AG bites toe nails

[tkirsch9368]

Would anyone have any idea why my grey bites his toe nails? He has done this before with his previous owner but not until just today with me???????

[Dana64]

Actually, I understand this is a fairly "common" thing... somewhat like nailbiting for humans... my Greys on the rare occassion bite their toenails... and my BFs CAG, a diehard plucker, chews her nails constantly. I've never seen them make themselves bleed... but they do chew on the tips quite nicely.

I don't think it's anything to be too concerned about... just my 2 cents...

[tkirsch9368]

Dana64 - my grey is a plucker too. She plucked with her previous owner what we gather, because she was alone about 10 hrs out of the day. She did it for over 2yr. I have had her for 5 wks and the plucking is still there just not as bad so I am hoping with time that it will stop all together. He is getting some feathers in but he will pluck them as well.......if only we could get in their minds?

[Dana64]

Originally Posted by tkirsch9368

Dana64 - my grey is a plucker too. She plucked with her previous owner what we gather, because she was alone about 10 hrs out of the day. She did it for over 2yr. I have had her for 5 wks and the plucking is still there just not as bad so I am hoping with time that it will stop all together. He is getting some feathers in but he will pluck them as well.......if only we could get in their minds?

Plucking is not a habit easily broken. If ever. Judging from the one photo you have posted, I would hazard a guess that there is folicle damage... meaning even if the plucking stops, feathers will not grow back to the damaged areas.

On the bright side, plucking does NOT change their personality. My BFs Congo, Ruby is the most affectionate CAG I have ever known. Very gentle soul. She is on AviCalm and Featheriffic, with reasonable success, but because of the folicle damage and Ruby's "habit", it always seems like a "1 step forward, 2 steps back" journey for her. I am posting a pic of Ruby...

Mackie, my Congo, had a habit of feather-breaking. He would break his feathers off on his chest so that only the "down" remained. He was downy from his neck to his legs. There was a time, just before I put him on AviCalm and Featheriffic, that he picked at the middle of his chest to the point that he bled a little bit... you can check my profile for pics of Mackie if you like.

Edited to add: Why is the pic so small? Sorry... maybe it's bigger in my profile pics... check them out there...

[Mango27]

my grey plucks and bites her nails too but just like Dana said it doesnt change their personality. I love my little bird no matter what she looks like.

[LovelySydney]

Is it pulling on the toenails or just cleaning? Neko (painted conure) does this with his toenails on occasion, almost like he's cleaning them. He doesn't pull them out or break them or anything, maybe that is the difference.

[pippy]

My oldest Grey, Henry (aged 45), used to pull at his toenails when he was nervous. I don't mean pull them out, he just used to slide his beak along the nail then let go.

He would also lift one of his feet in the air and hold it there for a second or two if he was nervous.

He did it quite a lot the first couple of days he was here (I've only had him since May) but never does it now he's settled in and relaxed

This is a video I took of Henry about an hour after I brought him home and in it you can see the nail pulling and foot raising I mean. Interestingly, the nervous behaviour is accompanied by tail-shaking!

VIDEO CLIP. HENRY THE REHOMED AFRICAN GREY WHO CAME TO LIVE WITH ME ON THE 22ND OF MAY! on Flickr - Photo Sharing!


I've read on other forums about Greys who've exhibited this nail biting/pulling behaviour if nervous.

[my-africangrey-echo]

My rescued plucker Vern chews her toenails all the time.