Birds--General/cockiteals

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Expert: - 7/22/2006


Question
i have a albino cockiteal that keeps over plucking his wings, so bad that they bleed, you can even see the red flesh/skin of the wing when he opens them. i took him to a vet one night when they started to bleed but the told me he was over plucking due to bordeum and that i should get him some toys. i got hims some toys but hes still plucking. any suggestions? please respond. thanks.  

Answer
Hi, Amanda.  Thanks for posting.

Plucking is related to psychological or medical reasons.  If there are no medical reasons, which an avian veterinarian would have to determine, then the problem is psychological.  You have to get to the bottom of the psychological problem to stop the plucking.  The psychological problem could be lack of toys, the bird doesn't like the toys you've provided s/he, something has changed in your household (addition/deletion of people or other animals), change of cage location, furniture being changed/home remodeling, not enough attention from you and/or a change in the amount of attention, etc., etc....could be any number of reasons.  Since you are the closest to what's going on in your situation, you'll have to try to determine what the problem is and go from there.

Chrys  

Birds--General

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Chrys Meatyard

Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

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