Flight feather loss

[PlaxMacaws]

Dianne: My B&G, Jack, has been plucking his feathers on his upper wings, as well as under his wings, ever since Maynard (my MM) rejected him when I brought Zaf home in 2005. He doesn't pluck as badly these days... but he still does so on occasion. When he extends his wings I can see light passing through the plucked areas.

Habitual plucking in response to devastation can be a very difficult thing to get beyond. But this doesn't mean it's not possible to overcome in some cases. Each bird's situation is different... just as each bird is different. My suggestion for you is to continue with your research and to keep trying different things.

I'm sorry that you and Daisy are faced with this disturbing condition

[spiritbird]

Daisy has never been a bird that likes toys or other chew items. About the only thing she loves to chew on besides her feathers is the edge of a wooden platform perch. Today I was watching her carefully for any indications of plucking behavior. Also watching for any feather fall. I kept her distracted by taking her out of the cage, feeding millet and letting her interact with Kobe. Its evening now and I think she has not plucked all day. I am going to add milk thistle to her drinking water just in case this is itching from liver issues.

[spiritbird]

I would say the course of Baytril the vet put Daisy on has been effective. She no longer is chewing her flight feathers or pulling out upper wing feathers. To me that means it was either hormonal or infective process.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Good girl Daisy - she obviously decided the punk look didn't suit her. Casper's tail feather situation is still dynamic. New ones are growing but shed one at the weekend which i think was moulted and has another one that needs to come out because it is loose which could have been the result of a crash landing. It hurts him when he shakes his tail or knocks it against anything, so I am not sure whether we should pluck it out (which I have never done so am reluctant to try) or leave it for him to sort out. What do you think?

[plax]

Casper's tail feather situation is still dynamic. New ones are growing but shed one at the weekend which i think was moulted and has another one that needs to come out because it is loose which could have been the result of a crash landing. It hurts him when he shakes his tail or knocks it against anything, so I am not sure whether we should pluck it out (which I have never done so am reluctant to try) or leave it for him to sort out. What do you think?

I would opt for leaving it alone. If it's loose it should either fall out on its own or be helped out by Casper, himself. Loosened non blood feathers generally pose little to no danger. That's unless your bird is afraid of them like Zaffer

I would say the course of Baytril the vet put Daisy on has been effective. She no longer is chewing her flight feathers or pulling out upper wing feathers. To me that means it was either hormonal or infective process.

Great to hear, Dianne

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Thanks Tony, he's a bit grumpy and sorry for himself but hasn't made any attempt to address the situation.

[spiritbird]

It must not bother him then. I would leave it also. It will eventually fall out

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

It is bothering him because he 'growls' whenever it touches against anything. Perhaps he doesn't want to fiddle with it because it is hurting and is waiting for it to come out on its own. In the mean time Margaret is wearing her warning T-shirt

Mean green and moulting by DSdriver, on Flickr

[Lady]

Glad Daisy is coming along. As for Casper, maybe it's tender from the crash landing, poor baby~

[spiritbird]

Nice shirt. You can cut the tail feather shorter if he lets you. May bother him less.