Tiger's Vet Visit

[arabianhorselover]

Hello. Just letting you all know that I did take Tiger to the vet this morning. I liked the vet. He took his time, and was very gentle with Tiger. He seems quite knowledgeable about birds. And Tiger handled it amazingly well!

He feels Tiger's problem is psychological, since he sees no sign of parasites, and because of the fact that Tiger's plucking is worse in the Winter. We are going to try a vitamin supplement, since he has not eaten a proper diet.

The vet also STRONGLY suggests getting a mirror for Tiger. I had avoided mirrors thinking it wasn't the best idea. What do you all think? If it will help Tiger, I am certainly willing to get one.

Lisa

[YWallpaper]

I am glad you found a vet you are comfortable with. Do you know why though they suggested a mirror? Is it because they think he is lonely? I have heard about mirrors causing more problems than they solve.

[arabianhorselover]

Yes, the vet feels she is lonely. Also, I put a new stainless steel dish in her cage a few days ago, and she has been eating out of it like crazy. Eating pellets that she would never try before. We don't know if it's because she sees her reflection in the dish, or what.

Lisa

[YWallpaper]

It is really hard to say why she prefers the dish. Sometimes they get something in their little heads about the size, color, or shape of something. I am glad that whatever the reason, she is eating pellets now. That could help with plucking, if it started because of a deficiency in the diet. Did the vet discuss other possible causes with you like humidity levels?

[Pado]

I can't argue against a vets recommendation. But I am surprised that was his recommendation and I would surely question it.

Its generally noted in the bird community that mirrors tend to cause more problems for Pet birds - especially psychological problems. The live bird tends to fall for the reflection in the mirror and considers it another bird.

Many consider this cruel to the live bird as the reflection does not respond back in the appropriate manner and can cause more anxiety and frustration for the live bird.

Its sad to me to watch a live bird bond and sit with its own reflection in a mirror - but thats my personal view.

[arabianhorselover]

I told the vet my feelings about mirrors, and he understood. But in Tiger's case he really thinks it might help her. Despite what we think about mirrors, the bird really does receive some companionship from the bird in the mirror. If it can distract her from plucking, that is all that matters at this point.

Lisa

[arabianhorselover]

Briana,

Please look at my post about Sunny's behavior. Any advice?

Lisa

[arabianhorselover]

Here is an update on Tiger. This is definite proof of how much difference it can make to move a bird to a new location.

Over the last many months I have tried everything I could think of to help Tiger. She has been so terribly plucked and so depressed and afraid of everything. Nothing seemed to help much.

Well, a week ago I decided to try putting her in a smaller cage, since I had heard of that working with some other birds. I also moved her back to a location she had been in a long time ago. It is a place I thought she didn't like. I had moved her from there because she was so ornery when she was there. She was up higher than my head, and I moved her back to where she had been before but to an even lower position. I later moved her up higher, and into a corner where I thought she wouldn't have so much traffic going past her cage which always seemed to annoy her.

I thought putting her in a smaller cage and moving it wouild be too much change for her, but boy was I wrong! As soon as I put her in the new spot whe took a bath. She was hardly EVER taking baths anymore. Within a couple of days she was back to her feisty old self ready to eat whoever dares to bother her. She had been basically staying in one corner of her cage except to eat and drink. After a week, she is all over the new cage. I never dreamed a few days could make such a diference.

If she keeps up this progress, I will put her back in her big cage. She still is not playing with toys, but she has come out of her cage many times. Another thing that she would hardly ever do anymore.

Now I just feel so bad for ever moving her from that spot.

Lisa

[chapala]

congratulations for figuring out that cage placement could make such a difference! A good reminder for anyone who sees behavior changes without a known reason, and the cage has been moved. Hope she continues to do well in her "old" spot!
Reta

[unpoquito]

Oh my goodness! Thank you for sharing this story! Emmie began plucking (and has continued to do so, despite a full check up and medicine from the vet) right after I moved her from her smaller Visions Cage to her large flight cage (in another location! I just wonder if this is the cause. Hmm.

[arabianhorselover]

Hi Everybody. More about Tiger. And thank you all for the help you have given me with her in the past.
She is doing better in her new location, but I still don't think she's happy. She seems very lonely, even though my Lovebird flys over to her cage all the time to see her. She wants to be scratched all the time, and has been going into corners and tearing up paper. I don't know if that's nesting behavior, or not.
When I got her, she had been with another parrotlet. I don't think she ever got over the separation. I am wondering if the thing to do would be to get her a mate. I do not want to breed, but if another Parrotlet would finally make her happy, then maybe that 's what I should do. What do you think the chances are of her even accepting a male as a friend?
Lisa

[Cocomaco]

Hmm, I'm not sure, but maybe persevere first before getting another bird. Try more things, like putting a tv on in the room (that she can see), giving her something to snuggle (I cut off a sleeve of a fleece and tuck it in the cage).

Maybe she will get used to it?

[lily]

She wants to be scratched all the time, and has been going into corners and tearing up paper. Tearing up paper and anything else that they can ruin is what parrotlets like to do. For a parrotlet, if my bird is any indication, happiness is chewing things up and making a mess.

Some birds chew their feathers out of boredom. Maybe she needs more things to destroy: bits of old sheets, terrycloth, plain cardboard, white paper plates, nut cups, twigs, pine cones... You can weave white index cards through her cage bars, make big and little wads of paper, fix a buffet of chewables in her swing...

Giving her 12 hours of sleep in the dark every night and no place suitable for a nest should keep her from considering nesting. She probably likes the scritches because she has accepted you as a flock member. Birds can form new bonds just like people can.

[arabianhorselover]

I can't give her stuff to tear up because she is terrified of anything new. If I stick anything in her cage she will flop around till she hurts herself. I don't even give her toys anymore, because she is afraid of them and ignores them.

I did locate a breeder not too far from me. I just don't know if I should get another bird, because if they don't like each other I really don't have room for another cage. Also, most people don't seem to think they would get along.

Lisa

[lily]

My bird was also shy about new items, so I had to put anything new outside her cage where she could see it for a few days, then move it closer until she could finally reach it if she wanted to. Poking a piece of familiar index card through the cage bars could evolve into weaving it through the bars for her to chew. It also helped if I "introduced" her to items -- slowly showing it, turning it, demonstrating it just like a salesman would. She is not very frightened of new items now, provided I warn her if I'm about to carry something large or scary past her. In that case, it's best if I get her attention and tell her that she's okay. She is still a little wary of new foods. Small pieces, she flips out of her bowl, and larger pieces she attacks and "kills", until she gets up the courage to bite into them.

Another thought-- try natural toys. Brightly colored toys were viewed as enemies by my bird, but she had no problem if I put twigs, grasses, edible flowers, seed pods, anise, pine cones, and the like in her cage. Parrotlets have to chew, and they will chew themselves if they don't have ayting else to do.

[arabianhorselover]

Well, I will try some new things, I guess. I was thinking of gathering some pine cones for the birds (I know about baking them).

My Lovebird is basically not afraid of anything. Tiger was not always this way. I don't know what happened, but when I first got her she was your typical tiny bird that thought she was big. She would attack anything. She used to destroy toys.

Lisa

[Sally]

I am sorry Tiger does not seem happy. Have you told us about her cage etc? Does she get to fly and play on playgyms?

Yes, a playmate could be fun, but like you said, what if they didn't get along? You can just keep trying things and then try a bird if nothing works maybe.

[arabianhorselover]

Tiger has a nice cage. She sometimes will come out and sit on a playgym and eat seeds. She hasn't been able to fly for a long time now because she is so plucked. Once again, she has started to grow in some feathers, but no doubt she will remove them again. She usually does in the Fall.

Lisa

[lily]

If she removes feathers in the fall, perhaps she is responding to something that has to do with cool, damp weather-- like mold, or perhaps smoke from burning leaves, or your turning on the heat.

Working through the bird's environment systematically is important for stopping plucking. Study details about cage size, placement, and quality, and the bird's views from it and its experience in it. Look at toys, and make sure the bird has a huge selection of things to chew instead of its own feathers. Study the diet, eliminate possible allergens, and make sure a large portion of it is fresh-- finding Reta's posts is an easy way to learn about parrotlets' best diet. Check the air for any type of pollutant including perfumes, pesticides, cleaners, sprays, combustion products, kitchen smells and gasses-- even if they are in other rooms or can come in from outside. Measure the humidity and make sure the bird gets plenty of bathing opportunities, and, while molting or plucking, gets wet to the skin at least once a day.

Stopping plucking takes some detective work, so keep a diary of what is going on at your house and with the bird, its toys, food, baths.... several of us here have experience with pluckers, and will gladly help you sort things out to get to the root of the problem.

[arabianhorselover]

The air gets drier, and the days get shorter. I do have a full-spectrum light for her, but I really don't know how many hours to have it on.

The only thing I can think of as far as allergens is wood smoke, which we have during the Winter months. I can't get rid of that, though.

She won't chew on anything anymore. She ignores everything I give her.
Pretty much all she does is eat and cling to the side of her cage.

Lisa

[lily]

Perhaps something terrified her. You could try diluted Rescue Remedy (available at the health food store) in her water every day for several weeks and see if that helps.

There have been threads on full-spectrum lighting and air cleaners-- you cold probably do a search for them.

[arabianhorselover]

I think something did terrify her. And she's never gotten over it. I did get full-spectrum lighting, but I really don't know how many hours to leave it on.

[skthurley]

I've heard a lot of great reviews about rescue remedy for dogs, cats and horses. Maybe give it a try. Poor Tiger :(

[lily]

Yes, Rescue Remedy won't hurt her, and she apparently isn't going to get over whatever it was by herself. Besides, Rescue Remedy is handy to have on hand for the people in the household, too.