Question about Pluck no More?

[my-africangrey-echo]

Ok I was planning on just spraying Vern several times a day with the pluck no more and continue using the Nekton Bio in her water dish. For those of you who have used the pluck no more is this a good idea or should I be adding the pluck no more to her water and stop using the Nekton Bio..

[SallyQZ]

I don't have any experience with the Nekton Bio, so I can't advise on that. But I'm currently using Pluck No More on my grey. It's expensive, so I'm not following directions EXACTLY as recommended, but it seems to be helping anyways.

What I'm doing is as follows - I'm using it in his drinking water at the recommended strength, however I'm not changing the water every day. It's in a water bottle, so he keeps it clean. I change it approx. every 5 days. And instead of discarding the old water, I put it in my spray bottle. I'll add an extra capful of Pluck No More to the spray bottle and spray him daily with this (weaker concentration than recommended).

I'm NOT using the shampoo. Anyone who thinks they can shampoo my grey without losing fingers is welcome to try!

He had been plucking for about two months before I started using it. I've been using it for a couple months now (maybe three) and he's completely regrown the feathers on his legs (previously 100% bald) and about 75% regrown his chest feathers (previously about 90% plucked). It's harder to check under his wings without blood loss, but when he fans his wings, they appear to be regrowing underneath as well.

He seems happier too. Less nervy and reactive to the small things. I've had him for 10 yrs and I really think this is the most relaxed I've seen him. I think something stressful set off the plucking initially, but nothing had changed that I noticed, and since then I haven't changed anything else (cage is same room, no new birds, no new foods, etc.).

Who knows? Might not be the Pluck No More at all, but I'm happy with the changes. When he's fully grown in, I'll stop the Pluck No More and see if he resumes plucking. Should be interesting!

[Lisa B]

Pluck no more in the water, nekton bio on the soft foods...
any questions, gimme a call...

[Dana64]

I don't have any experience with, nor have I ever heard of, Nekton Bio. However, the Pluck No More DOES work. I used it exactly as instructed and saw IMMEDIATE results. I agree with a PP, however, it IS expensive.

So, I have followed a recommendation by my good (online) buddy, Tom Lawless and purchased AviCalm AND Featherific from Avitech... I haven't received my order yet.

I will definitely be posting my "results"....

[my-africangrey-echo]

The cost is not a problem as much because I own a bird toy store and get it at wholesale.. But still wasn't sure if the combo was a good idea. Lisa when you say soft foods. I am not to give her fruits or veggies so what do you suggest I give as soft foods.

[shosh]

I used 5 bottles of pluck no more on my rescued lovebird with no results and that's a lot of wasted money. I think PNM may work in about 50% of cases but I've come to think that it works best on pluckers with no major psychological history. For example, I'm not sure it'll do a hint of good with birds that have come from abusive or neglectful home, etc. I think it works best, on the other hand, with those birds that have had a fright and have plucked or have passing issues. I don't think it works on deeper emotional/psychological issues. For that, more than just a homeopathic remedy will help.

[Dana64]

Well Shosh... I have to totally disagree your post. For starters; my Mackie does not "pluck", he "breaks off" his chest feathers. Secondly, he came from an EXTREMELY abusive home and has MAJOR psychological handicaps.

I used ONE bottle of the Pluck No More and not only did he stop breaking off his chest feathers, but he also calmed down SIGNIFICANTLY. When I ran out of the solution, he still benefited from its affects for about 3 weeks.... I compare PNM to Prozac for parrots... it really worked on him.

I have bought the Avitech products because they are cheaper in the long run and I am willing to try them... if they don't work... I will be going back to the PNM...

[shosh]

Well, I'm glad it worked for you. As I said, I have heard that it works in about 50% of cases. I followed the directions to the letter, added it to the water and sprayed her with it. 5 bottles....months of PNM and not one iota of difference. What I have noticed is that the FSL lighting I recently added has made a difference...she is allowing her feathers to grow in, although I can still see that she chews the edges of her feathers.
my lovebird, btw, was also a self-mutilator so her condition was far more extreme than a plucker's and her life, not just her looks, depended on finding an answer to her problem.

I'm glad PNM worked for you....although I find it interesting that you noticed the effects after only 1 bottle when the makers themselves said it would probably take at least 2 before you noticed a difference. They also say that you must continue for months or your plucker will begin plucking again...So, I'm wondering if perhaps the change in environment from abusive to caring and whatever other positive things you brought to your bird's life, may have made more of an impact than the PNM.
I certainly noticed that the changes I made produced a happier bird...better food, larger cage, toys to play with...etc.

I'm not discounting the advantages of homeopathy. As a matter of fact, I rely on it a great deal...especially on my cats, which is why I gave this a shot. And I don't disbelieve that PNM had calming effects...but I don't necessarily think that PNM is solely what helped your bird through his crisis and it is an expensive option. I'm sure it took the edge off and calmed him down and probably allowed him to better adjust and I think that's great....but I stand by my hypothesis that you will have better luck using PNM on less severe cases than on deep psychological trauma which, I believe, requires a more complex, look at things from all angles, approach.

[Dana64]

Hi Shosh...

As I said in my post, after I ran out of the 1 bottle, and the affects wore off... Mackie started to break his feathers again and returned to his very tempermental state. Obviously, I needed to continue with the product but I figured out that 3 months supply (the recommended time to use PNM) would run me over $400... Mackie has not had anything for about 6 weeks now and his behaviour is pretty unbearable most of the time... although today he a great day. I purchased the AviCalm and Featherific from Avitech and 3 months supply has cost me $112, including shipping... huge price difference... I am praying it works!

I could care less about the feathers to tell the truth... it's the extremely bad behavior I need to change.... and the VILE language...

My mother is a Homeopatic Practicioner, Certified Reflexogist, etc. etc. and I grew up on those methods... and I believe in them as well. They work.

I hope you have a very happy holiday season! Hugs! Dana...

[Lisa B]

Chris, I musta missed something. she cant have fruits or veggies?
I use Noahs kingdom cookables at night, and thats what I put the nekton bio on, and every other night, I use sunshine factor. so they get nekton 4 nights a week and sunshine factor the others.
However, you can put the nekton bio over her food(seed? pellets?)
I guess I shoulda asked of diet first, but I was trying to close up shop and head home..my bad