'cut' Feathers And Bald Patches?

arbitmcdonald

Regular Member
Good morning all!
I picked up Bella just 36 hours ago from a private owner, she had been there for two months and was in a pretty messy condition. There was little space, no where to fly and the house had two dogs and 5 kids - a very stressful environment for a bird. She has beautiful feathers but has spent the last 36 hours constantly plucking, pruning and 'cutting' them. 99% of what she pulls out looks like down, small fluffy feathers from under her main ones. This plucking however is damaging her main feathers. She's 5 years old and I have little history to go on - is this normal B&G Macaw moulting? I should add that she is completely bald under her wings, where the wing meets the body, on both sides. I can't get a photo as she won't come on to my arm or shoulder yet (she just lets me feed and play with her).

I'm taking her to the vet on Monday, but any thoughts would be welcomed because I'm very worried. Thanks x

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Glad to join this forum, looks like I'll be here a lot over the next
 
Hi arbitmcdonald yes probably a good idea to Bella to the vet for a check up . Im sure once she has settled down with a good diet and lots of love from you she will be ok .

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Hi :welcome:

Poor B&G has had a stressful life by the sound of it and there's no surprise she's plucking & picking at her feathers. She needs to settle down in her new home and new people. And she's only 5 years old to have had a few homes already, poor Bella.
Also you may need to have a look at her diet in due course.

Good idea to get her checked by an avian vet.
We have many members with Macaws and I am sure they will give advice in due course, some I can think of are
@Michael Reynolds @Kendra @ladyc maybe @Parrot797 @marley and many more I know I've missed.

Do keep us up to date and ask away any questions.
 
Thank you both! I can't wait to see her settled down and happy. It seems she's been kept on a diet of seeds and nuts, with a rare piece of fresh fruit. Everything I'm reading suggests pellets. Fellow Macaw owners... any thoughts on these (Planning to buy them now for next day delivery:

- https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0042J59SS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?smid=A3B1X0EEQJ6DI&psc=1
- https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003A8MFBG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1
- https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00366YM22/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1

Also, if I can't touch her yet... and she won't come to me... how can I get her in to a box/cage for the vet visit? And for cage/box selection, any thoughts on this:
- https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00XW91CVC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1AJ6KNZICSHYO&psc=1
- https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B018KJ4NVE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1EF8C82OPVYZN&psc=1

I want to make sure I do right by her :)
 
That poor little girl, she obviously has been messed around, as Diana says needs a good diet, peace and plenty of time to settle and get to know her new home and family.

I have had Lucy Lou only 6 months a female B&G, takes them a long time to settle. Michael and others are more experienced than I, but feeding is a problem, she seems to eat so little compared to her size. Put her on good diet, fresh fruit and vegetables every day and a good seed mix, Tidy mix, AS20 or AS30. Nuts, Lucy Lou will eat nuts and she loves pasta so have been using that to entice her to eat more fresh stuff. I get the pasta that is made from vegetables, not easy but if you search the web it can be found. She does like the Prestige Noddle mixes. Lucy Lou is bald all across her stomach

Lucy Lou has had me worried many times since she came but it has just been me expecting too much and her needing time to settle, she had around 7 homes in 1 year. She rarely flies but has a good wing flap nearly every day. I have put her in the biggest cage I could find, with loads of toys and of course a swing, she likes her swing. Don't forget the UV lamp if she is not going out regularly, where do you live?

Another toy that went down well, beside the one Diana gave me, was just a set of baby links with the small cardboard chew rings put on the links, I was surprised as she soon moved in to destroy, but the rings are easily replaced, bit of a mess but hey, she was enjoying herself.

Members have varying opinions on pellets, I rarely feed them and then only the TOPS, others are full of additives etc. Most birds do not like them anyway.

We made our own travel cage but believe Scarletts sell one, think it is a King's suitable for a macaw, remember they have powerful beaks.
 
That poor little girl, she obviously has been messed around, as Diana says needs a good diet, peace and plenty of time to settle and get to know her new home and family.

I have had Lucy Lou only 6 months a female B&G, takes them a long time to settle. Michael and others are more experienced than I, but feeding is a problem, she seems to eat so little compared to her size. Put her on good diet, fresh fruit and vegetables every day and a good seed mix, Tidy mix, AS20 or AS30. Nuts, Lucy Lou will eat nuts and she loves pasta so have been using that to entice her to eat more fresh stuff. I get the pasta that is made from vegetables, not easy but if you search the web it can be found. She does like the Prestige Noddle mixes. Lucy Lou is bald all across her stomach

Lucy Lou has had me worried many times since she came but it has just been me expecting too much and her needing time to settle, she had around 7 homes in 1 year. She rarely flies but has a good wing flap nearly every day. I have put her in the biggest cage I could find, with loads of toys and of course a swing, she likes her swing. Don't forget the UV lamp if she is not going out regularly, where do you live?

Another toy that went down well, beside the one Diana gave me, was just a set of baby links with the small cardboard chew rings put on the links, I was surprised as she soon moved in to destroy, but the rings are easily replaced, bit of a mess but hey, she was enjoying herself.

This is great information, thank you! I live in East London, but the cage is by massive floor to ceiling windows - we're a 10th floor duplex so she has a view of parks and the city. She flys from the living room to the bedroom, to the drying rack and then back to the living room, perhaps twice a day. Other than that she flaps around and chews up the sofa! Is a UV light really beneficial? In what scenario is it a must - just when there is little natural light?

I was about to buy pellet but if nuts, seeds, fresh fruit + veg and pasta are healthy alternatives then I'm all ears!

I've just added swing and wall mounted perch to my list of must haves :)
 
Yes, UV lights are a must, I am sure another member will explain why fully, but they need the UV to process calcium. @TomsMum Light through windows filters out any beneficial rays. Go and have a look at Scarlettsparrotessentials web site, everything you could need is on there and the prices are very reasonable, she also sells the link toy, but I find she has so much in there you come away penniless, you have chosen an expensive family member, but so pleased you got her out of what sounds like torture. Garden Feathers is also a great site. What is her name?

Will have a look for the UV light I use for Lucy Lou.................
 
they need the UV to process calcium
Then I'm off to get myself a light! Any advice on when to use it, where to put it and for how long it should be on per day?

What is her name?
Her name is Bella :emoji_blush:

you have chosen an expensive family member, but so pleased you got her out of what sounds like torture
I'm very quickly learning about the running costs of parrot ownership! But I think it's going to be well worth every penny.
 
Arcadia E27 Lamp kit. Will not let me copy the photos, but we have had to put the light in a small cage on hers with the wires covered in ermm a plastic concertina type tubing. We did buy a separate standard UV light thinking it would be parrot proof, lasted 24 hours before our CAG totally demolished it. They can actually be removed when not in use but this would be such a long job for me as the cage towers above me

How long? I usually have it on 2 - 4 hours per day. I have bought her a harness, eventually I hope we can go out for walks.
 
HI and :welcome: to the forum.

Kings are the very best of travel cages - Northern Parrots sell them
http://www.northernparrots.com/king...gle_shopping&gclid=CIfHptnlxNQCFcEp0wodRLoL6g
But you need a big budget...they are very strong and will hold a macaw....I have seen a lady with one at our vet's.....ai've also seen macaws in the big plastic dog carriers...they would not stand a macaw beak, but if you had a tame and placid bird then I guess they're ok...also seen that set up at our vet's!

A varied diet especially with fresh veg fruit and nuts is just as good as pellets
We have macaw members who use both ... @marley @Parrot797 @MJGB - MikeJenGaryBeckyBoo
 
:risas3: Yes....I spend far more on parrot stuff than I do on things for myself!

Don't rush and try and buy everything at once......see how Bella settles in and what sort of character she is. An improved diet and the UV light will help that feather condition along a lot.
 
Hi, welcome to the forum. Very brief answer because I'm out and about at the moment.... we feed our 2 bg macaws harrisons organic pellets, with fresh/cooked veg. Nuts are given as part of their training (touch/clicker training and games like fetch), and they get fruit as a treat. They love peeling a satsuma haha! Insurance is v important, vet bills can cost a mint, although don't do what we do and keep forgetting to claim it back lol! She sounds stressed, so just be consistent with her, do some simple touch training with her so she knows she can trust you. The vet will check weight etc, and it's important you keep an eye on her weight. Our 2 are on a strict diet cos they can easily pile on the weight. Hence limited nuts! Hopefully she likes baths, that will help with her skin and feathers. Erm.... a long 'short' reply lol! Best of luck, others on here are great, so you'll get lots of help! This is where we came for our bgs! Xx

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Hi, welcome to the forum. Very brief answer because I'm out and about at the moment.... we feed our 2 bg macaws harrisons organic pellets, with fresh/cooked veg. Nuts are given as part of their training (touch/clicker training and games like fetch), and they get fruit as a treat. They love peeling a satsuma haha! Insurance is v important, vet bills can cost a mint, although don't do what we do and keep forgetting to claim it back lol! She sounds stressed, so just be consistent with her, do some simple touch training with her so she knows she can trust you. The vet will check weight etc, and it's important you keep an eye on her weight. Our 2 are on a strict diet cos they can easily pile on the weight. Hence limited nuts! Hopefully she likes baths, that will help with her skin and feathers. Erm.... a long 'short' reply lol! Best of luck, others on here are great, so you'll get lots of help! This is where we came for our bgs! Xx

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Thanks :) I'm sorting the insurance today, looks like it's going to be £23 with ExoticDirect.
 
Forgot to mention, showers or baths, these will help considerably if she is preening/moulting/chewing her feathers. Lou loves a shower, I use a pump action spray but sometimes she does not wish to know others she will come to the mist and have a good old time, some like to go in the human shower which must be easier. Depends what she is used to but unsure what size bowl she would need for a bath.
 
Just to add re shower, make sure you put warm water in the spray as by the time it reaches her it will be just right. Also do not shower in the evening as she needs to dry off before bed time.
 
Hello and welcome!
With regards to her feathers... both my macaws are going through HUGE moors at the moment. My b&g's cage looks like a feather pillow has exploded in there! I would imagine your new baby is going through the same. Always good to get a new birdie checked over by an avian specialist vet though.

Feeding wise, mine won't eat pellets. They currently have Tidymix and AS30 seed mix from Scarletts Parrot Essentials, along with fresh fruit and veg. I supplement them Avimix sprinkled on their food and Avigold in their water.
 
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