plucking

[ssl000]

She doesn't pluck much but she's plucks the gray feathers here and there at times. I have some images that show where she's been plucking. She's had this missing patch of feathers for a while now. Is this a serious issue?

[Sally]

What is the cage like, size, toys, sleep, food, bathing like?

[ssl000]

Her cage size is 18"x15", she baths once a week, and her food is roudybush pellets. There are two toys in the cage, one is a typical bird toy with many strings, blocks, and plastic balls attached all together and the second is a styrofoam cup. She likes to bite objects in pieces. I usually cover her cage around 10pm and the lights will turn off around 11pm.

[Monica]

The cage size is okay but you may want to consider a larger one if possible.

You may want to consider feeding sprouted seeds as well as a variety of fresh foods... I suggest picking up a copy of the Healthy Bird Cookbook by Robin Deutsch.

I also suggest investing in more toys.... anything from beads, to small wooden blocks, to colored popsicle sticks, leather, cotton, bells, etc. Try and have at least 5 toys in the cage and have other sets of toys you can change in with the other toys.

Also, it's a good idea if she gets 10-12 hours of sleep, possibly as much as 14...

Oh, and not to forget bathing! Plucking birds don't tend to pluck when wet. Be sure to provide her a dish to bathe in or mist her with a spray bottle!

[ssl000]

How many times should a bird take a bath? My bird doesn't take her bath herself, I have to take a bowl of water out and splash her then she'll realize it's her bath time.

[Sally]

The cage is teeny tiny and much, much to small for a Parrotlet. MUCH to small. They need very large and wide cages. Please order a nice big one when you can. Here is my cage, the dimentions are 21X34 and 36 inches high.

Boredom is a major problem with Parrots. Parrotlets are active and curious. They need many toys, all diff. kinds of swings, perches, rope perches, wood and string toys, etc. Most love bells of all kinds. Coconut toys are big hits. Chipper loves them and loves to eat snacks there.

Toys and a big cage are not an option, they are crutical for the mental and physical health of a parrot. They are intelligent and active and get bored easily. They need playgyms also.

The food must be varied. Not just pellets or seed. Fruit, veggies, sweet potatoes, nutriberries, pasta, brown rice, Beak Appetit, celery, carrots, peas, oatmeal, etc. Muffins and birdie bread full of veggies and fruit are great too. Their diet needs to be varied, just like ours.

You can try bathing more often for the plucking. I give Chipper a bath in the kitchen sink until lukewarm water, barely flowing. Nice and wet. Many people use a mister, but Chipper hates that. It is a good thing to try for most birds. When you get a large cage, add a nice big tub to the outside. Chipper has one and LOVES it. First thing she does when I open her door. She bathes herself.

12 very quiet hours of sleep are also important. Here are some photos of a good size cage, toys and bathtub. They need large toys like the ones in the photos, need a big cage for them.

I think if you do these few things, your birdie will be much happier.

[ssl000]

I let her out of the cage at least 3 times a day and she spends 1-2hours before I put her back in the cage. I spend time playing with her when she's out of her cage. She likes to chew on bags and empty tissue boxes.

Do parrotlets nap often?

[Cindy215]

Originally Posted by ssl000

I let her out of the cage at least 3 times a day and she spends 1-2hours before I put her back in the cage. I spend time playing with her when she's out of her cage. She likes to chew on bags and empty tissue boxes.

Do parrotlets nap often?

No, Sally gave you excellent advise. Sorry. The cage is too small. And they dont nap. Only if they are exhausted which they shouldnt be.

Yes its a serious issue and can progress to a naked bird with a low immune system, bacterial infections, or worse a bird who chews a hole right through their chest. It can be for many reasons it's importatnt to rule out the obvious. And that is sleep in your case. IMO Then diet, then cage then enrichment (TOYS).

Parrotlets require at least 12 hours sleep uninterrupted OVERNIGHT with no tv, radio, lights, computers or human sounds. In a DARK room. It's really a matter of health, mental and physical. They get overstimulated and hyper and cannot relax. They are so small their metabolism is like a hummingbird and they need their rest. They also require dusk and dawn not just a quick turning off or on of lights. Just like outside.

My birds sleep for 14 hours in the dead of winter and 12 in the peak of summer. (most parrots dont need that and can get away with 10 in the summer following a strict natural daylight schedule)

It's not just a matter of sleep but light exposure.

Lighting regulates the pitutary gland and that is a sensor in the brain the controls EVERYTHING About a bird. When to eat, sleep, breed, molt, etc.

Messing around with that isnt good and they wont live long. Parrotlets are also prone to accidents and they are going to happen much more in a tired bird.

Please dont think yours is any different. And BAGS and BOXES aren't parrot toys sorry. They REQUIRE chewing of hard objects and various textures. Parrot toys. That's why they make them. So they dont chew their skin. So I'd start with actual shredding toys and then add some softish chewable parrot wood toys. NOT Parakeet actual small PARROT toys. They need to do what they do in nature.

[ssl000]

She doesn't like the normal parrot toys with the beads, blocks, and strings attached together. She likes toys that make sounds like when the bag rattles or toys that she can tear apart. I've made my own toys for her like a piece of a birds nest and styrofoam tied together. I've also given her plastic caps from water bottles, she tosses it back and forth in the bottom of her cage.

[Monica]

You don't want to use wild bird nests... you need to use items from craft stores, un-used dog/cat/rodent toys, or even baby toys. If she enjoys toys that make noise, and destroying toys, get something like popsicle sticks, bells, etc. Things that are easy to chew apart and can make noise. Design something of both. Check out our link directory for DIY toys and such.... quite a few good sites with various ways of making toys.