Fitness Quotes

ive just adopted an 8 year old african grey(congo) who plucks, or over grooms terribly!?

(sorry 4 the spelling)gotta gofast) he is 8. previous owner moved over seas. Said he was a "over groomer" since she got him at 14 weeks. He is a sweetheart too. But from MY personal observations,he has been pretty much cage bound and under "attentioned" - but still had both -and has an ALL DIET OF HUMAN FOOD. refuses to eat anything else, and not too terribly healthy! He is pretty well bare +Fuzz. Vet said possibly over 'frizzing' (her vet) which could be, and possibly is totally true.It could been a bad habit never corrected or nurtured and turned to habit. He took to my hand within a minute of a 5hr ride and said "hello____" I was amazed. I'd thought for sure it would be a week before he would come out of his over enormous toy filled cage, much less talk.So, is the bacon and eggs every morning and ice cream at night and only ppl food, (nutrition, vit A..) I knoe the requirements such as boredom,vit deffiecies....what I do not however, is if a 'habit' of 8 years can get better. He can be as plucked as he wants, if he thinks its it how he needs to be?...but I feel for the little booger~! If it is an emotional issue I will fill EVERYSIMGLE gap there is, over time, w/o overload...I hope i can get him slowly into a good pellet diet as well as human OK food..in moderation..... ALOE vera a money hungry spread myth or a real thing? Ah! i just hope he will adjust to his new life over time, and live happily, new feathers or not. I would rather make an allready needy parrot a new bird w a new life (as best i know how) than eagerly purchase a weaned or hand fed which modt ppl have NO IDEA whaty they are doing! to support money hungry breeders. Thanks all. Advice is appericated....pleas no"take to the vet" quotes...i am in a small town, most avairy vts dont know more than i do. and charge TWO arms and a leg. $ is not an issue,he has to been to many ,and it is is said " just an over groomer..." >>>

Public Comments

1. Try giving him pellets or seed as well as human food till you knida switch him out of eating human food. Lay off ice cream and any diary products. Some foods its okay to still give him though. fruits, veggies, cooked chicken. If he is plucking, its hard to break them from it. Give him attention. Talk to him let him out if he is tame and all. Ive never heard of the aloe vera method. I wouldnt try it though. Sounds kinda fishy to me but Im not sure. hope everything works out and sorry I cant give you really good advice.
2. You really took on a HUGE venture. Get parrot baby formula mix it with warm water add creamy penut butter, make sure you stir til it blends well. Add it to his pellets or seed and stir it up? Make sure and give vitamins. Their are vaious formulas avail at your local pet store. Really everyone has their preferance as far as brand goes! If you give him eggs mix it with the "goolosh". Pretty much every bird loves this little meal suprise. It will help with weight and nutriants. As far as the plucking keep him husy. Meaning be doing stuff with him versus just letting him do stuff on his own. Their are various opinions on feather plucking, some say it can never be corrected others say it can. I happen to speacialize in this field and I havent been able to not bring a bird back. But its a lot of time and work as well as effort! But their are some birds that maintain a plucking lever and others that get worse. If your putting alo on the the plucked area use the plant itself not the over the counter. Your local store should carry it. Scrape out the insides with a spoon on rub it in. Also put some un cut leafs in his bowl. It will help his beak and when he goes to pluck or itch it will rub off whatevers on his beak to his body. Good luck feel free to email me if I can be of more help