U2 Problems

[donnakris]

I got my baby, Morgan about 3 months ago from a lady that no longer wanted her. She is just adorable, loves to cuddle and sit with me. Seems to be happy and content.
Now the problems:
1. She apparently plucks her feathers, only the tail and wings. She "chews" on her chest feathers but doesn't pull them out. When I got her and took her to the vet for a well check, the vet said it appeared someone had cut not only her primary feathers but secondary feathers and tail feathers as well. I've had her to an aviary vet many times since I got her and nothing physical is showing up. Nothing in the blood work and the vet said she seems very healthy and is one of the sweetest U2's she's ever seen.
2. She was fed what I think was an all seed diet. I am trying to convert her to more pellets with very little luck. I give her fresh fruits and veggies daily. She won't touch the veggies and will only eat apples and grapes. I've started baking birdy bread with all kinds of veggies in it so at least she gets some.

I need any advice or suggestions on her feather issue and diet. She doesn't seem stressed to me though she appears to be very afraid of falling, which she has done a few times, but the vet says that she thinks it's because of no feathers (balance).

Sorry for the long post. I'm new to U2's and want her as happy and healthy as possible. By the way she is 7-8 years old.

[ljhassell]

Do you bathe her regular? Seed diet isnt all bad, and all pellet one is- they can have seed- we mix 3/4 safflower seed mix with a parrot seed mix. Also adding some red palm oil into foods helps, as well as bee pollen and flax/ hemp seed. Also do you have enough toys and shreeding stuff like rolls of adding machine paper?, Ours like cotton rope toys they can preen as well as fleece cut into strips and tied on toys. They need wood to chew, they love acrlic toys to foot hold. Alot of times when feathers are damaged it is from a small cage not enough room to stretch and flap those wings. Ours also like the cotton wrapped circle swings. Our U2's like the large Roudybush pellets and we mix zupreem fruit ones in as well- they have these at all times, and feed seed/ dried fruit/ and nut mix once a day. They love scrambled eggs with sweet potatoes and peas/carrots. They love the Beak Appetit mixes also can freeze in ice cube trays for batch making. They need regular showers/ baths to keep the oil/dust down and helps with new shafts, have yet to have one not like the water.

[donnakris]

Well, I haven't found a way to bathe her yet. She hates the shower, won't get into a pan (big one) of water and doesn't like to be sprayed, though I am spraying her. She has a ton of toys but I don't think she did before because I'm kind of teaching her to play with them. She also has foot toys. Her cage is huge with plenty of room for even a macaw. She won't eat veggies or sweet potatoes or any of the other foods you'd think she would though I offer them daily.
I'll keep trying especially with the bath and food.
Thanks for the suggestions.

[dadkins]

dont'get discouraged. I have had my u2 Jonah for 1 1/2 years and I am just now getting him to eat different veggies and fruits. He was also on an all seed diet. Alot of times I will eat with him and if I'm lucky he just might taste something new.

[Parrotpeople]

I found that putting Poppy in the bath tub then turning the shower on to where it's softly spraying rather than full blast works way better. He actually seems to like it and looks forward to his weekly bathing.

[donnakris]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to try the bathtub with her and cross my fingers. I hate spraying her since she dislikes it so much.

[donnakris]

I tried putting a little water in the bathtub and sitting Morgan in it. Man did she hate it. She just stood in the corner of the tub, looked up at me and screamed. On to the next thing I guess.

[Monica]

Have you tried putting ice in the water (in a big pan), or maybe some foot toys? Have you tried vacuuming when she had a pan of water? Have you tried giving her a bath in the sink? Or how about outside in the rain, or using the hose on spray or mist?

Can you take her outside in a cage or harness for 45 minutes or more each day for some sunlight? Can you give her some fresh, safe branches to destroy?

[Doubleyolk]

Have you tried to take her in the shower with you? Two of my parrots hate to be misted or use the shower perch and will only go in if I hold them when I go in.

[donnakris]

I haven't tried the icecubes, but I did the pan of water and toys. She hates the vacuum. I didn't try the sink or outside but I thought the next time it rains that I would just walk outside with her and see if she would do that. I figure, at least she'd get soaked that way. I took her into the bathroom this morning and put her on her stand while I took a shower. I left the shower curtain open enough she could see me and sang her favorite song and hopped around and flapped my arms. If someone else had seen me they would have taken me away...LOL. Anyway, I would reach out and try to get her to get on my arm to come into the shower but no luck. Though she did lick the water off my arm and watched intently while I showered. I thought maybe a few times of that and I could get her into the shower. My darling bird is just exhausting.
I haven't been able to use the harness on her yet but I can take her outside in a cage I have for the vet.
I have all kinds of toys in her cage for her to destroy from wooden toys to a couple of branches. She likes paper so I give her paper to tear up and she loves that.

Originally Posted by Monica

Have you tried putting ice in the water (in a big pan), or maybe some foot toys? Have you tried vacuuming when she had a pan of water? Have you tried giving her a bath in the sink? Or how about outside in the rain, or using the hose on spray or mist?

Can you take her outside in a cage or harness for 45 minutes or more each day for some sunlight? Can you give her some fresh, safe branches to destroy?