Itch, itch

[Vee]

I have a 2 year old AG and he is a very content happy bird. We bond well and spend a lot of time together. I do however battle to get him to eat veggies, he loves nuts and apples. I feed him a mixed Parrot Feed which he seems to be ok with. I also bath him once a week with a spray bottle as he doesn't allow me to put in in the shower or like splashing in a bowl of water. I have noticed the past 2 days that he is always scratching himself as if preening but can do this for hours. There are small white feathers around his cage and I have never found any large feathers or bald places on him. I am just concerned that he is missing something in his diet and this is affecting his well being. As I live in Doha Qatar we are very limited to bird supplies and have to either order from abroad or try and get someone to bring it in for me. I have made an appointment at the Vet for next week just to clip his wings and also for a general check up. Is this continuous scratching anything to worry about? I have only noticed him doing this the last 2-3 days. How can I get him to eat veggies and more fruit?

[my-africangrey-echo]

OK the white downy feathers are probably from a molt. As long as there are no bald spots should be ok.

To get him to eat more fruits and veggies try this. Chop them up real small and add them to his normal feed. He will start eating them without realizing it then slowly chop them in bigger pieces. But you will need to change the food after about 3 hours so you dont have bacteria starting to grow on them. I am not familiar with where "Doha Qatar" is. Do you have a pellet mix in your part of the world? If the mixed parrot feed is mostly seeds you might want to see if you can find or order a pellet mix for him.

By the way welcome to our forum and where in the world is Doha Qatar?

[GreyGoose]

He probably has a lot of little pin feathers the ones in the casing that are new feathers Goose scratches his head a lot especially after I scratch it or rub it. The pin feathers on his head and some around his neck he cant reach when he is preening so when I am rubbing his head I lightly squeeze the ends of those pin feathers to get the casing off to grow and it helps him a lot, otherwise his head itches a lot more.

I cant get Goose to eat many veggies either he only wants them if I'm eating them but I give him "The Missing Link" just because sometimes I dont feel like he gets what he needs and it helps

[Vee]

Thanks so much forthe advice. I am going to start chopping his veg from tomorrow and see how it goes. I am just concerned that he is not getting enough nourishment. Doha Qatar is outside Saudi Arabia near Bharain next to Dubai. Sorry but thats the only way I can explain where Doha is. Take care.

[Vee]

Hi Grey Goose, thanks for the input. Glad to hear it is nothing to worry about. I will have him checked at the Vets next week but I am sure you are right. Take care and thanks again

[Vee]

The parrot mix I am giving him is called Trill. It hasthe following: Dehulled Oats, White French Millet, Red Sorghum, Gray Striped Sunflower Seed, Safflower Seed. Canary Seed, Shell Grit and Shelled Peanuts. Crude Protein, Crude Fat, Crude Fibre, Sa;t (NaCl), Calcuim. Ash, Water. Manufactured in Australia. Does this sound ok to you?

[babypiggy]

if u can get something without sunflower seeds that would be better
as for the nutritional value i'm not sure
:P

also if u can find pelleted food that would be even better than a full seed diet

u can give him some seeds still if u wish but not that much
probably 30% of his diet at most