[Stellas Mom]

First I want to apologize for the size of this post. Its going to be long one!

Some of you might remember that we adopted Stella in February! If it wasn't for this board, we may have not kept him. You guys are the best ever! ... ok with that said... you might remember that I felt it was odd (and so did u) that I never got a chance to speak to his previous Mom. She gave my hubby a quick run down and that was that!... for instance his favorite foods were chocolate and french fries..... Don't panic! you guys straightened that out for me from day one!.. and now he has a better diet than I do!! I mentioned to you guys, his coloring is better and he's a much happier bird now that he's with us and I was correct about all my thoughts about his previous "Mom".. (using that word because its nicer than I word I really want to use)

Sorry i'm all over the place but I'm pissed off!... anyhoo, I had posted a few weeks ago that I was noticing Stella's nails were way too long and it was suggested I do the nail file routine with him but he wasn't taking to it quick enough for our liking so I decided to call a couple of Avian Vets.. The two I called were rude and abrupt and I didn't like the tone! specially the one that asked me for my credit card to make full payment when I book the appointment over the phone! and thus, I hung up on them!.. I knew that when Stella got here, his food had a sticker on it from a bird welness centre and I called them. It was the Vet she took him too!. I booked the app't... beak trimming and nails..

Which leads me to today... I wanted to know his history and as it turned out... I was sick to my stomach to learn of his history. She only took him in for his first health check visit when he was 2 years old (he will be 3 this August)... and she didn't even have him properly checked. She took the cheap route. When we got him, the feathers on his chest were all yucky but she had told my hubby that she boarded him in December and he was bitten by another bird and thats why the ruffled looking feathers.. WELL, I find out today its not true. She was to bring him back for a full physical and never did but she did bring him in to be boarded for 3 days and all was fine.... however, in January she brought him in on an emergency because he was bite by another bird (vet never received all info from her) and he had stitches... than 2 weeks later she brought him in again because his knuckles were bleeding.... the Vet never saw Stella after that. He also said "your bird has a huge feather picking problem" and I asked "because he's a GCC?" Vet said nope! it was a terrible problem that I told her about when she was here for the first time last June. ..WHAT! OMG! He said it is possible that Stella has stopped this now that he is with us but there really could be 100 reasons why he does this and that we should collect some feathers and take them to him and book a 1 hour consultation with him, me, hubby & Stella because it could be dangerous for him. He plucked a couple of Stella's feathers (grey down feathers on his chest) and than showed me the pin feather and the 1/2 plucked feather... I believe he said its good if I find feathers that still have the pins attached and not good if I find lots of 1/2 little feathers (that he would bite off)... now that I am home and trying to calm down, I'm hoping that is the right information that I absorbed! Is it good when I find the pin feathers? will this mean he no longer has him problem?... I donno but I am looking for any suggestions on how to stop him from doing this. The Vet (who was fantastic) said to keep him busy and we do but when i'm at work, he has 6 hours to pluck away if he wants too. I think we should book this appointment with him but right now, its more important to book the physical ($250.00) and maybe the consultation on feather picking next month. but I don't want to wait on the solution for this. I want to start helping him today. What I thought was preening seems to be feather picking... who knew...

I'm still pissed off that we didn't know about the stitches or the knuckles or that he's not been properly takin care of by a vet..... I'll calm down eventually! I always said that when she gave him away, she gave us a bulls**t reason and I felt he was just too much bird!... now I find out some other bird bite him.. hurt him etc..... and that she just lied to get rid of him..... anyhow, he's with us now and all better! eats well, looks great and is happy! but this feather picking issue is killing me!... the Vet said by now a GCC should have green feathers on his chest and not the beat up old grey ones that he has. He looks heathly and but apparently, he should look even better..... Any suggestions?

He also said we are giving him too many seeds in his treats. I should only be giving him pellets and a handfull of his seed treat mix once a week. I`ve have been leaving a full bowl (along with pellots) in his cage. He gets fruits, vegys etc all the time).. apparently the seed mix (has all kinds of good stuff!) is fatty and I should back off..... what do u think

Thanks for listening to me vent. Sorry if some of this doesn`t make sense! I have so many things running threw my head right now about this!
I guess we are so in-love with him now and only want the best! (hubby is away on business and he hasn't called yet).... so thanks for taking his place right now and lending me your ears! (or should I say eyes!)

Thanks! I love you guys! I don't know what I would do without you! All the way home I was thinking "how quick can I get online and post!"..

XXXOOO
Marilyn