We woke up one morning a week ago to find a literal blood bath in our Quaker's cage. I panicked to see blood dripping all over his food bowl, the perch, my Oscar the Quaker. He had already mutilated the weekend before (much less so) and the vet had started treating him for multiple vitamin, protein deficiencies, etc. This leg wound was potentially fatal. I was freaking out beyond belief. We couldn't keep a collar on him. HE was chewing up anything we put on him bleeding badly. We tried the pipe trick, everything on the internet. My husband was not able to calm me down b/c I knew our bird was going to kill himself. Most of our emergency vets don't have a bird vet there when we need one. They say, "We can try to figure something out" which is not going to work in a situation so specialized like bird psychology. I emailed Suzanne, the sock buddy lady in desperation. I read about her here on the forum! She saved his life. She told us to vet wrap his leg. I had never thought of that. We did that and when the vet saw him he was sure he would die. One week later, he has a dish collar made of xray film, a turtleneck sock buddy, vet wrap on his leg, and he is actually gaining weight. I am syringe feeding him baby food on and off all day with the help of my dear husband. His appetite is back and he is pigging out on his pellets again. Oscar loves his sock buddy. We put the turtle neck on him and he fought it for a few seconds, then puffed and fluttered. I believe he feels handsome, like a designer Quaker who got to go to a fashion show not all Quakers can attend. He's warm and cozy and so darling in it. He's still not totally out of the woods, yet, but we are closer to the edge than deep in the middle of that forest. He came to us emotionally damaged a year ago, a returned bird, that we knew we were fighting past issues with, but we sure do love him bunches. I wanted to write this as a vent and also to ask advice about how to see the warning signs early next time. I think we missed some obvious or subtle change that we want to catch next time. We don't want this to happen again. Any advice? We learned with the dog whisperer about how dogs can send you subtle clues before aggression. What subtle clues will a bird send that he is going off the deep end emotionally before he falls off?

Well, I don't have an answer for you and I hope someone on the forum will be able to give some helpful advice, but I have to say that on one hand I feel terrible for you and Oscar because what you described has got to be terrifying - to feel helpless while such a dear and fragile creature comes so close to self destruction. Having nearly lost my Quaker recently to some kind of poisoning I feel especially tuned in to the potential for loss of these sweet birds. I watch Sweet Pea VERY carefully now... he always seemed absolutely impervious to illness to me.

On the other hand I feel overjoyed that Oscar is on the mend and that you persisted as you have in helping him in spite of overwhelming obstacles. It's great to hear of your success so far in treating him and I hope he continues to mend and do well. Bravo for sticking with him! Quakers really do seem to have a complex psychology. I learn more about Sweet Pea every week, I think. Please let us know how things develop.

Oh I am so sad when I read of fids doing this to themselves ..I am so glad your little guy has recovered and likes his designer apparel... share a piccy I bet he looks so cute ..(HUGS) to you and Oscar and all the best...

Oh how I can relate to what you are going through...gives me goose bumps. It's one thing to have a bird that plucks himself bald, but to have a bird that actually mutilates itself is a totally different experience. And I truly understand all the emotional distress you are going through.

Unfortunately, we just don't know how to deal with the psycological problems birds might have other than to give them mood altering drugs which changes their whole personality. Because birds hide illness and problems until they just can't anymore for their own survival it is really hard to catch some of the little subtle changes.

Normally I don't recommend getting another bird to keep a bird company while you are away from home, but this might be a situation that warrants it. Not necessarily a cage mate but another bird that he can interact with.

Not knowing how your home is set up, is it possible to give him a bird safe room during the day where he could spend time outside of his cage to keep himself occupied fluttering from one place to another? It might help him to be able to work off some of his stress by flying and having different play stations to go to throughout the day. I think if you were able to provide something like that and possible introduce him to a friend it could possibly do the trick. But there's no guarantee that he wouldn't mutilate again.

I do know from personal experience that with the mutilator I have; even though she was housed with the same sex cage mate she still mutilated, However, once I moved her out to the aviary outdoors she has not mutilated and its been almost a year since she's been out there. She has had a few episodes of plucking a few feathers but nothing compared to what she'd done to herself previously. I'm thinking that its because she's busy interacting with all the other quakers out there and the fact that she's able to exercise and work off some of the stress.

Good luck to you, and thank you for caring so much for Oscar.

I also have a quaker who mutilates and I know too well the horrible fear you face day to day wondering what will set off your little guy. For me and my quaker-she is a rescue I've had now for 3 years and nothing I've done has really made a difference for her. I tube collar her when she starts letting blood. I know that anxiety can cause her decline but thats about all. But she has been sitting beside me with nothing going on and she will bend over and mutilate her leg. So I am often clueless regarding this behavior.

I am interested in how you collar her and keep her from hurting herself. How do you use the sock? Is it around her neck? Does it cover her chest also? I'd love to see a picture of her getup.

Good luck and keep posting, it helps us all with this disorder. Someday I hope they find a medication that really helps without zonking them like haloperidol does-its not an option IMO.

My quaker today is at least healthy, eats well and enjoys life. I wish I could break her terrible habit but in the meantime I will shower her with all the love I have. Bren

(PS-I'm posting 2 pics-the first is the day i got her almost bled out with sores. The second is how she looks now-collared but healthy)

so sad to hear about quakers mutilating....I am glad to hear that Oscar is doing better. Keep it up Mom & Dad....

Feather protector...might help some who only pluck at the chest area..

http://www.birdsupplies.com/Feather-Protec...ts-p/avfpro.htm