Plucking again

[kellywess]

My Severe likes the chains too. I got a box of adding tape and attached it to a metal chain (put the chain through the hole and hooked it onto his cage) in his cage to take his mind off of his terrible molt. He really LOVES it. Thank God adding machine tape is so cheap. He gets so into it I have to dig him out sometimes. Maybe a device like this will work with your Calypso.

[kellywess]

Originally Posted by KimM

LOL... Newt and Elliot are both like that with those chains, especially Newt.. I go through tons of those in a years time. Newt absolutely beats the snot out of those OR like you said wraps himself up in them. He's now taught Elliot to beat them up too.. LOL .


I do have a question about the pluck no more. What exactly is it supposed to do? Fortunately, I don't have pluckers, but how does it actually STOP the plucking?

Its made with alot of herbs and flower extracts. Its completely homeopathic, I think its supposed to calm them somehow.

[KimM]

Originally Posted by kellywess

My Severe likes the chains too. I got a box of adding tape and attached it to a metal chain (put the chain through the hole and hooked it onto his cage) in his cage to take his mind off of his terrible molt. He really LOVES it. Thank God adding machine tape is so cheap. He gets so into it I have to dig him out sometimes. Maybe a device like this will work with your Calypso.

I saw something similar on a video. They called it an "enrichment box" for macaws. They took boxes from cereal bars, popcorn boxes, cereal boxes, etc and stuffed them with shredded newspaper, peanuts, hand toys, etc. The birds loved it. I tried it with Newt and Elliot yesterday and they went crazy. My house looked like a cyclone hit it, but it was worth it to see the two of them just having a blast.

[kellywess]

Marvins cage looks like an accountant lives in it. With all of the adding machine tape in there. My husband had to dig him out last night. Its the "little things" ya know? Silly stuff that amuses them.

[huntress]

Well we may have discovered a reason for his grumpiness and plucking the last week or so. Seems tonight that every time my mother (who is visiting) passes his stand he makes that soft squawk or "grump" sound I call it. He bites himself on the leg. His second owners who never handled him and were afraid of him and tried to make him a breeder by sticking him in a cage with a plucking hen and NO toys was an elderly couple. Maybe he JUST doesn't like her. She has a non bird way about her not meaning to be mean she will stare at them and say "your a dirty bird" and things like that. She has no idea about birds or the intelligence level they carry. She is 84. She doesn't mean them meanness (is that a word?)
It will be interesting to see how he acts when she is gone after Sunday. She may remind him of a life he didn't prefer. sadly, he wont regrow feathers again till next molt?
Ooo, he really does grump when she walks by - I moved his stand tonight to a location she wont walk so close to.
He also is not talking as much and calling LOUDLY more often.

BUT, he still raises his foot for me as soon as he knows I'm on a mission to pick him up,lol. He prefers to STEP BACK rather than step up. Any one else with macs like that??

[Chief's Mom]

Yep, I buy the adding machine tape in bulk at Sam's. When they look like they need a quick toy, I tie one to the cage somewhere and let them go at it. What's really funny is that both macaws have different methods of unrolling it. Chief just pulls and pulls and pulls while Sarge rips little pieces off and tosses them to the side.

With regards to the feathers, Chief was beginning to chew on the ends of her clipped feathers and pick at the feathers on her leg with the band. Dr. Rich recommended daily baths (or at least a good misting), a few hours of outside sunlight a week (we're still working on that one...she thinks the harness is going to kill her on contact!), and a supplement called Featheriffic. Its a powder that you sprinkle on their food, unlike supplements in water that can cause bacteria, etc. I noticed a difference in less than 2 weeks. The feathers came in silky, stronger, and they seem to be easier for her to preen. No more pulling on tough sheaths on the new feathers. I know Calypso has a worse habit than Chief, but giving the supplement can't hurt. And I've heard great things about the 'Pluck No More.'

Maybe this is just Calypso's way of making sure you're still paying attention to him Hopefully he gets over this soon!

[Sashagirl]

Out of all my Macaws I have 1 B&G Macaw that has been a plucker
for 4 years.It's not that I haven't done anything for her.I have taken her to my avian vet who has run numerous test one came out that she had a bacterial infection.Once the infection was cleared up she continued to pluck and more test were ran.It was finally concluded that her plucking was habitual
she was rescued from a very bad situation.To this day she continues to pluck.
If you haven't already taken Calypso to have blood work done to see if there isn't an underlying problem for the plucking.There are many things that can cause plucking.I would look into that first before trying anything else.Better safe than sorry.

Marcia