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Post by Sammy's Slave on Apr 7, 2005 9:31:37 GMT -7
When Sammy has nothing better to do, he grooms himself a lot. Have seen numerous tiny feathers and down from underneath his main feathers in his cage and on his stand, and on me when he is in his favorite place...my shoulder. There are no bare areas, and only a very, very rare medium sized feather, but is this what would be termed "feather plucking"? Should I be concerned?  |
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Post by Jane on Apr 7, 2005 9:50:34 GMT -7
With feather plucking they tend to concentrate on particular areas and they start to look quite scruffy. The loss of down and small feathers on a daily basis is normal.
He might be molting. If they are molting they will preen more than usual.
Jane
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mrswork35
Weaned Todd
Joined: February 2005
Posts: 60
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Post by mrswork35 on Apr 7, 2005 15:02:08 GMT -7
Lily has been plucking and all her pretty feathers are gone off her belly. There are now just down feathers there --fuzz. She has the pretty feathers on her head and part of her wings only now. I have had her to the vet and there is nothing physicaly wrong with her. He thinks it is psychological---for whatever reason. I cannot see anything that has changed in her routine to cause her to be upset,etc. You will know when a bird is plucking!! My beautiful baby looks awful now!!! It is very frustrating and upsetting.  Keep an eye on you bird--if it starts pulling off the outside feathers then it is plucking. I hope this does not happen!! Good luck!! |
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Post by Sammy's Slave on Apr 8, 2005 5:23:29 GMT -7
Thanks for replies....  Sammy looks absolutely fine...although at times I see some down peaking out from between outer feathers. If he is moulting, how long does it last and how often does it occur? |
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Post by Jane on Apr 8, 2005 7:42:43 GMT -7
They have a main molt once a year when the feathers including the flight and tail feathers are replaced and they can have another minor molt as well when just smaller feathers are replaced. You can tell when they are molting because you can see and feel the new feathers coming in as they are encased in a sheath. The process takes several weeks.
Jane
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Post by Daddy the Perch on Apr 8, 2005 8:25:30 GMT -7
Thanks Jane, Will keep watch. We have only had Sammy for about 6 weeks and I don't think he was moulting when we first got him. Must have started 3-4 weeks ago. He's a great birdie...will be 2 years old on August 20th. Was told by bird store that he says peek-a-boo and nice birdie. We heard him say peak-a-boo on his 13th day here, but has not said anything since. He has a repitoire of whistles and cheeps, peeps and squawks along with the the clucking and clicking. He does have a propensity to bark like a dog. Our cat Pushie thinks that's very strange! Hoping he starts talking english at some point,but that is not why we adopted him. If he decides to talk that will be frosting on the cake! We talk to him a lot and use words and phrases along with actions to help him along.
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ranae
Weaned Todd
Okay, I'm ready for my close-up! I've always thought my right side was the most photogenic!
Joined: March 2005
Posts: 86
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Post by ranae on Apr 14, 2005 10:28:20 GMT -7
Hi!
I don't have much to say except I think I have the same cage as you, Daddy the Perch! Is it really big?
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Post by Daddy the Perch on Apr 14, 2005 12:02:11 GMT -7
HI Ranae! Yes....It's big enough for SAMMY! I can't find my tape measure right now so I don't know the exact measurements. It has two doors in the front. The top one opens down and makes a deck and the other one opens from the side like a regular door and is bigger. There are two bowls that you can get at from outside the cage on one side and 1 bowl on the other side. Oh yes, and the top opens up also! I like the cage. It came WITH Sammy as he is a previously owned bird and is going to be 2 years old on August 17th...We will probably have a party  Have only had him since the 20th of February. He's great! |
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ranae
Weaned Todd
Okay, I'm ready for my close-up! I've always thought my right side was the most photogenic!
Joined: March 2005
Posts: 86
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Post by ranae on Apr 25, 2005 12:04:42 GMT -7
Awwww, that's so sweet!! Yup, that's exactly the same cage that I have for Pearl. I love it too! I will have to take a picture as Pearl does much the same pose as Sammy when she is on that platform too It's so nice to be able to access the bowls from the outside, but that doesn't stop my little nuisance of a bird. I have to change her water dish literally like 4 times a day because she dunks her food it in it and it gets to be yucky rainbow water. I couldn't figure out how she was getting so much food in her water since they are on complete opposite sides of the cage, but I watched her one day and she just grabbed a mouthful and walked over on her perch and threw it in her water. When it gets soggy enough to sink to the bottom then she picks it out and eats it. LOL. Anyway, when I go to change her water, she pushes against the "water door" and then climbs out of her cage through there. Clever little girl. LOL Ranae |
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Keep an eye on you bird--if it starts pulling off the outside feathers then it is plucking. I hope this does not happen!! Good luck!!
