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TClanton
Bronze Member
14 Posts |
 Posted - 02/07/2007 : 23:23:39
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We appear to be starting on our first molt. Any ideas or advice? Poor Harpo is getting little quills everywhere and is not happy about it. Do you guys try to crumble them and get the feathers free?
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Toy
Top Gold Member
USA
390 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 07:54:35
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I usually let the birds deal with them on their own. You may need to help with the ones on the back of the neck & top of the head.
A "blood feather" is a new feather growing in. The tip or shaft hasn't turned white yet. In this stage the new feather shaft is very ouchy, so just touching or moving them can cause the bird pain. If the shaft gets broken it will bleed. This needs to be stopped by packing with flour or corn starch. If the bleeding can't be stopped then a vet call is required ASAP.
A "pin feather" is a blood feather that has started to turn white or has turned all the way, but is still in the shaft. The blood line is close to the bottom of the shaft or completely gone.
Parrots start to open the tips of the shaft as soon as there's enough white formed. Most know when to stop, while others can over preen & cause some bleeding. As long as the blood is not dripping let the bird handle it, but keep checking daily. Again this is rare, but it does happen with some over preeners.
The "pins" get very itchy & can also jab them due to the sharp tips. To remove the tip gently grasp it between your index finger & your thumb & roll/pinch it. NEVER go all the way to the blood line. Let 1/4 inch of white above the blood line. Showers help to soften the pins & also rinse away parts fo the shaft that have flaked off. New feathers coming in can look a bit ratty or greasy. Again showers will help with that.
Molting comes in various stages. Some molt feathers all year long a few at a time, while others molt once or twice a year in a normal molt replacing some of their feathers. Then there's the heavy molt where they drop tons of feathers in a few days replacing the majority of their feathers in a single molt. I've seen my B&G drop over 100 down feathers in one day. Most wing & body feathers molt out in pairs. Tail feathers tend to molt out one or two at a time, regrow then a few more molt out. Molted feathers normally grow back quickly. Make sure they have a good diet containing calcium, as this helps with regrowth.
Molting can & does make them grumpy, so watch for added nipping/screaming during this time. Make sure they get plenty of sleep. If possible, when the weather is warm enough, get them outside for some sun & fresh air. Offer lots of toys they can destroy...wood, paper, etc.
Toy
Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. |
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Becca
Top Gold Member
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 15:14:49
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Toughguy hasnt started molting yet....I'm not looking forward to it. I remember when our tiels used to molt and it was a horrible experience but they used to let us handle them at will soo it was in a way easier to get them to bathe, although they did love to flop on the floor and were always looking scraggly because they were breaking off feathers....what a mess. Toughguy doesnt do that which is a good thing....because I would hate for him to break off his beautiful feathers, that its taken 7 years for him to grow.( I should post that story)
Any ideas on what to do about all the dander? he seems to have alot of it and I know there was something that helped.
Rebecca |
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Toy
Top Gold Member
USA
390 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 18:17:16
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>>Any ideas on what to do about all the dander? he seems to have alot of it and I know there was something that helped.<
For the bird or your house?
If for the bird misting or showers. I prefer showers as it washes it away.
If for your home an air "filter" (an air "purifier" won't work as they mostly remove odor & not dust). I have 2 floor models (Homes brand purchased at Sam's Club) that have the HEPA filters in them with a metal pre filteer that is washable. They suck the dust/dander out of the air. They don't get all of it, but do get allot. I also lengthen the life of the filters by running the vac on them each week.
Toy
Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. |
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Krayonkk
Member
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 22:32:26
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Hi, I am new to the forum, I have a B&G 3 yr old female and she is "really really molting" I mean she has before but it seems this year maybe it is a hormone thing but wow. She is dropping alot of feathers and I have noticed that she has lost a little weight?? Is this normal? I have tried to offer different foods but it seems like she just isn't interested. She is still the same birdie with the same personality and temprament, except for the screeching and nipping! She is still funny and very talkative it is just that she has dropped some weight, the vet told me it may be the molt and hormones mixed together and not to worry and run her down just yet, but how far is JUST YET? She has never been sick and she is the only BIG BIRD I do have a ring neck in the same room with her. But is it normal at this age to lose a few? And what can I do to encourage her to pig out again? Oh and she is pining for some crows that come in front of her window and yell to her.......Any ideas on food to boost her up and get her interested in eating again and is this normal? any help would greatly be appreciated.
Thanks OH SO MUCH! CHICHI's Granny
Karen |
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Becca
Top Gold Member
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 01:12:13
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I kinda thought you would say showers...I'll have to keep trying that route for him. He still doesnt want anything to do with the shower but he did let me run some water in the tub and he kinda walked around in it a bit ( was just enough water to cover his feet) and let me splash him but when he had enough he came to him and climbed up my arm. he did enjoy the towel and cuddle afterwards....somethign I have always done with our birds when we had them before.
Karen, have you tried offering her some fresh fruits and veggies? Mine never got them before and LOVES most of what I give him. To date we give him bananas, apples ( without the seeds) mango, he LOVES green pepper and snap peas.I also LOVE to watch him eat grapes. He doesnt care for carrots however.
I know I am forgetting some of the other things I have tried and either failed or succeeded with. Even if she doesnt happily take these things at first...Id keep trying and see if eventually she will get curious enough to try them.
Btw I think I was a little premature on the molt comment...seems as though he is starting...not bad but Ive seena few stray undercoat feathers floating around.
Rebecca |
Edited by - Becca on 02/09/2007 01:14:36 |
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Toy
Top Gold Member
USA
390 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 10:29:25
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Becca:
I use a hand held shower head. I give JaJaBinks a good spraying & then let the shower head hang so it sprays agains the wall of the tub. She runs in & out of the water, flaps, screams, talks, hides behind the shower curtains & just has a ball for a good 15-20 minutes. When she's done she lets me know via a growl sound. I set her on a towel & do a quick dab & off she goes down the hall, thru the poodles, to the stairs. She goes to the 4th step from the bottom where I pick her up & take her back to her cage. She HATES towels so I can't do the cuddle thing.
You have to teach them showers are fun. It took me 6 months to get JaJaBinks to like showers. I slapped the water, laughed, sang, acted silly, put my hands in the spray, etc. So keep trying. Also the sound of the water spraying against the tub helps. Another thing you can do is turn the vac cleaner on. The sound often sends them into excitment mode.
Toy
Toy
Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. |
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Toy
Top Gold Member
USA
390 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 10:51:28
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Karen:
>>She is dropping alot of feathers and I have noticed that she has lost a little weight?? Is this normal?<<
Yep it's normal. Their desires can move away from eating during hormone times. Some go thru a heavy molt around this age.
>>But is it normal at this age to lose a few? And what can I do to encourage her to pig out again? Oh and she is pining for some crows that come in front of her window and yell to her.......Any ideas on food to boost her up and get her interested in eating again and is this normal?<<
I would try soft or mashed foods. Also "sharing meals" can spark their interest. JaJaBinks sets on the corner of the table & eats with us. Not every night, but a few nights each week. Parrots do the "monkey see, monkey do thing". If they see you eating it they know it's safe. Make Ummmm good sounds & then try to get yoour bird to try it. They can be picky, so keep trying.
Veggie Omelets(make like a regular omelet, just toss in thawed/drained frozen or fresh veggies, a pinch of garlic powder & a pinch of cinnamon.... Mashed sweet potates with unswettened applesauce added.... Plain cannned pumpkin. You can add some cinnamon, veggies, etc to it.... Oatmeal. You can use some apple juice instead of milk..... Meat, as long as it's well cooked.... Chicken bones are a fav. I remove the knuckle first & let some of the meat on.
For in cage soft food feeding....I feed all mushy or wet foods in a dish I place on the cage grate. I do this to teach my birds they have to climb down for food. It's a normal thing they'd be taught in the wild.
Macaws also require a higher fat diet than other parrots do. I feed in shell nuts daily. Almonds, pecans, walnuts, brazil, pine & pistachio. JaJaBinks gets 2 hand fulls of mixed in shell nuts daily. I know this sounds like allot, but she's very active. I had tests run last year & all her levels are perfect! Most feed a few nuts eah day. Also try to get your bird to eat veggies. JaJaBinks LOVES peas. Note: they will NOT eat the skin on any food. They'll peel it first.
Fresh greens, snap peas, hot peppers ( Note: do not kiss bird after it's eaten hot peppers or you'll burn your lips!). The juice dries on their beak & remains hot to us humans. They don't feel the burn.
Grapes, apples, & bananas are about the only fruits my birds will eat. I sort of reserve them for night time treats or add a small amount in with breakfast food. I always peel apples first.
Citrus fruits...some like them some do not. My U2 loves lemons. I just cut a chunk(wash lemon well first), letting the skin on.
Check the home page. Angie has some recipes & other food info listed with pics.
Toy
Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. |
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Becca
Top Gold Member
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 13:06:24
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I never thought about citrus fruits...a whole new genre for us to try.
tough guy LOVES meat of any kind...although he wasnt too sure about chicken but hes slowly beginning to show a small interest in it.
Rebecca |
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TClanton
Bronze Member
14 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2007 : 20:55:41
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Mr. Harpo continues to drop underfeathers and has quills all over the place. He has been one grumpy boy this week. The showers do seem to help, but he's not having me try and and break the casings. I'm just letting him take care of them for now. Nothing major on the head yet. We do seem to be getting some extra screaming...
On a happier note, he's starting to try and talk a good bit. Funniest thing is that he does is mainly when his head is deep in the bowl of fruits/veggies. Just "good birding" away with a mouth full of peas.... |
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Becca
Top Gold Member
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2007 : 22:50:28
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our screaming for the most part has come to a end....except for the occaional "pay attentin to me" and " I want some of what you are eating" screams.
He's only got one new feather coming in right now...but he did have a few a few weeks ago and they are finally out of the casings which I let him deal with all on his own.
our funniest thing today: he walked right through a wplate of mashed potatoes and got them all over the place in cluding his beak which he promptly shook his head and got it all over ME.
Rebecca |
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Krayonkk
Member
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 02/17/2007 : 22:21:28
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Well, my little girl is finally coming around. She is eating again like normal, the screaming thing is still going on but I think it may be tapering off. I really appreciate all the help, I felt more at ease and not so paranoid. I heard that you can't give them fruit/berries/grapes from Chili? Where I am that is all we can seem to get right now, also when you prepare fresh vegies do you just cut them up or do you cook them at all?
My little Chi Chi is a fan of the "peek a boo" game and her all time favorite is "Maahcoe" then she waits untill I say "POLO" this could go on forever if we let it, she even switches up and does the POLO part, and get this if no one is paying any attention she does both in every voice she can muster, it is soooo cute at first and then OMG it can get monotonous, so I have been teaching her other little things - she is the most talkative Macaw I have ever heard of, and she copies everything I do - everything. She is such a clown. Her new thing is -- well the story leading up is short, I have a little doggie and he has been known to have a little accident every now and again, so I would say "oh gross!" and he would know I mean him. Now if she hears me say his name for feeding or whatever she says in my voice, "OH GROSS!" "PEEEW" if someone is over and I am showing them my pup and say his name she says "OH GROSS---PEEWWW!" it gets a lot of laughs mostly mine and so now she laughs exactly MY LAUGH in MY VOICE. I don't know what I would do without her sometimes, just when you are feeling really down she comes up with something that just blows your mind. She sings "der ter derrrrrrrrrr, chauge! Oh well I seem to be a doting or say bragging parent. I guess it comes with the territory. she is a mess of pin feathers and has been having lots or baths lately helps alot.
What would we do???
Karen |
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Toy
Top Gold Member
USA
390 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2007 : 00:09:48
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Karen:
Chili uses a ton of pesticides that we no longer use in the USA. Many don't feed them at all or limit them. I limit them. Wash real well before feeding & only feed those fruits if they look nice & fresh. Also grapes contain high iron, so they should be limited anyway.
Apples/oranges/bananas/papaya/etc are much better fruits to feed. Sweet potatoes mashed are usually a big hit, as well as canned whole pack pumpkin.
So you have a "jabberbox" too. Some talk allot, while others do not. Not so long ago I read many an article or post that stated "Macaws are not good talkers". Well don't tell JaJaBinks that!!
Toy
Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. |
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TClanton
Bronze Member
14 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2007 : 22:56:11
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| We're still molting away over here....how long does this usually last? I feel so sorry for the little screaming monster.... |
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Molting
