Need some help here...

[Jag]

I need to know some things about my CAG, and my last post got zero responses. I know the Grey area isn't busy, but it's what I'm stuck with. I don't know what some things that she's doing means, and I need to know, or I could end up missing a sign and getting bit.

She shakes her tail feathers from side to side... like a duck. She has growled at me a couple of times since I had to pick her up to put her in the travel box to take her to the vet. I know she's mad when she does that. If she fluffs her feathers, is that mad or relaxed? I've noticed that when she hears someone coming, she lays all her feathers down. There were some other questions that I can't remember about how she was acting... and I can't double post, so if someone could go look at that post "So I got her to step up" on the Grey area I'd appreciate it.

Also, the vet said he thinks the follicals are too damaged on her chest for her to grow feathers. However, she does have some pins on parts. I asked about keeping her warm, and basically he just suggested a reptile heating pad on the bottom of her cage. However, with a tall cage I don't see that putting out a lot of heat, and it would get ruined because of the poo, wouldn't it? She's also 15-20% underweight. I need to get weight on her, but she doesn't eat all that much. I was thinking about picking up hand feeding formula and mixing it up a little thicker in a bowl for her...or try to get her to take it off a spoon. Any chance she'd eat this...or that it would help her out to gain some strength and some weight?

If she plucked all these feathers to the point of damage, why didn't she ever pluck her wings, or tail, or her back feathers? The only thing she got was her chest and legs, and under her wings. Also some around her neck. She seems to be really itchy to me, but when I spray her with water, she shivers like crazy. Any idea how to warm her so I can bathe her? Keep in mind that I can occassionally get her to step up on a gloved hand, but there's like zero chance of me getting her into the shower. Plus, a fall in there could kill her because of how thin she is. Her keel bone is VERY prominant.

Thanks!

[r2rusmc]

Originally Posted by Jag

I need to know some things about my CAG, and my last post got zero responses. I know the Grey area isn't busy, but it's what I'm stuck with. I don't know what some things that she's doing means, and I need to know, or I could end up missing a sign and getting bit.

She shakes her tail feathers from side to side... like a duck. She has growled at me a couple of times since I had to pick her up to put her in the travel box to take her to the vet. I know she's mad when she does that. If she fluffs her feathers, is that mad or relaxed? I've noticed that when she hears someone coming, she lays all her feathers down. There were some other questions that I can't remember about how she was acting... and I can't double post, so if someone could go look at that post "So I got her to step up" on the Grey area I'd appreciate it.

Also, the vet said he thinks the follicals are too damaged on her chest for her to grow feathers. However, she does have some pins on parts. I asked about keeping her warm, and basically he just suggested a reptile heating pad on the bottom of her cage. However, with a tall cage I don't see that putting out a lot of heat, and it would get ruined because of the poo, wouldn't it? She's also 15-20% underweight. I need to get weight on her, but she doesn't eat all that much. I was thinking about picking up hand feeding formula and mixing it up a little thicker in a bowl for her...or try to get her to take it off a spoon. Any chance she'd eat this...or that it would help her out to gain some strength and some weight?

If she plucked all these feathers to the point of damage, why didn't she ever pluck her wings, or tail, or her back feathers? The only thing she got was her chest and legs, and under her wings. Also some around her neck. She seems to be really itchy to me, but when I spray her with water, she shivers like crazy. Any idea how to warm her so I can bathe her? Keep in mind that I can occassionally get her to step up on a gloved hand, but there's like zero chance of me getting her into the shower. Plus, a fall in there could kill her because of how thin she is. Her keel bone is VERY prominant.

Thanks!

Birds wag their tails, not always for a reason.

Growling is typically a warning noise but not always.

Fluffed can be relaxed, warning you to keep away, sick, whatever.

Smoothed down feathers can mean gearing up for an attack or just looking pretty.

Greys typically do not like tall cages. Wider is better.

With normal house temps she should be fine. Why add extra heat?

You'll probably end up wasting your money if you buy handfeeding formula.

Pluckers don't always pluck their entire body. The chest, legs and backs are the common spots.

Why do you think she is itchy? What did the vet say about that?

Take her into the shower and when she is all wet keep her out of drafts until she dries. Unless your home is an icebox she should be fine. If you are really worried about the temp then use a lamp to add extra heat.

Gloves are bad, bad, bad. If they are tough enough to protect your hands from a bite then they are too tough to know if you are being too rough.

Gloves = no-no.

For gaining weight good healthy foods with a slight increase in the fat content from healthier fats. Naturally occurring fat in whole foods is good but don't go overboard with it. Greys can very easily tip the scale into the fatty liver disease direction.

[birdiemommy]

As far as fluffing up, could you describe it? When my grey is comfy and fluffed, he is sitting low on the perch, looking all settled in. His feathers are mildly fluffes, especially on the head.
I worked with a rescued grey who disliked women, and he would fluff up before he bit. He tended to lean forward, with his head looking down. He would do more than the comfy fluff, the head, shoulders and upper back would stand up, it would look almost like they were standing on end. That meant business.
I found a online pic, it is not mine though....check it out.... about half way down the page is a grey on the offense.... Reading Your Parrot's Body Language - For Dummies

[Merlie]

There's a product out there called "Instant Ounces", used to help birds gain weight, I've never used it myself, but I've read threads in the past where people used it with success to help ill birds, or babies that arn't gaining well.

[my-africangrey-echo]

I must say that r2rusmc has said it very well. I really dont have anything to add. Thanks for the input r2rusmc

[Jag]

Originally Posted by birdiemommy

As far as fluffing up, could you describe it? When my grey is comfy and fluffed, he is sitting low on the perch, looking all settled in. His feathers are mildly fluffes, especially on the head.
I worked with a rescued grey who disliked women, and he would fluff up before he bit. He tended to lean forward, with his head looking down. He would do more than the comfy fluff, the head, shoulders and upper back would stand up, it would look almost like they were standing on end. That meant business.
I found a online pic, it is not mine though....check it out.... about half way down the page is a grey on the offense.... Reading Your Parrot's Body Language - For Dummies

OK. I've seen this before, but not many times. She's usually puffed, but looking relaxed. She ended up taking a long nap... so did I. She was really really mad about the vet thing. She still ate alittle for me when we got back (after a bit) but still will only eat the fresh stuff if I hand it to her.

[FloorCandy]

My guess for the weight gain is that the previous owners were not feeding enough or not feeding healthy foods. My CAG was underweight when I got him, at least from photos people said he was...Come to think of it, I ordered a scale, and it never came hmmmmmm... anywho, after a month of having a big variety of foods readily available, I feel like he is looking very good. However maybe he has brain damage...he has been insistently telling me good morning, and it's 7pm lol, I think he wants his morning walnut. But in all seriousness, (its hard not to be silly when you're listening to quacking and giggling) I think in your home he will gain weight and confidence quickly. You will adjust to the body language, I have been bit a few times, it's not as bad as you think from the beak size, He has never broken skin. Find a treat he really likes, and when you ask him to step up ask him if he wants it, he may need to think about it for a bit, but be patient, I asked Henry with an apple, now he constantly lifts his foot and says apple, Henry wants an apple, wants apple... You can try popcorn too, that's Henry's favorite.

[BirdMommaAK]

I had to raise the temperature in Asia's cage when she had her respiratory infection. It was recommended that I put a lightbulb near her cage. That is what I did, and I could feel the heat.

I just used one of those clamp lights with a 75 watt bulb. She usually ended up on a perch near it, I'm sure that would work for Ziva.

[Jag]

Greys typically do not like tall cages. Wider is better.

Right now, she's in a 24x24 cube that is probably 40 inches tall on the inside. The tray is several inches below the bottom. I was going to pick her up another cage, but it's now on hold because of the vet crap.

With normal house temps she should be fine. Why add extra heat?

She's nekkid all over her front, and shivers alot. I worry about her being cold. If I mist her, she really starts shaking after she's wet.

You'll probably end up wasting your money if you buy handfeeding formula.

Pluckers don't always pluck their entire body. The chest, legs and backs are the common spots.

She didn't touch her back, just her chest/legs/neck. Given her history, I wonder how malnurished she is or if she's sick and that's why she's plucked herself.

Why do you think she is itchy? What did the vet say about that?

Vet said to put desatin or talc under her wings where her wing feathers may rub to prevent irritation or skin breakdown from moisture and friction. He knows I can't do that right now...because I can't touch her that much. He didn't say anything when I said she appeared itchy other than her skin did look dry, and we'd see what the labs showed.

Take her into the shower and when she is all wet keep her out of drafts until she dries. Unless your home is an icebox she should be fine. If you are really worried about the temp then use a lamp to add extra heat.

Can't get her into the shower. Can't touch her enough right now. The vet did say that heating lamps would be bad because they would further dry out her skin, and that dry heat was bad in general. She's not in drafts, and we closed vents downstairs so it isn't so cold. Come winter, though, it will be a little colder.

Gloves are bad, bad, bad. If they are tough enough to protect your hands from a bite then they are too tough to know if you are being too rough.

Gloves = no-no. She has an issue with hands..skin...etc. She also doesn't like dowels. I'll go back to using the dowel, but she will put a foot up for a gloved hand, but not for a bare one. However, this morning she wasn't doing anything or going anywhere...wouldn't come out of her cage. I had to safely get her into the travel cage to go to the vet. When she has gotten onto a dowel, she spreads her wings and flaps for balance...so I couldn't have gotten her in the door to the travel cage. Hopefully by the time I have to put her in it again, I can get her used to bare skin. I'm just working around her preferences at this point. The person I got her from toweled her to get her out, and I have to say she wasn't happy about that. She's obviously been toweled before, and I was really concerned about her wings being harmed while they were trying to do this.

For gaining weight good healthy foods with a slight increase in the fat content from healthier fats. Naturally occurring fat in whole foods is good but don't go overboard with it. Greys can very easily tip the scale into the fatty liver disease direction.

Well, I called back to the vet's office... one to get some clarity on why the HUGE difference in price, and two to get an EXACT weight. They gave me 467 grams.. which I read was normal for a grey. I don't know why he said she was 15-20% underweight then. He has a grey of his own..

All in all, I'm not thrilled with his office over the price, and because I felt like he didn't give me all the info/answers I was looking for to things. Like if he's saying she's very underweight, then I think he should have told me exactly what he thought I should do about it. Yet he brushed off the heat loss from her lack of feathering on her belly...

She's also yet to play with a toy. I know that not having them for years could cause a problem, but I'm also not seeing her pluck. The head shaking she's doing a lot I just read could be normal. The conures don't do that.

[r2rusmc]

With normal household temperatures she should be fine without additional heat. Since she shivers when you mist her then do it in a steamy bathroom and leave her there until she dries off. Put her cage on the can if you have to. Misting every day can cause more problems than solve. Cut the misting down to every other day. The use of a heatlamp while she's drying out post shower will not hurt her.

She may have plucked because she's sick. She may have plucked because she's bored. She may have plucked because she didn't like the color of paint on the wall beside her cage. Chances are high that you'll never really figure out why she plucked. All you can do at this point is try to help her to not pluck.

You need to learn how to towel. Done properly her wings will not be damaged.

467 grams is not underweight for most CAG's. This is an avian certified vet?

My 20 yo grey didn't play with toys for nearly two years because for the first 15 years of her life she never had any. Her previous owner chastised me for wasting money on toys.

My greys shake their head every once in awhile some days more than others. Don't stress over it.

OK now my serious advice...

SLOW DOWN!!!

You are not going to solve all her problems overnite. It may take years. Work in baby steps. At this point in time she is "honeymooning" and you are most likely seeing only the good because she's overwhelmed with the newness of everything. Enjoy it because it is not going to last.

I'm stressed that your vet had no problems taking all your money but didn't bother to answer questions and give advice. Something just isn't right about that.

Sit down right now and right down a list of questions for your Vet. Then call and ask all your questions or email them to him. For what he charged you he should have offered a wraparound.