Preparing for hormonal plucker YNA

[magdalena]

So, we'll be picking up the YNA and grey next weekend and while I'm ready for a grey and have lots of experience I want to be sure I'm setting up the YNA for success. A lot of this will involve my walking around behind my fiance smacking him in the head with a ruler every time he tries to give her cheese or rub her all over, etc. That said if I can get him on board here's what I plan on doing.

She's only plucking the top of her wings which she apparently does every breeding season for nesting. First thing is a visit to the vet to double check anything medical of course but this does seem hormonal, she doesn't pluck anywhere else and only in summer.

I plan to give her longer sleeping time (14 hours) which her past owner(s) hasn't ever done. Her diet seems fine so I'll just make sure she's getting more fresh and nothing fatty which her past owner pretty much does already.

Should I make sure there's nothing to shred for nesting or should I actually give her shreddables so she leaves her feathers alone? I've dealt with constant pluckers but not hormonal ones so am not sure if there's a difference.

Would Pluck No More help at all (it wouldn't be my first solution but we have almost a full bottle from LB when she was plucking)? More baths just so she's less itchy and feels better (not yet sure how she is with bathing)?

I know not to pet her anywhere but her head (and will tattoo these instructions on fiance's hand), what else can I do to help her chill out a little with the plucking? I'm not sure how long she's been doing it yet (or her age, anywhere from 4-12).

She's a perch potato so I plan on giving her a lot of her food as foraging toys, hidden in things, rolls, etc. so she has to work for them, will that help?

Should I avoid any types of toys or things in her cage that would keep her being nesty? Obviously there won't be any nest boxes or places to hide in but anything else?

Is 14 hours of sleep enough for hormones, would 15 be better?

Any advice is welcome, we want to make her landing as soft as possible.

[chapala]

14 hours is pushing it for sleep times, 15 is too much in my opinion. She does need to have a daylight life. A 12 hour night should work, but in any case the sleep time may or may not have anything to do with her minor plucking. As far as Pluck No More, I have heard more than 9 out of 10 people say it has not helped their bird. Up to you whether you want to try it, but you might want to wait and see if just the change of environment helps.

I would include shredding and chewing toys, and foraging is an excellent idea as well.

Most Amazons love bathing and showering. If you find out what she's used to, that will be a big help. The re-homed Amazon I had here did not have an opportunity to bathe for eight to ten years that I know of. I started out by very lightly misting her, saying "WOW, shower!!", increasing it a little bit at a time. It didn't take her long until she was opening her wings, turning around to get all parts wet, and enjoying it immensely.

Good luck with the new birds!

[debbielabella]

good luck with the fiance and the cheese thing my zon attacks my sons food and he does not do a good job of wrestling him outa it. You'd be amazed how fast they can get into a bowl of mac and cheese. They have voracious appetites. Enjoy they are very different from greys but the 2 species complement each other nicely I think.