Hi Everyone! Paco's mom here! I haven't been on in a while. Since my last visit to the forum I have rescued 2 more birds (a dusky headed conure and an Eclectus) and now with 4 parrots, a full time job, a hubby to care for, and a slew of other animals in my crib I'm incredibly busy and sometimes insane. I wanted to reintroduce myself so I can re-familiarize and then I have a serious question.

I am a parront to Paco my 5 year old quaker (who I've had now for 2 years) , Simon my 3 year old Pategonian Conure, Squeaky my 2-3 year old featherless (almost) Dusky Headed Conure (who I think has OCD....serious picker and was abandonded because of it), and now Ruby my 2-3 year old female Eclectus who I bartared and begged for (she was stuck in an ugly pet shop in the corner...the only big bird there so I call it a "rescue"). Paco was the original guy around here and we rescued the rest over a period of 2 years. Ruby is our most recent, coming to us at Christmas last year.

Paco has always been "bird in charge" and he is "my" bird. The rest prefer my husband but will hang out and tolerate me when he's not around. Paco has never had any problems until now. This last Wednesday when I got home from work I notice a bunch of feather on the floor. There was not enough to worry me so I let if go. Then this morning when I went to wake him up the floor, the bottom of his cage, his tent, and his food bowl were full of pretty little green and white feathers! In 2 days he has picked himself raw under his wings and behind his legs! I bathed him, cleaned up his cage, washed his tent and toys, moved his cage and have been cuddling him and playing with him all morning. I'm worried, he's never been a picker before!

Finally, I guess my question is has anyone else experienced major sudden picking like this? Does anyone have any suggestions? He's eating fine, playig fine, and seems to be in good humor.

Thanks and I'm excited to be back!

Cheryl

I should note that on my signature it says "Elmo"...that is Squeaky....we call him Squeaky more than Elmo cuz his squeaks/chirps so it just seemed to fit. I'll have to figure out how to change that siggy again!

I would take him to the vet, random plucking like that can be an infection starting..hard to say. Cosmo has a spot on her chest she goes after all the time, its worse lately, so we are off to the vet today, to get a culture. It could be hormonal this time of the year though too...but can't rule out the medical stuff unless he's tested first, so i say that is the first step.

I wish I had some advice to offer, but, fortunately, have never had to deal with this. There is a Yahoo group, called Feeding Feathers, that suggests a special diet for quakers, and a special diet for plucker. Maybe you can join their group and access their files.

I'm sure it would be heartbreaking to see your little Paco mutilate himself like that. I know I would be if it was my Paco. Hope you can find the little guy some help. An avian vet may just be the only one with the right answer.

Well, it doesn't look likes he's plucked anymore over night but we are on our way to the vet right now with a fresh poopy sample to have it test for Giardia. If it is internal parasites, I want to take care of it quickly. Thanks for the advice! As usual this place is great for information. Too many cook doesn't always spoil the soup now does it?

Let me know how it went! Took Cosmo in on friday, we are on some oral baytril til the culture comes back, so we'll see how it goes, for her it just looks liek the affected spot is right where she plucks, the rest of her looks great, so it'll be interesting to see the results and maybe the baytril will work just fine, she likes it, so makes it easy! although marti thinks she should get some too...