Collar-free and crossing fingers

[EngTeach]

My male Goffin, Chaucer, finally got his collar off today. He's started out wearying an elizabethan collar, then moved to a bubble one, and then to a tubular contraption with a elizabethan on it. All because of "sexual frustration" according to my vet. He's been wearing the collar for almost 6 months due to his picking terrible sores under his wings and his feet. He's had his collar off for 4 days now...and so far he's doing great. We were advised to keep it on him through the rest of summer, but he was so depressed we couldn't stand it. He changed from a happy loving bird that wanted to be with us all the time, to a nasty bitter that doesn't want any human contact other than my husband rubbing his beak while he's in his cage. He stopped playing, stopped making sounds, and just in general looked not happy. Soooo, we decided off with the collars. My avian vet gave me a RX for fluexadine.....some kind of bird tranq. but we're holding off on it to see how he does. I'll tell you what, if it turns out that it IS sexual frustration.....the next time he does this he's getting the sex surpesser shot.....it's $300, but I spend well above that on vet bill trying to get him through this sexual thing.

Cross your fingers and say a prayer for him.....I don't think I or he could stand it if he had to go back to a collar. I'm just wondering now, how long it will take him to trust us again.

[Freedomoflight]

Fingers crossed!

[sandie718]

Crossing fingers too!!! Hope 4 the best!

[Az Full Moon]

Goffin's can be so forgiving. I know how hard it is to have to collar these beautiful, complex creatures. Thoughts with you and Chaucer.