Parrotlet still molting

[kristy29]

So, when I got Paulie back in the fall, he was molting. It's now February, and he still has pin feathers. Is it because he doesn't have anyone to preen him? We are not exactly friends, but when I took him out today to clean his cage, I wrapped him in a towel and scratched his head and a few fell off. Do I need to do that, because he hates it when I touch him. When my parakeets molted, they picked the pin feathers off each other and they were done in 2 weeks.

Also, he is in a small cage and due to financial reasons, I am waiting until I get some money for my birthday next month before I get him a nice big one, so I don't know if that has something to do with it, but he doesn't do much. I have heard parrotlets are full of energy, and like to jump around and play all day. He mostly sits on his comfy perch and doesn't do much. He has toys in his cage, but he doesn't play with them. He does sing for a few minutes every day, and he runs back and forth on his perch for about a minute each day, but that's the extent of his activity.

He eats mostly seeds. I feed him Zupreem pellets also, and I give him fresh food (usually kitchen sink) almost every day, but he mostly picks at it. I think he eats the beans and a few veggies, but most of it just ends up on the floor.

Should I take him to a vet? It is really cold here, and I don't want to take him outside if it's not necessary. That is also why I haven't gotten his wings clipped yet, so that is why he doesn't come out of his cage. Every time he has gotten out, it is a pain to get him back, and he flies into walls and windows.

[Sally]

You can help him out by gently scritching him. I help Chipper.

A larger cage will be much better than a small one. Chipper changed a lot when she got her huge cage, SO much happier! She always had a large one though.

In a huge cage, they can have more and larger toys. Big bendable rope perches, large and small swings, bells, all kinds of perches and play centers to choose from. Toys go all the way down the cage and she uses every inch.

They need to be able to fly and jump in the cage. Chipper has room for a big shaggy swing, and other swings and lots of wood and string toys and bells.

I have her out a lot, but she just adores being about to play inside, even though she has five playgyms with toys! To get them to eat very well, make birdie breads and veggie mash. Chipper doesn't like to eat veggies plain, but boy will she eat the mash I make and the breads and muffins have wonderful ingredients.



I can give you the recipes if you like. Easy.

[Cindy215]

Originally Posted by kristy29

So, when I got Paulie back in the fall, he was molting. It's now February, and he still has pin feathers. Is it because he doesn't have anyone to preen him? We are not exactly friends, but when I took him out today to clean his cage, I wrapped him in a towel and scratched his head and a few fell off. Do I need to do that, because he hates it when I touch him. When my parakeets molted, they picked the pin feathers off each other and they were done in 2 weeks.

Also, he is in a small cage and due to financial reasons, I am waiting until I get some money for my birthday next month before I get him a nice big one, so I don't know if that has something to do with it, but he doesn't do much. I have heard parrotlets are full of energy, and like to jump around and play all day. He mostly sits on his comfy perch and doesn't do much. He has toys in his cage, but he doesn't play with them. He does sing for a few minutes every day, and he runs back and forth on his perch for about a minute each day, but that's the extent of his activity.

He eats mostly seeds. I feed him Zupreem pellets also, and I give him fresh food (usually kitchen sink) almost every day, but he mostly picks at it. I think he eats the beans and a few veggies, but most of it just ends up on the floor.

Should I take him to a vet? It is really cold here, and I don't want to take him outside if it's not necessary. That is also why I haven't gotten his wings clipped yet, so that is why he doesn't come out of his cage. Every time he has gotten out, it is a pain to get him back, and he flies into walls and windows.

It's called a soft molt from too much protein (seeds). I'd increase dark leafy greens, veggies, some grains like oats grouts, barley a little cous cous, buckwheat, and some fruit.

Parrotlets dont get fatty tumors (yet) from seed because they burn it off but too much protein in any bird causes the pin feathers. It happened with mine when they boarded for 4 days and it went away 4 days later when they were back on their diet with fresh foods.

I feel sorry for Paulie confined to the cage. If he never flew much he doesnt know how but will master it. Couldn't you try allowing him out in a smaller room. With windows and mirrors covered? Not in bright sun or extra light. When it gets dusk (dim) or from 1-4 pm he'll come back to his cage to eat.

Molting is physically stressful and he sounds a little depressed to me. When was the last time he came out and for how long?

How old is he?

Also raise his humidity or give him misting it will help him be more comfortable with the pin feathers.

[trtldove76]

Hi Kristy I read somewhere maybe the land of Vos but don't "" '" that. You can use a used but clean toothbrush to gently brush your bird to help in the removle of pin feathers.

Ya here it is found it http://www.landofvos.com/faqs/faqs7.html

[Cindy215]

There's no reason to mess with the pin feathers, they'll find something in the cage to rub against. There's a nerve in there and it could hurt.

Kristy I remember now, this is the Parrotlet who was on your light fixture when you first got him right? He's 4 years old? It was in November?

Has he been in the travel sized cage continuously since November? He didn't get clipped?

(as you recall, I'm anti-clipping but I remember you saying you were going to clip him).

I also remember something about a dog and a cat? So if he gets clipped then he really cant escape them.

[Cindy215]

I found the original thread:
http://birdboard.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31353

Also around that time I read another thread that he goes to bed around 9 pm covered in the living room with the tv on? Parrotlets need about 11-12 hours quite dark sleep or they are nippy, nervous and agitated. If you can give him a long night's sleep in a dark room I'm sure you'll see an immediate improvement in his mood and activity level. AND he'll be much less nervous, too.

[kristy29]

No, he's never been in the travel cage full time. He only goes there when I am cleaning his cage, but that is where he was when he got out and went to on the light, I was cleaning his cage that day.

Yes, he was 4 when I got him in Nov. He actually was out today because he got loose when I was transferring him to the travel cage. But he doesn't get out on a regular basis, because like I said, it is really dangerous. If he would stay on a playgym like the parakeets, I would put him there, but he insists on flying away, and going up high. I haven't gotten him clipped yet because I was away most of December, and now it is so cold out, I don't really want to take him outside, I am trying to wait until it warms up.

In his other home, his owner had a bird room, and she said that she would let him out and he would fly around, so he does know how to fly, but he still flies into walls. It seems like he flies into them because he is so afraid of me, he is trying to get away so fast.

Yes, I have cats and a dog. The cats get locked up for awhile every day when I let the parakeets out, so if I let him out, they wouldn't be around. The dog is afraid of the birds and runs the other way when they are around. When the parakeets were clipped, he never bothered them.

I don't cover them anymore, and he is in the living room. Maybe I should move his cage to a room where it is quiet. Would it be too stressful if I moved him into the bedroom at dusk, and then back into the living room when I go to bed? Because I don't really have another quiet room, but I watch tv when I go to bed. I will also try the misting thing.

Sally, yes, he does like birdie bread also, I forgot to mention that. I would love your mash recipes though, because I have noticed he likes the tiniest pieces, so I am sure he would like a mash. and I am glad to hear that Chipper got happier in the bigger cage, that gives me hope for him.

[kristy29]

Oh also, I feed him and the parakeets the same food. It is a mix of a whole bunch of stuff I get from Bird paradise, including oat groats, nuts, dried veggies and fruit, some dried greens, a seed mix, safflower seeds, and some dry grains. I only give millet once in awhile. He loves the safflower seeds, the previous owner added extra in to his food, so I do too, is that bad?

[kristy29]

Hmm, seems you all have abandoned me. :(

Well, I have noticed that Paulie would climb up to his sleeping perch at dusk. Since that is 5 pm here, I turn the lights on when it gets dark here, and then I turn them off around 7 and I cover him up (I don't want him wanting to wake up at 5 am, I need my sleep too!). I unfortunately don't have anywhere for him to go where he will not be disturbed, because we are in the living room at night, and then I watch tv when I am in bed, so he is still near the tv, but he is covered with a black fabric that doesn't let any light in. My husband usually takes the cover off when he gets up around 7 am, so he gets a good 12 hours.

This morning we had to take the dog to the vet early, so unfortunately we both forgot to uncover him. Well, he has been chirping and singing all day. It's like he is very well rested. I covered him late last night, so I think he was covered around 16 hours. Also, I was away for the last two days, so he was on a regular daylight schedule, since I make sure to turn off all the lights when I am gone.

I haven't misted him yet, because I don't have a clean spray bottle, and I keep forgetting to buy one. I was just in wal mart today too, darn it.

Oh, and Sally, I would love to get those recipes.

[Sally]

The veggie mash is a cooked sweet potato and cooked frozen veggies. I cook all it in the microwave. I then put it in the food processor. Then I had some seeds and pellets. I put into foil packets and freeze. She loves this.

Here is a list of good recipes. I have several favs. I will be baking more tomorrow. Here is a long list of ideas. You can also change recipes....There is one more to add. I can do that later. I had to get up early, time to nap...
http://www.parrothouse.com/recipes.h...Potato%20Balls