Unhappy?

[Kaye]

I think my newest addition (though he's been here quite awhile now), Cadence, may be unhappy with me as his owner.

Tonight, I had the birds out (for the first time in a few days, the poor babies, I was super sick!), and when I caught Cadence to put him back in his cage I noticed a little blood on his rump near his preen gland. I looked closer and found a pretty large bare patch of skin with several scabs on it.

Immediately I called my vet, who was due to close in 15 minutes. And of course he is booked up tomorrow and will not be in this weekend, so I asked what kind of care I should give the wound. The tech told me that the vet said not to mess with it, because it could make it worse. We made an appointment for Monday, and I said if ANYthing changed I'd be in over the weekened to see another vet if I had to (I really didn't want to make an appt with the other vet cuz he's not really a 'bird guy').

So, here I am thinking of all the reasons for this barespot on Cadence's rump. My first thought was of course mites, or something that simply making him itchy. My second.. maybe he doesn't like his toys, or his cage (he is no longer paired with Dominick, after a few days they decided that while they'd 'tolerate' eachother, they didn't want to share food or anything.. one would eat, then the other would wait and eat after, and they'd go back and forth like they didn't want to be near eachother. I seperated them to avoid stressing them out). My third, maybe he just doesn't like me! Cadence has never been very 'nice.' He doesn't bite but is not very tame, and no matter how I try, just does not like me coming near him. Though it seems every time I go somewhere or the birds have to be taken care of by my parents that Cadence really gets along well with my Step dad, even letting him touch him through the bars of the cage - something I could never even get close to doing!

Cadence was sort of a spur of the moment bird, I bought him from a petshop after getting sick of seeing him there all by himself for almost a year after his mate was sold. For awhile I considered just keeping him, then I considered adopting him out, then I decided I'd keep him again.. but now it's like he's actually unhappy about being here.

I might be jumping to conclusions, for all I know he's just got an itchy butt, but maybe I should consider getting him a home where he can be happy again. I think he'd be a wonderful breeder, he has a beautiful mutation (and I think he's had babies before), but just don't think I know any who would want him.. I also think he'd be happy with my parents, but they already have Fred and George (2 of Aleda's babies) and my mom's Ekkie to keep happy, so I think another lovebird would be too much.

I just want him to be happy. Wether it be with a breeder or someone who can devote the time to taming him and loving him.

Again this post is jumping topics from a health issue to a possible emotional one and of course a question: has anyone ever gave up a lovebird like this before? I of course only had one of my Lovebirds "Baby" a couple years ago for about a month before I 'traded' him for Aleda (the breeder wanted a sweet lovebird for a pet like Baby, I wanted a female like Aleda for Oliver and myself.. it worked perfectly).. but I've had a lot longer with Cadence and am so picky about who he would go with.

If you can't tell, my mind has been racing tonight.

[sdgilley]

Hi Kaye,
I would look for medical reasons for Cadence's bloody patch and behavior before jumping to an emotional reason. You're sensitive and caring to him, so I'd first investigate the health. He may still be adjusting. He had quite a time alone in the store, from what you said.

See what the vet has to say. Don't give up! You're a good fid-ma, so just hang in there.

I have one bird that I'd swear doesn't give a rip about me. But every now and then... he looks at me with real affection.
:)

[bellarains]

Kaye,

My only other thought would be that Cadence may be rubbing his bottom side on a perch or something? I would definitely keep the vet appointment though, and have them run a grams stain, and go from there.

I hope he and Dominick work things out eventually. I know he misses Aleda, and maybe he just needs more time.

[Kaye]

It's the top of his rump. Around the preen gland. So it's got to be self-inflicted.. especially with the wounds. Poor boy. He's acting like himself today, I'm just going to keep an eye on him til the appointment.

[Janie]

Kaye, I don't have any advice to add to Lori's or Suzanne's but did want to add that my Oliver picks in one spot and that's the same spot as you mentioned. He was bare there when I adopted him over 3 years ago and he has continued to pick at that spot. I did take him to the vet right after I got him and he was checked but no medical issues, in his case, were found. It's much worse when he's molting and I do make sure he gets a good bath 2 to 3 times a week when that's going on but otherwise, I just keep an eye on it to be sure there is no bleeding. I've actually heard him cry a few times when it's really itching him and he's picking at it. Just kills me.

Good luck to you and I hope things do work out. You're a great lovie momma and I know you'll do the best you can.