Bald Blue & Gold

[grandma]

Oh my, how do I get myself into these things.
I have another neighbor who bought a B&G from an elderly couple who couldn't care for her anymore.

Problem: I have never seen a bird that has plucked itself as badly as this one.
Belly and neck almost totaly bald.
Solution: I know what to do to help keep them from plucking and have told her.
Give it toys that he can shred, things to chew on...Lots & lots of attention, showers, keep him out of the sun...everything I have learned over the years and that have been reconfirmed here on BB.

What else am I forgetting?

I believe this bird was totaly ignored by the older couple. Other than the plucking he looks healthy...eyes, beak, feet...no oozing or scaleing.

[Dustin]

Sometimes the problem is more than lack of toys/attention and they need vet assistance.

[CrazyBirdLady]

Yep a vet visit to check for any medical reason for the plucking would be best, but it also might have to do with being ignored completely by the older couple, age, diet, the environment he was in; really there are so many variables that perhaps a vet visit would be the best starting point.

[grandma]

I knew all of that. Told her before she got it to take it to the vet. She is next week.
She has had it for two days now and already shows improvement. I just didn't know if I forgot to suggest anything else to her.
Thanx All

[CrazyBirdLady]

Originally Posted by grandma

I knew all of that. Told her before she got it to take it to the vet. She is next week.
She has had it for two days now and already shows improvement. I just didn't know if I forgot to suggest anything else to her.
Thanx All

Tell her to tell him he's beautiful, even with his baldness.

[The Outlaw]

Well, let me tell you about my own plucked BG, Mia. She came to me fully feathered with exceptionally dusty feathers about 3 years ago. She was a little over one year old. Her feather sheaths always seemed too thick to me. Her tail feathers looked to be encased in clear soda straws.

I had her tested for PBFD 2 times and she was also tested at 6 months by her first owner. All tests came back negative.

I have had every conceivable test run on her. She is in every way healthy and presumably happy. She eats exactly the same diet of my other 3 fully feathered BGs, plays with them in the aviary, gets the same amount of time with me, and I rotate the BGs about every two months so none get too cage protective. Yet, she is completely bald on her entire body, legs and has started to remove small feathers on the tops of her wings.

After trying every remedy, including hollistic stuff, I have come to the conclusion that its something more likely genetic. She doesn't scream, is very sweet and cuddly is the second heaviest bird here and is in all other ways an absolute doll.

I am once again adding red palm oil to her diet. I don't think she'll ever re-grow all of her feathers, but I'd sure like to see some down, at least. I have to keep her in sweaters all winter to keep her warm.

I do know that her mother died early from unknown causes. I have been told that Hahns macaws, BGs and Scarlets are the most likely of the macaws to pluck. My two vets have both told me that its often the MOST loved birds that pluck the worst. You have a choice. Feel badly or just celebrate how wonderful they are. I choose the latter. I have enough eye candy here. All of my other birds are in excellent feather. I think when you have 10 birds, the odds are that at least one bird will pluck. JMHO

[Joel]

Originally Posted by grandma

"......... keep him out of the sun......."

........I totally disagree with not allowing it to get any direct sunshine..... I would however provide a solid roof so it can get sun or get away from it, as it pleases. If she feels it doesn't have enough sense to not get sunburned (if bare skin is showing), then I would tell her to supervise the time but do let it get a lil each day & hopefully increase - as time goes by.

[grandma]

WIll tell her. The birds legs and belly are totaly bald. Neck is starting to come in. So it should get some sun?

Oh...she bought a cage so won't be painting the old one.

[grandma]

Nancy,
One of local breaders had a Macaw with the same problem. Always plucked but no medical reason. I first saw it about 12 years ago, more recently 2-3 months ago. Still plucking, still healthy.

[FeathersNFur8]

So it should get some sun?

I was just reading the other day, even if it only can be 15 minutes a day, it will do a world of good.