Bogey (YCA) wing progress (pics)

[Abby]

Back in July/August I has an amazon that had wings that looked like this. Yes he did this to himself.




Today we finally got some more wing shots and I have an amazon with wings like this who is able to take short flights. We're still working on the whole landing thing.





Still waiting for the secondaries to come in but he's left himself alone and I'm very proud of my green boy.

[expressmailtome]

That is very interesting. I never would have guessed that he did that when the rest of him looks so good.

Matt

[becca623]

What a beautiful difference. My amazon did that to my mom's moluccan's wings when they were babies but she didn't touch her own. The poor too would just sit there while she did it.

[MiniMama]

You know... what I just love in life is 'birdie bath face' - i'ts so funny!!!

[nmrspindoc]

So, what brought about the change?

[NotEnoughTime]

Wonderful!! Good job -- whatever happened!!

[Tom Lawless]

Bing has chewed his wings to the point that he drops like a stone when he tries to fly (yes, he hasn't learned). His wings were clipped when I got him but since he started his plucking I've been resolved to let them grow in completely but he seems to have a different plan.

Your Amazon gives me hope.

[Abby]

Originally Posted by nmrspindoc

So, what brought about the change?

The story behind Bogey is this...

A breeder friend rang me back in June last year. Told me about this young YC amazon he had that had started chewing his wings. Would I be willing to take him on and see if I could sort his issues out and keep him. Due to conference commitments for us both I picked Bogey up in mid July.

He settled in fairly quickly to my birdroom where my grey lives full time and our BE2 at night. At that stage I still had a pair of GCCs in there too that were waiting for warmer weather to go out in the aviaries. With a cage full of toys, birds constantly around him and me being calm but no nonsense with him he stopped chewing. He has showers around the once a week mark, diet with plenty of variety and toys to chew, make noise with, problem solve etc.

It been interesting that my friend (who I got Bogey from) has a tribe of 3 YC's that he h/rd this year and no problems. There was then a singleton and looks like it's going to start the same wing chewing behaviour as Bogey. He's looking at investing in a stack of toys and /or moving him from the weaning room to a main area of the house. This is not a "backyard" breeder either but someone who is well respected within Aussie avian circles for his experience and knowledge in regards to breeding.

What we're both theorising is that with YCs raised as a small group they keep themselves amused whereas one raised by itself needs more human interaction and toys.

So long winded explanation, but I believe just being in the company of more birds and more to do has got his focus of himself. The concern my vet and I had was that he'd turn back on himself when the flights grew back but he's left them all alone.