Agitated but otherwise normal

[Ebby's mom]

Hi. I'm new to the forum, hoping to find someone who has either had a similar experience to what my lovebird is having. About three weeks ago, my lovebird pulled a blood feather. The bleeding stopped on its own and it appears the feather came out completely. I talked to my local shop/vet and they agreed that all should be fine. And Ebby, my bird, has been acting normal...for the most part. I've been watching him to make sure he's okay, but notice now that he's particularly agitated and restless, constantly preening around the area where he pulled the feather originally. He's molting, and so it naturally preoccupied with that, but cannot seem to settle down and is constantly cleaning or checking out the area in question (back by his tail feathers). Last night I noticed that he has a small bald patch where the feather came from. I've applied some antibiotic cream to the spot in hopes that it's just irritated or dry. Has anyone ever seen this before? Am I on the right track? I've checked for mites, but have found nothing. I'm not sure if it's just molting or irritation or something else that's bothering my little bird. But I'm concerned he's not sleeping right because he seems so restless. Can anyone offer any advice?
Thanks, Stacey

[Janie]

Hi Stacey and welcome! :)

I've never experienced blood feathers (yet!) so I'm not sure about the heeling process but if it's been a few weeks, I would think that is no longer an issue. It certainly could be molting/preening. I am such a nervous lovie mom that I would probably take any one of my three to my avian vet to be sure there is nothing going on that could be causing this bald spot and especially if this problem continues much longer. One of my lovies, Oliver, does pick at one area, to the left of his vent, and he's done this since I adopted him over two years ago. Sometimes more than other times. I did take him to an avian vet soon after I adopted him to be sure there is no underlying medical problem with this picking. She ran a few test, did a grams stain and nothing medically was wrong and knowing that was a relief to me. With him, especially during molting, a bath really helps him with that picked area. He doesn't take a good bath on his own so I do bathe him, luke warm to cool water in the sink, once or twice a week if that area is giving him fits. I never dip him below his neck when I bathe him. He is very tame so bating him is not a huge issue. He doesn't exactly love it but he tolerates it and always seems to feel much better. Some lovies will let you mist them but none of my three will. They don't like the spray bottle.

But, the only advice I can give that I'm sure of is to take your lovie to an avian vet to rule out any medical reason for this picking. Good luck and keep us posted. :)

[Ebby's mom]

Thanks Janie :-) He loves baths and usually will jump into his water basin himself, so I'll try this in the sink. It might give him the relief he needs. Thanks so much!

[Janie]

Stacey, I just remembered that aloe is also good for a picked area. Lori, a member here, found pure (no alcohol, etc.) aloe at her local Walgreens drug store. It was the store brand. Just thought I'd pass that on. I hope the bath makes your lovie feel much, much better! :) I'm adding the link, started by Ellen, about the aloe. Hope this helps....

http://www.lovebirdsplus.com/community/showthread.php?t=3749

[Ebby's mom]

Thanks again. I'll check out the aloe. I read about that too. Good to know about the non-alcohol type being available.

[Ebby's mom]

Hello,
Janie, Thanks so much for the tip on the aloe. I was able to get the Walgreens brand without alcohol and applied some last night. He still didn't sleep through the night, but he was definitely less agitated and bothered by the itching or whatever was bothering him. Tonight, we're going to give him a bath, which he loves. Thanks again for the advice and the tips.
Stacey (Ebby's mom)

[Janie]

Stacey, I'm happy to hear that he's feeling a little better and hope the bath will make him feel much better! :) Glad you found that aloe.....I've got to pick up a tube of that, too.