diet. Pellets (all brands) contain too much nutrition for small birds and can cause death by kidney failure. This is per my avian vet.

[mangokiwi]

That's very interesting! So often you read that is should be 80% of their diet!!

I want to vet to do a full medical evaluation. I want everything tested for. I'm not saying that it can't be an emotional or behavior problem, but he's still very much himself, other than the spastic preening. I will definitely request for staph testing. Thank you!

[michael]

I'm sorry to hear Kiwi's been chewing his feathers. .. Having two male lovebirds myself who both pick/pluck, I can understand how sad and frustrating it is to witness this behavior. .. Hopefully, you and your vet will soon find some reason for Kiwi's discomfort. ... Missing tail feathers may indicate a problem with parasites (giardia), or some other bacteria (staph). .. Many of these conditions are unsuspectingly brought about via tap or well water. .. In area's where there is poor ventilation, or high humidity, mold and/or mildew can cause respiratory problems that could lead to picking as well. .. Also, maybe have your vet check the area around the preen gland. .. Clogged or infected, the discomfort could result in a few missing tail feathers. ... Best wishes for Kiwi.

[mangokiwi]

Well, the vet has spoken: Kiwi is sexually frustrated! He is plucking because it's mating season and we have a female lovebird. She gave him a shot of leuprolide and gave us dietary directions that should tell him mating season is over (hopefully) and instructions on what to do with the two of them and gave us specific bathing instructions.

Otherwise, Kiwi is 100% healthy physiologically and emotionally :)

[michael]

Sounds like a fair diagnosis. .. Please keep us posted on the hormone treatment. .. If i'm correct, you should see positive results very soon. .. One things for sure, keeping a parrots skin hydrated via bathing, is a good thing. .............:)