Post by jclfc on Jun 30, 2005 10:22:51 GMT -7
Hi,
I am the owner of a 3 and a half year old Congo African Grey.
The bird is very attacthed to my Father but also enjoys playing with myself and my girlfriend. Therefore, the bird is always getting attention and is spoilt by everyone in the household. He is treated like an extra member of our family.
The only time the parrot is locked in his cage is when either there is no one in the house to keep an eye on him or at bedtime.
He is fully of energy and is always singing, dancing, talking and generally getting up to mischief like only Greys know how (his latest trick is taking the handset off the phone and attempting to dial numbers).
Anyway, over the past couple of months we have noticed that our parrot has started to pluck the white 'down' feathers out of his back. To look at him, you would not know that there was a problem however there are bald patches under his wings. He does not pluck his grey feathers, only the white down.
When he plucks, he rolls the white down around his beak with his tounge before spitting them out.
I have spoken to his breader and also the local vet and both have said that my bird may have just gotten a taste for the down and that there is probably nothing to be overly concerned about. The possibility of mites or ticks have been ruled out as the vet gave him some treatment which did nothing.
His cage is cleaned on a regular basis and disinfected with a 'pet safe' product.
He doesn't appear to have any eating disorders and enjoys a varitey of foods.
Anyway, I am thinking about taking him to a parrot specialist but was wondering if any of you guys have had similar problems with their birds? If there is any help you can give me it would be gratefully recieved.
Thanks in advance.
I am the owner of a 3 and a half year old Congo African Grey.
The bird is very attacthed to my Father but also enjoys playing with myself and my girlfriend. Therefore, the bird is always getting attention and is spoilt by everyone in the household. He is treated like an extra member of our family.
The only time the parrot is locked in his cage is when either there is no one in the house to keep an eye on him or at bedtime.
He is fully of energy and is always singing, dancing, talking and generally getting up to mischief like only Greys know how (his latest trick is taking the handset off the phone and attempting to dial numbers).
Anyway, over the past couple of months we have noticed that our parrot has started to pluck the white 'down' feathers out of his back. To look at him, you would not know that there was a problem however there are bald patches under his wings. He does not pluck his grey feathers, only the white down.
When he plucks, he rolls the white down around his beak with his tounge before spitting them out.
I have spoken to his breader and also the local vet and both have said that my bird may have just gotten a taste for the down and that there is probably nothing to be overly concerned about. The possibility of mites or ticks have been ruled out as the vet gave him some treatment which did nothing.
His cage is cleaned on a regular basis and disinfected with a 'pet safe' product.
He doesn't appear to have any eating disorders and enjoys a varitey of foods.
Anyway, I am thinking about taking him to a parrot specialist but was wondering if any of you guys have had similar problems with their birds? If there is any help you can give me it would be gratefully recieved.
Thanks in advance.
