Pulling new leg feathers

MoochieWoochie

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MoochieWoochie
Hello,
Moochie is a 13 year old Black headed Cacique. She was rescued 10 years ago.
For the last couple of years she had been putting her feathers out on her legs.
Before we go any further. She has been to 2 different Vets. Both have said it is behavioral.
She has had her food seed changed 3 times, she also eats mixed veggies without the corn, pomegranate seeds, blueberries, apple. She is given very good vitamins each day.
She is free flight only in the cage at night. Her tent is cleaned and wiped out. She came with the tent and tried to take it away, she would not go to sleep. Perches in 2 windows, 1 perch on mirror in bathroom, 1 ladder in sliding glass door. Lots of toys.
She will not stop picking her legs with new feathers she will pick at them and pull new growth. The foot is up all the time and she is uncomfortable and not happy. We have tried Aloe vera gel, which only works for a little bit.
We are now giving her CBD oil it helps but like Aloe just for a little bit.
Please any help would be grateful.
Moochie and Moochie's family.
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Hi Welcome. Sorry to hear this, it is so difficult to stop once a bird starts pulling feathers,it becomes a habit. Were the vets avian vets.
I wonder if there's some type of irritation going on especially a it sounds like Aloe Vera could be soothing them for a short while.
Let's see what our members think @DizzyBlue .....anyone please.
May we have a photo of her, especially the legs!
 
Hello, It really sounds as though you are trying as much as you can to help Moochie in a variety of ways, I personally don't have any suggestions, but I'm sure others on this forum will be able to offer some advice and ideas.
You may find it useful to search the forums on the site, but you are looking for a cause so maybe also to try to think how much feather she allows to grow through and recognise if there is a pattern of anything that happens before Moochie pulls her feathers.
 
Hi and welcome, I'm sorry to hear of this. It actually sounds like you're already trying everything. The only other thing I can think of (if it is indeed an irritation) is have you changed anything around the house or yourselves? New cleaning products, new washing detergents, new perfumes..... anything really. I know it might be a long shot, but maybe worth a thought? Was there a trigger/trauma/big change maybe that started the plucking and it became a habit? I know it's vague but I'm only speaking from experience from my own birds. By way of an extremely simple explanation, we have a rescue female macaw who came to us as a nudist. She has a skin condition which is the primary cause. However, our 4 year old male macaw (at the time) started to copy her plucking patterns and is now also partially 'oven ready'. We've had them both tested for all kinds, changed their diet etc... etc... (you know the drill!) and the only explanation is that it's a self soothing behaviour (much like a person biting their nails). Ultimately they're healthy, happy, living their best life but with less feathers. I hope things settle down though, because I know we humans seem to worry far more than the bird does!
 
Hello and welcome from me and my flock.
I had a similar problem with one of my Grey's.
I have one that is a nudist and two Grey's that are normally feather perfect.
My youngest grey Denarii about 4 years ago I came home to a few fluffy feathers, that night more went and within the week she looked like she had shaved her legs!
So off to the avian vet and he said it was a stress reaction rather than like my nudist a habit. She was given drugs to calm her nerves for 10 days and she stopped doing it. Very odd. Then two years later the same reaction the same prescription and no further issues.
I would first go with MJGB theory. Remove all things perfumed no candles no sprays no room fresheners (some forget or don't know they are irritants) change what you clean the cage with try something like apple cider vinegar diluted instead of chemical I use F10 diluted. Could be a long process of elimination.
 
DizzyBlue said:
Hello and welcome from me and my flock.
I had a similar problem with one of my Grey's.
I have one that is a nudist and two Grey's that are normally feather perfect.
My youngest grey Denarii about 4 years ago I came home to a few fluffy feathers, that night more went and within the week she looked like she had shaved her legs!
So off to the avian vet and he said it was a stress reaction rather than like my nudist a habit. She was given drugs to calm her nerves for 10 days and she stopped doing it. Very odd. Then two years later the same reaction the same prescription and no further issues.
I would first go with MJGB theory. Remove all things perfumed no candles no sprays no room fresheners (some forget or don't know they are irritants) change what you clean the cage with try something like apple cider vinegar diluted instead of chemical I use F10 diluted. Could be a long process of elimination.
Click to expand...
Hi DizzyBlue,
Thanks.
I have owned a Blue Front Amazon before Moochie
I have been make my own cleaning solution water, vinegar and a dash of ivory soap for years
I use this for everything around the house including Moochie's things. I do have anything with smell.
Same laundry detergent, do not burn candles.
I also make parrot friendly food. That is what she is eating. She waste about 3/4 of it. This was after a shower for being a good girl. Not an everyday thing.
 

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MJGB - MikeJenGaryBeckyBoo said:
Hi and welcome, I'm sorry to hear of this. It actually sounds like you're already trying everything. The only other thing I can think of (if it is indeed an irritation) is have you changed anything around the house or yourselves? New cleaning products, new washing detergents, new perfumes..... anything really. I know it might be a long shot, but maybe worth a thought? Was there a trigger/trauma/big change maybe that started the plucking and it became a habit? I know it's vague but I'm only speaking from experience from my own birds. By way of an extremely simple explanation, we have a rescue female macaw who came to us as a nudist. She has a skin condition which is the primary cause. However, our 4 year old male macaw (at the time) started to copy her plucking patterns and is now also partially 'oven ready'. We've had them both tested for all kinds, changed their diet etc... etc... (you know the drill!) and the only explanation is that it's a self soothing behaviour (much like a person biting their nails). Ultimately they're healthy, happy, living their best life but with less feathers. I hope things settle down though, because I know we humans seem to worry far more than the bird does!
Click to expand...
Hi MJGB,

Thanks
Previously owned a Blue Front Amazon.
She keeps a foot up when she is like this. So something is bothering her.
Nothing has changed. No perfume, no candles and I make my own cleaning solution. Been doing that for years I make an of her treats myself. Parrot friendly.
Understand about the soothing behavior but when Moochie is doing it she is not happy at all and can be quit aggressive. So for me that is not soothing behaver.
We are stumped.IMG_20211108_181311055.jpg
 
Awesome @MoochieWoochie That brings the possibilities right down :thumbsup:
I had to go to the nitty gritty :rolleyes: I changed her toys around and her sisters who is in the cage next to her, blocked partial view so she could dodge out of sight from the windows in case it was something she could see outside, made sure I didn't wander in the house wearing my work PPE. I didn't nail it down to one thing but somewhere in the alterations and going into the changes we nailed it.
Daft question but are the ingredients to Moochies food human grade? Pondering if something in that is a culprit... Doubt it but you never know....
Moochie looks beautiful :feel_loved:
That is exactly the same as what Denarii did to hers but we ended up with just smooth skin in days not a feather in sight over here but the rest of her feather perfect :noidea:
 
Sounds like she gets amazing care in all respects. My guess is that this behaviour could be hormonal...one of my greys gets a bit 'picky' when she wants to breed...
 
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