Help my new green cheek is plucking

[Marley21]

I left for work today and when I returned home my green cheek, the rescued one who had been neglected for 6 years, was plucked bald on his/her chest....so sad, shes got tons of toys, is out for over 3 hours a day, bathes regularly, seems very antisocial and secluded. She doesnt want to interact with me, she is very aggresive, but I hold her anyway. Help what do I do, shes so sad, Im goign to cry, shes the ugly duckling and I want her to be a beautiful swan....darn it, I sprayed her with molt ease and now what?

[Monica]

Have you taken your new GCC to an avian vet to check his liver and kidneys? As well as to see if he's vitamin deficient? Has he had a fecal test to see if he's got a bacterial or fungal infection? Checked for parasites?

Was the 'molt ease' sprayed on before or after the plucking? What is she currently eating? Can you get us a picture of her cage setup?

[Marley21]

No I havent taken him to a vet, hes never had a problem yet and Im not going to take them for no reason, Im young and dont have hundreds to spend on vet bills yet. I can give him a wonderful home and if he does seem ill he can go, however he eats and drinks normaly. I see no parasite, the fecal matter is a nice color and consistancy, the molt ease was after he plucked. Hes out playing now. Hes eating bird muffins I made. I think he has social anxiety disorder, because he never socializes with the others who are all out. I think he gets nervous too often, maybe thats it. He is otherwise completely normal...here is his cage and thats a sunlight on him...could that be the problem?

[Marley21]

I have two windows in my room, i thought he might want more perhaps that was a problem...

[Eliza]

In the best interest of the GCC, she should be taken to see an avian veterinarian for an exam and bloodwork. As Monica stated, plucking can be for a variety of reasons, ranging from physical to mental.

What kind of sun lamp are you using and how long are leaving it on for?

[hollyhawkz]

I know it's costly, but we just recently rehomed a bird who turns out did have a vitamin deficiency.. it is so important to really know the reason they pluck. How long have you had the bird? Maybe the stress of sudden interaction is too much for it if it's fairly new to your home.

If it continues I know there are little "sweaters" you can buy just to prevent plucking.

[Marley21]

Okay Ill take him when I get paid again. I have vitamins for him. And red palm oil. Ive only had him a month or less. Could this be nesting behavior? Im not sure if its a male or female....Its a UVA/UVB heat light, hes busy right now, being antisocial in the corner eating and playing with toys. I would bet anything its nervous behavior, he is the most nervouse bird ive ever met and he had plucked before as he had raged patches when i got him.

[Marley21]

He probably doesnt know what to do with himself as all the other birds play together and he doesnt know how..he was alone all his life.

[Monica]

What size is the cage? You might want to invest in some more easily descructable toys... such as "bird kebobs" (made out of yucca), popsicle stick toys, etc. You can easily make some of the toys as well!

The light could be bothering him, but if he plucked before you got him then it's probably something that transferred over to your home and something that may not be as easy to figure out... still, it's a good idea to get a vet visit.

Keep us updated on the little one!

[hollyhawkz]

Careful of those heat lamps some/many have teflon and it may be actually poisoning your bird. That could be what it is....

I took this list from an article on web page of - BONGO BIRD Breeder's of Beautiful Eclectus Parrots

PLEASE See list below:

Some Products That Use Polytetraflouethylene

Baseboard Heaters
Bread Makers
Broiler Pans
Burners on Stove Tops
Coffee Makers
Corkscrews
Crock Pots
Deep Fryers
Drip Pans for Burners
Electric Skillets
Griddles
Heat lamps
Hot Air Popcorn Poppers
Ironing board covers
Lollipop Moulds
Many cooking utensils
Never-Stick-Stainless Steel
Non-stick rolling pins
Non-stick gingerbread moulds
Oven liners
Pizza pans
Portable heaters
Roasters
Steam Cleaning Equip.
Sole plates on irons
Stockpots
Tortilla presses
Woks
Waffle makers