Accepted Answer

Thanks for the extra information. It's very helpful. You do need to stop right away with spraying any kind of product on her. She should only have a bath in plain water, with one exception. You can put some 100% pure aloe juice in the water. But not from an over the counter product. It needs to come directly from the plant. If you don't have one, you can pick them up, very cheap, at any home improvement store that has a garden center. I keep several growing at all times, just for the use of my flock. I cut an arm from the plant, slit it open and stir the gooey center in the bath water. The ratio does not matter as it's not only harmless, it's very good for both her insides and her outside. Just don't let her have access to the rind portion as that can cause stomach upset. Here is some more info. on the benefits of aloe for our birds. Click here: Aloe: Parrot Pharmacy In A Leaf Click here: Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Kitchen Physician V - Herbal Remedies For Parrots and Pet Birds

If she really hates being sprayed, it may be because you are spraying directly on her. Even those who do not mind being misted, don't want it sprayed directly at them. You want to always mist down from above, as if it's raining. You can also try offering her a large shallow pan for taking her own bath. I use a large flat cake pan for my African Grey, who is about the same size bird. If you have a flat top cage, you can put it up there for her. Then try running the vacuum. For some strange reason, the sound of the vacuum seems to inspire most parrots to take a bath. Go figure! It works at my house so it's worth a try. The problem with that over the counter junk from pet stores is it's a waste of your money and we always have to remember that whatever we put on their feathers, ends up in their system as soon as they preen. Part of her problem may be she is trying too hard to preen that stuff off her feathers. Also part if it might be diet, and/or she is not getting enough of your attention and out of cage time. There are many reasons a parrot will pluck and getting to the bottom of it can be real tough. Another thing to get rid of is perch covers. I'm assuming you mean those sandpaper covers and those are dangerous, plus they can make her feet very sore. Also, the ones I have seen are all for perches that would be much too small for her feet. What you need for a proper nail trimmer/beak conditioner perch is like this one. Click here: Safety Bird Perch Obviously she is larger than this bird but notice the size of the perch as compared to the size of the foot. That is the sizing you need. You want it to be fat enough so that her toes contact the perch and not wrap all the way around. If you have any of the dowel rod types that come in most cages, get rid of them and replace with at least 3 different one. That nail trimmer is one, she also needs at least one natural limb type and the fat Manzanita perches are good for that. She also needs at least one of the twisted rope styles as well. Keep in mind, she has to spend 24/7 standing on her feet. She must have a variety of sizes, shapes and diameters to maintain good foot and leg health. Back to the plucking situation, what I have mentioned so far as to possible causes all come under the heading of behavioral. There are only two reason a bird plucks, one is a health issue, the other is behavioral. While her's may be totally behavioral, we always have to rule out any possible health issue first. If there is an underlying health problem, we are spinning our wheels and wasting our bird's time and stress, trying to attack it from the behavior stand point. That doesn't mean you should not go ahead and change out those perches, try giving her more attention, swap out her toys so she doesn't get bored with them and so on. But do not rule out getting her in to see a true Avian vet for what we call a well bird check up. Try giving her lots of things to shred and tear up and get her some toys that require her to use that high IQ she has. Toys that are puzzle types, things that play music and makes sounds if she pushes buttons and toys that you can hide treats in are great. When you are not home, assuming she is home alone, leave a radio on and/or turn on the TV to a kids channel or cartoons, or nature shows. My parrots love all three and will stare at the TV when they are on. You don't have to spend a fortune in true parrot toys. There are many things you can do cheap, or free. For example, an old phone book with the covers and any shiny inserts removed, rolled up and wedged in the cage bars is great to shred. Hang a roll of plain white paper towels for her to shred. Mine love rolls of adding machine tape, (non self carbon type). Always hang items with 100% cotton twine, vegetable tanned leather strips or stainless steel chains. The vegetable tanned leather strips, tied in a lot of knots and hung in the cage can keep them busy for a long time, working to untie the knots. Fischer Price toys that are infant safe are great. Again, don't pay for new ones. Hit the flea markets, garage sales, and thrift stores. When kids out grow them, they get real cheap. Wipe them down good with a vinegar/water solution and hang in the cage. My African Grey has a ton of them, all bought used and he loves them all. As for diet, you are doing a better than average job and good for you on that. But, watch those grapes and other produce items. Don't ever give her anything that was not grown in the U.S. Other countries are allowed to use toxic treatments that can kill a bird real quick. She can eat almost anything you eat so try offering different ways. Fresh or steamed, diced or shredded, and so on. Try eating with her. They are very flock oriented and eating is very much a flock activity. There are not many ways to better entice a parrot to try new things than to eat with it. Fix her a plate of everything you are having that is safe for her. I'm not sure what you meant by "junk food" but whatever it is, I can almost guarantee, she should not be eating it. She also should not be getting any crackers or anything like that if there is salt on it. Her body cannot handle added salt or sugar. Safe "junk" food for a parrot are things like squares of toasted whole grain bread, plain biscuits of shredded wheat, other foot foods like carrot sticks, and leafy greens like endive, kale, mustard, turnip and collard greens and romaine lettuce. No ice berg and no spinach. Those greens are also good shredder items. Just clip some to her cage bars. Wash them well and leave a little damp. I hope I have answered everything and it will be helpful but if I've left anything out of if you have more questions, just let me know. I'm going to give you links for locating a true Avian vet in case you don't know of one and I urge you to not put off getting that checkup as soon as possible. I'll be here if you need anything else. Patricia

Click here: Parrots - Avian Vets Recommended - Judy Leach's Parrots - macaws, cockatoos, and african greys

Click here: Find local animal hospitals and emergency animal clinics - PETS 911

Click here: Find your local Avian Veterinarian

Click here: Avian Veterinarians Recommended by Bird Breeders and Owners http://www.birdsnways.com/articles/abvpvets.htm

Click here: Avian Vet List

Click here: BirdsnWays - Avian Veterinarians - Vets - Vet Services for Pet Parrots & Exotic Birds

This one looks like an advertisement for Harrison pellets but they are only sold by vets so it's another good list to check. Click here: Harrison's Bird Foods is a family of certified organic pet bird diets that were formulated to make your bird as he

Expert:	Patricia
Pos. Feedback:	99.9 %
Accepts:
Answered:	2/16/2008

Parrot C&onsultant

Published author, free lance bird behaviorist, adviser to the parrots at Sarasota Jungle Gardens.