Cone/Collaring a plucking grey

[emilybomb]

Hi there,

My 10 month old CAG has been diagnosed with herpes - it doesn't affect him in any other way than making his skin irritated to the point where he has plucked himself down to his down. Right now he is taking an anti-viral that hopefully will help him combat the virus but in the meantime he has exposed bare patches on his wings that are starting to look a bit sore and he is showing a bit of skin on his breast. The vet has him on the anti-viral for a few more days and if that doesn't show any positive results then he says the next step is putting on a cone/collar.

I can't seem to find anything about greys wearing these for plucking on this forum or very much online in general. Can anyone offer any personal accounts? I'm heartbroken about having to go to this extreme step but I do not want him to mutilate himself further.

Any help or thoughts or links would be very appreciated. I just feel ill about the whole thing - my poor baby.

[Lisa B]

I dont know much about greys and herpes so maybe someone else can step in.However I do know alot about collars.
If hte bird is mutilating himself, then yes a collar needs to go on.
I will probably catch flack for this, but I dont care. I know whats best for my grey, and when he is attempting to rip patches of skin off, the best thing to do is collar him..... He then calms down, is happy, grinds his beak and talks away. He has been tested for everything under the sun, and is completely healthy and normal. He does, however, suffer from seperation axiety and self mutilates his feathers, and skin.
They are very sad looking with the collar. I do know that I do not want to attempt haldol yet till its become more used by birds because while being the experiment with so many other things in life, I dont want to experiment with Drugs.

The problem with collaring is that its not a long term fix. only an immediate solution to a problem that will likely continue untill the real problem is solved.
That with your guy being an illness.

Post in the emergencies section to see if our on board vet had insight or the other with experience in this subject.
Good Luck.

[cpryslek]

you can even put a sock on,too. just cut out places for the wings and slip it on. or if you can order a featherprotector from avian fashions. their website is:
www.birddiaper.com or their # is 1-888-412-7667.hope this helps

[The Outlaw]

I also make vests for pluckers. I have a BG who plucks. This keeps her warm and diverts her attention.

[Lisa B]

Nancy, Sydney needs leg warmers...ya make them

[The Outlaw]

LOL. If I did, Mia would be wearing them. I just got a mental image of a parrot in leg warmers. Reminds me of Flash Dance.