Hi
I've joined the forum as I am looking to expand my knowledge on the care of parrots and get advice from other parrot owners on why my female green cheek has started to feather pluck.
We've been together for 10 yrs currently there is only the 2 of us in the house. Earlier this year after her molt I noticed a lack of feathers on her legs and breast. I assumed it was related to my stress as my father was sick pre Christmas. Its normal for her to travel with me to my elderly parents as I have to visit every few weeks as I am their only family member and mum has Alzhemiers and in a care home.I have always taken her with me when I visiting family and friends and its rare for me to be away from home over night.
In the last 3 years I am home more than in the previous yrs we've been together !
Connie is out of the cage every day, although a breeder had advised me to limit her time out of the cage,but I open her cage and allo her time out of the cage as much as I can safely.
Our routine is I let her out first thing and we go to the kitchen were I prepare a foraging treat whicch may havee sweet pea, apple, grapes, blue berry, celery, carrot or whatever parrot suitable foods I have in house. There are organic pellets plus millet in her cage. Sunflower seeds, dried banana are treats.
I don't believe in feather clipping so she may fly as she wishes, more often than not she doesn't. I have encouraged her to fly to me.
I have made the room with her cage my main room and spend more time here than any where else.
When I come home from work, I open her cage and she joins me in the kitchen while I prep more fresh food for her and my own dinner, than we eat and spend time together after dinner.
She has now been to see a vet who does treated birds, although hes not an Avain vet and is some distance away.
Todate she is on Evening Primrose oil, a drop a day, which she loves! She's also had an x-ray which was clear and a blood test to check her organ functions, awaiting results on that. I've also been instructed to cover her for 12 hours a day which I know she hates. Plus she's no longer allowed to bathe in tap water only rain or deionised water.
Aside from her feather situation she appears to be in good health. There is no issue with feathers growing back except on her legs and chest...
Any advice would be appreciated,
Thanks Eileen