Barbering

[swanwillow]

As some of you know, I have Quana... and shes a barber.

Its been so/so. Some days she would do none, some one.. It wasn't TOO bad. I got her as a re-home, from a pet store where she started plucking, and the store got her from someone.. who??? yeah.

She had started to barber in the petstore. By the time I got her home, she wasn't TOO bad, but it was there.

So, I don't know what to do. She had the worst day ever, probably barbered 30 odd feathers today. I had my fiancee feed her, instead of me. Something as small as that, set her off. But, I also had kids waking up at 4am sick, and it was windy and rough outside.

I don't know WHAT to do anymore. I've given her toys-she had pieces of metal hanging. So shes got metal and shredding toys. Shes got total darkness for 8 hours, and only light from the TV for another 2-3 hours. We simulate dawn and dusk as much as possible (turning on one light in an adjacent room, then the dimmest light in the living room, to the brightest, and reverse at night)

Today was also a very big talking day. Its ten and shes still talking away. I'm bout to go to bed for the night.

Her diet is one of the mash diets, which she digs into with gusto. I was thinking of giving her more seeds in her diet, she has eaten pellets before too. The dogs are coming in more now that its cold too. They were outside 12 hours/day before, now they are only out about 2. (don't worry, if it was up to my dogs, they'd be out 28 hours out of 24! My akita has proven that for me)

We are debating on moving all of the birds into one room, specifically for them. Its two ringnecks, her, and a lorikeet. The lorikeet is a bit aggressive with Quana, so we have been separating them the past two days, but Quana just tries to get to her if we don't let Blueberry out to Quana. I am making a playstand to hang from the ceiling, for Quana to play on away from the fuss and buss of my house. But with this new barbering, I'm scared to move her. I don't know if something is happening during the day and THATS why shes barbering, or if I move her to a bird room, would the barbering become worse?

I cried today. I had sat down to check my e-mail, had a long day at work. No problem, I walked over to Quana, said 'OH MY GOD WHAT HAPPENED!' and started yelling at my fiancee. So I'm pretty sure I'll be the only person feeding her from now on. Its the only really BIG change, as my kids are finicky sleepers, its not the first time up that early. BUT it may have been since she came home a month ago...

Sorry, rambling, but I feel so horrible. It started BEFORE I got her, and now I can't help her stop.

[4HAND]

Swanwillow,breathe......It's going to be ok.It sounds like the stress in your life is hitting a pretty big high right now.I think a bird room sounds like a good idea.My blue crown plucks under one wing and it does tend to happen when my stress level is high.I don't know about you,but when my kid is sick I am on stress overload.If I had a place to use as a birdroom I'd do it in a heartbeat.It could serve as a buffer zone for your Quanna so she doesn't have to deal with the dogs.It would also assure she gets the extra hours of darkness she needs to sleep.The other birds will be with her so she won't be lonely.I think it's wonderful that you prepare a mashed diet but wanted to ask how long you leave it in the cage.My blue crown actually got sick enough to throw up because I left his fresh fruit in the cage for 8 hours on a warm day.There are some cool foraging toys that you could put pellets or Nutraberries inside so she can while away the hours trying to get the food out instead of giving herself a new featherdoo.And one last thing...try not to have a strong reaction when you see she's had a bad feather day.Your disapointment can only add to her anxiety.
Tena

[swanwillow]

she eats ALL of it by 2 hours after its in, its put in 2 times a day. And when I say all, its not all, but her bowl is clean as she's picked through it and decided what is edible, and what isn't.

It'll be a weekend project. My kids like to sleep together, so I let them and it gives me a spare bedroom I can change into a bird room.

[Sashagirl]

Swanwillow

I have quite a few in my flock and a few of my Eclectus were barbering.My vet told me they were bored and needed to forage for their food.If you get foraging toys it will help.I noticed they aren't barbering as much.

[swanwillow]

I'm also trying to give lots and LOTS of shredding/destroying toys. She hasn't plucked any more in the past few days, but shes having a hard time sleeping at night. Shes very.. twitchy.

I'll have to get some more foraging toys.