guess who left her feathers alone last night??

[Bela]

I am about to board a train into the city to go to work, so I don't have much time but wanted to let you all know we found the problem!

In short, she was hot! My other birds were not pulling feathers so I didn't think anything of it. Two things changed here from last year. I started running the air conditionong unit on energy save mode and I started using fans (not blowing on them) to aid in cooling. Well, her cage cover is somewhat thick for summer and the poor thing must have been hot and couldn't sleep. This all hit me like a ton of bricks when I came home from work. I was hot in my little tank top...geez, imagine having feathers and down! The location of her cage is on the outer edge of what I would call the 'cool zone' of the room. The others are in that cool zone. It's not cold, but it isn't as warm-not to mention bela's rope swing perch is high-she has the tallest 'condo' of all the birds.

Ok, gotta run!

[Valo's Moirana]

i hope that fixes the problem... keeping fingers crossed

[Lisa B]

I also hope thats it. Thanks for the update!!!

[Amie]

Oh, I hope that's what it is!!! Keep us updated!

[Bela]

OK, so she still seems somewhat irritated and I'm trying not to overthink this and mistake preening with overpreening. But I have to say, she feels warmer than I remember. It's 70 degrees in here and her little feet feel warm, her neck... when they become "hormonal" does their body temp go up too?

[Lisa B]

not sure, but I know there are times my guys are hotter then others....very strange indeed. Sometimes their feet are so hot, and a second later, cool...I wondered if they had hot flashes as well

[Bela]

I noticed in this test, I don't see bile acid levels were tested unless it goes by something else... If it is something liver related, and the bile acid levels were off, would it also affect her results in another area. Argh...I'm kicking myself here because I thought to ask about it, but didn't. I will call the vet tomorrow.

[Lisa B]

um nope. Emma's tests all came back good except for the bile acids and cholesterol. and one had nothing to do with the other.

[Bela]

My little Miss Bela Bop pulled only 3 feathers last night. She has however shaved her legs and armpits. She tried bathing in her drinking water as I was feeding everyone. She then took a shower with mom and we'll see how things go today.

[Lisa B]

I hope she continues to behave....miss emma is back in her collar at night.