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Hi, I recently rescued a parrot that was left in a very dark room for about 4 years with no stimulation at all. She was obviously very bored and stressed out so plucked her chest feathers out. I have given her a very good home and she is very happy here and talks a lot, but, she still plucks her feathers out as its become a habit. Has anyone out there that may have some advice as what I can do about it? thanks
 
I think a little more information is needed first i.e., what type of bird do you have, what is his/her name, what foods are you give her/him, toys, time out of cage, oh, loads of information and photos, we love photos.  Then there will be lots fri3endly people and helpful advice. 
 
Hi :welcome:

Good for you giving the poor parrot a good home.

Now what type of parrot is it and can we have some photos please.

Sadly once a bird plucks out feathers it is a habit and a difficult one to ever stop or get under control.

Has she plenty of toys and foraging toys, and what diet does she have.

Many member have birds that have done or  do this so hopefully they will be along with advice.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. Well done you, for giving a loving home to a neglected bird. What sort is she? Someone will be along with advice I'm sure. Have you taken her to the vet for a check up? They might be able to give advice too.
 
thanks for getting back to me so quickly. Roberta, Bobby for short is an African Grey, she is about 11years old and I have taught her quite a lot of words and phrases, I have her cage right by the window so she sees all that is going on. She is out of the cage at the moment, I let her out at least once aday and she  likes kissing my Chihuahuas all 4 of them. I also have a cockatiel she talks to. I feed her with a good quality parrot food apple and Banana, plus cooked broclie and carrots, but she doesn't seem to like any other fruit, don't think she was given any before so not used to other fruits. She has her wing feathers and head feathers plus tail, its mainly her chest feathers she takes out, but she is very healthy otherwise. I must get a friend to post a photo of her as I don't really know how to do that . getting old.
 
Bobby sounds lovely and she's lucky you found her.  How long have you had her.

Is the parrot food a sunflower seed mix? like you can buy in a pet shop, only often that is not considered that good for them.

Some folk feed Tidymix Parrot mix (I do) and others use various mixes (have a look on Scarletts website - loads of choices on there)

I guess introducing fruit & veg is a slow process, but keep offering it anyway.  Have you tried grapes, cherries,  pomegranate, raspberries and strawberries, only one or two too see if she likes those.  Also it may be a good idea to give her some supplement like Neutrabol sprinkled on her food maybe twice weekly?

A light spray with warm water also twice weekly may help the feathers.

Anyway others will be here later with lots of helpful advice I am sure.

I use photobucket to post up photos but there are other ways too.
 
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Their are many reasons for plucking yes diet and sunlight plus toys to stimulate her are all very important but I would recommend a blood test as if her diet had been poor for a while this may affect her internally and the blood can tell you what may be needed to bring her back to good health she may seem fine but they are experts in hiding problems until it is too late. Welcome to the forum
 
How wonderful that you are giving this bird a new lease on life.

For African Greys there are many things that can contribute to feather plucking. It is first a process of elimination. All the advice given above is perfect and I would also add an avian lamp which helps them process calcium.

My grey has a history of plucking and we are still working on it - he went from full time to on the odd occasion when something really upsets him! For us it was getting to know him and his needs, changing his diet to pellets and training to stimulate his brain. When he is in his cage his toys are foraging toys in order to get him interested in playing which he was not before.

I look forward to seeing photos and hearing your progress.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum! well done for giving this birdie a home, well what type of seed mix is very important as pet shop mixes are no good you have to buy online, mine get tidymix and AS30 if your already feeding this great if not its a good idea, chop is a great way of getting veggies into birdies and I have converted a few seriously non veggie eating sunflower seed junkies onto it, it takes time and for you to not give up even if it seems wasteful in the beginning, start off with 50% chop and 50% seed and gradually change the ratio until no seed or just a bit, here is a link to chop http://www.melbournebirdvet.com/chop.aspx then if your bird is on a seed diet it will need supplementing with nutrobal to make sure they are getting everything they need nutritionally, this doesn't need to be given everyday and it is especially good to give fussy eaters but all my flock get this a couple times a week sprinkled on their seed, you will notice a massive difference in her once you start doing this, also greys need something like this as they require extra calcium in their diet so you will need to make sure she is getting this, also how you feed makes a difference, my lot get chop in the morning when they are most hungry, then fruit and other things like palm oil on toast, (palm oil excellent for greys) scrambled egg, bird friendly muffins whatever I have made or want to give them for lunch and then in the evening they get their seed, if I leave the seed in all day they will favour this over the chop so again another way of getting them to eat, as Julia mentioned an avian light is a must as it helps them process calcium, making sure she has foraging toys to keep her occupied and mentally stimulated, we have a foraging thread you can look at for ideas, and you must get her to a vet to rule out anything, sometimes they pluck because there is something going on internally, if all these things are sorted and right you will have a very happy and healthy grey and in time one who may stop plucking but then again she may not and that is something you may have to come to terms with but your grey will be a very healthy and happy bird which is the most important thing, there is loads of helpful advice so have a good nosey around and we are here to help, if you need any help with where to get anything just say :)
 
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Hi everyone, many thanks for your welcome and all the advice. I have noticed that Bobby does prefer sunflower seeds to the other seeds, so will have to remedy that. She eats peach and apple and banana broclie and carrots. I have tried strawberries but she want eat them or raspberries, but I think I shall try tidymix  also Neutraol , may I ask what CHOP is? as I don't have the faintest idea, but will try, thanks Lou. She does eat toast with olive oil on it or butter.  But I think I will take her to a vet soon just get her checked out. Thanks everyone.
 
Butter on toast well that's not good for him I have.change diets ova few in my flock that bad. Been used to that never use while breed I use a weatgerm seared loaf but make a past from Harrison's but you can try palm oil instead
 
Hi, welcome from me! What a lovely thing you have done to save this grey and provide a good home!


I think you are right and a check up from an avian vet will let you know exactly what you are dealing with in the overall condition of Bobby. This and all the support of our experienced bird owners will ensure you provide the right care for Bobby.
 
I gave you a link in the post hun but here it is again http://www.melbournebirdvet.com/chop.aspx  :) sunflower seeds are not good for them and they will always favour these and its all they will eat, its the equivalent of us living off chocaolate, some are ok, I use them as training treats check out Scarletts for nutrobol, AS30 and tidymix, avian light all of it and more http://www.scarlettsparrotessentials.co.uk/
 
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well! I have been giving Bobby chopped veg and fruit, and I have to say that she loves it, I'v also been giving her other types of fruit which she wouldn't eat before but now is! which is great. Vet says she is healthy but has gotten into the habit of feather plucking, so she spends more time out of the cage now and I have bought some more toys to amuse her with. Somebody suggested I spray her with Aloe Vera juice mixed with water which is supposed to help her stop plucking, has anyone else heard of this?
 
Yes this is what i was told to use it helps the itching and may help to stop them most of the forum member's use aloe vera a lot i also have alo vera plant. I'm afraid i have a feather plucker and is totally destroyed under his /her wing and is under the vet at Stamford Bridge at the moment all the bloods have come back normal apart from one which was slightly raised due to travelling and dehydration due to travelling. It maybe you just have a plucker hun but you can get aloe vera juice from Holland and Barrett you add it to water and spray her with it on the days you give him /her a misting ☺

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