IndianRingNeck.com

When we bought Monte back in feb this year off a lady she had clipped his wing.

Since day one we thought she hacked his wing quite badly and thats why she was giving him away (cos she knew she f-ed it up)

Weve taken him to the vet and he says she messed up quite badly too and expects some of his feathers to start growing back by january this year but his long feathers wont grow for another 18 months...

Here are some pictures..










As you can see he nibbles on his wings and the only reason i can think of is because its causing him discomfort.

Is there anything we can do to promote the growth of his feathers. Will him biting his feathers affect the growth of any new feathers if infact that lady hasnt royally screwed any chance of monte flying..

Please help..

Montes Mum and Dad

I myself would probably have the two main shafts (feathers) that are annoying him, and that he is picking at, pulled out. Better to have your avian vet do this to make sure it is done correctly. Once that is done the annoyance will probably be reduced. Then I would follow up with a bad tasting spray or a collar until you break his habit that seems to have begun because of these annoying cut feathers.

Here are a few articles I came across that give the same general advice, sprays and collars.

He will eventually grow back the pulled feathers.

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/picking.html

http://www.petparrot.com/ParrotCarePlucking.htm

I was lucky enough with Jordan that he didn't begin to pick at his bad trim.

I hope this helps and good luck.

Since I do an elaborate little clip on my pets... I generally enlist the help of another person and a towl to make things easy and calm for the little fellas.. they hate it.. but are over it pretty fast.

I wouldnt worry about the wings being permanently damaged.. just seriously hacked up. I too would reccomend pulling the feathers that are causing problems.. as continual behavioural patterns can also arise in similar situations.

Hopefully he will just ignor them once pulled.. so as not to worry about spray or collar... though if you have the choice go the collar no matter how funny it looks... as it wont alter their perception of preening in the slightest. Just inhibit it.

we might have to pay a visit to our local avian vet then to get those two bigger feathers pulled out...

ohhhh monte - will it hurt him considering how big they are i dont want him being traumatised LOL i think im the bigger wuss, i dont think id honestly be able to watch...

It will be over in a second. He will be just fine. I don't know exactly what if feels like as I am not the bird, but they break and pull out their own feathers often, and I think it would be just like an instant sharp twinge and thats it. He will be much happier once the annoying feathers are gone. The vet will make sure the whole shaft is pulled out and the bleeding is stopped straight away. Guess a little like pulling a tooth ?

lol i would be worried if ppl knew what it feels like to be a bird and have feathers pulled out..

after the weekend a visit to the vet is in order i suppose... il have to be brave for my baby boy

thanks for the replies

il let you guys know how it all goes and what the vet has to say

Laura