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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:	Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:	INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:	VIDEO::PULSIFER

Created:	Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:	Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	942
Total number of notes:	6016

621.0. "Blue Fronted Amazon & stress" by ANARCY::GRADY () Wed Oct 30 1991 15:29

    Hi,

	We moved to New Hampshire a month ago and my Blue-Fronted Amazon
    didn't take the move well at all.  I have had birds for 15 years and
    know what stress can do so paid close attention to my birds (12) dur-
    ing the move and made them as comfortable as possible.  All of my 
    other birds (Cocatiels, Nandays & Love Birds) did fine.  But after 
    a week in the new house my Amazon started flicking his wings, biting
    me and picking at his feathers (he's never bitten before).  Next he 
    started pulling out the feathers on the inside of his legs.  I called 
    my vet who has seen Corey before and she said it was "classic" behavior 
    due to stress and suggested a few things.  I half covered his cage and 
    setup a light to keep him nice and warm.  He continued to pick at his
    legs, shaking/flicking his wings, stopped talking all together and didn't
    want to have ANYTHING to do with me.  I talked to the vet again, dropped 
    off a stool sample (just in case there was anything internal going on)
    I didn't take him to the vets because I thought the 45 minute drive 
    would cause him to be more stessed.  She suggested giving him a bath in
    water & epsome salts then a rinse.  I got myself ready for bloody fingers
    and gave him the bath.  He didn't fight me at all and I got a good look
    at his legs.  He had torn the flesh off and there was bone showing on his
    right leg close to his body.  I freaked out and brought him to the vet
    immediately.  

	Corey was anesthetized, they cleaned up his legs and put a collar
    on.  I was able to pick him up that night.  He was VERY disoriented for
    two days but he is starting to snap out of it little by little.  He is
    talking again (the last two days) and managing better with the collar
    (eating was a challenge for a few days).  I medicate his legs every 
    day and they are healing slowly.  We have a followup appointment in two 
    weeks, then the collar will be taken off.

	I am worried he will start distroying his legs again when the collar
    is off but I will hope for the best.  I needed to talk about this to
    other bird lovers.  The vet had a Yellow Nape Amazon in awhile ago that
    had crewed his foot off!  What a horrible thing for them to do.  I can't
    move back to my old house so I will do everything I can to make Corey
    accept his new home.  It won't feel right till he is back to his old
    self again playing, talking, singing & being the clown I've known for
    5 years.

		Thanks for listening!

			Debbi

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
621.1		HELIX::RUZICH	VAXELN Development - RTSE	`Wed Oct 30 1991 23:36`	18
	This may not be the most practical suggestion, but your blue-front might respond positively to a new amazon. We were given a mitred conure a couple of years ago who was a feather-picker; she had ripped off most of her breast feathers. Maxine is not tame, so is was not clear that human attention was going to improve her outlook. We paired her up with another mitred, putting their cages side-by-side for a while, and then opening up the doors, so they can move as they like. Both birds look very good - Maxine has not picked off any feathers. Sorry if this doesn't apply to your situation, Debbi, but I thought there was a chance. Good luck, -Steve
621.2		ROYALT::PULSIFER	I GOT SMART/QUIT AT 12 YEARS OLD	`Thu Oct 31 1991 08:28`	15
	I would suggest that you try to make his new location as close to what it was at the last house. You said you put a light on, it should be on the same duration that it was at the last house and have the same intensity. If he had sunlight at the last house try to give it to him now. Try to have him the same distance from the other birds as it was before you moved. If you provide him with some peices of pine boards or cardboard tubes(from T-paper , paper towels), it could help to divert his leg chewing. Maybe he picked up mites in the new house, although not probable. Consistancy is the key. Good luck, Doug
621.3	I hate moving!	CSOA1::DIRRMAN		`Thu Oct 31 1991 12:31`	12
	EAK! I will be moving in January - Now I am really worried! I know - great time to be moving in Ohio - but we have no choice! We have 5 tiels, 1 blue crowned conure and 1 Congo grey. I have gone over the move a thousand times - and trying to figure out how to do it with the least amount of stress. If anyone has any suggestions - please reply. Thanks! Dora
621.4	Update & Thanks	ANARCY::GRADY		`Thu Oct 31 1991 13:57`	21
	Thank you for your responses. Corey is stable for now. He's healing well and manageing with the collar. I do have his little friend Raule (Nanday) beside him the same as in the old house. I thnik part of the problem is the windows in the new house are much larger and there are more of them. So I'm trying to keep the light down a little to make it more like before. I had the heat light on him before to try and keep his strength up and keep him warm but I have removed that cause it didn't help. Anyway, we'll do the best we can to make his new home like the old one and spend as much time loving him as possible. For .3 don't worry! All my other birds handled the move just fine. I remember Corey used to get upset for 3 to 4 days when I moved his cage from one room to the next so I guess he's just sensitive to change. I will keep you all updated. We are waiting for the next vet appoint- ment on Nov. 15th. Thanks again! Debbi PS. "Bird Talk" discusses this leg mutilation in it's December issue but they don't have a real "cause" figured out.
621.5	mutilation	ROYALT::PULSIFER	I GOT SMART/QUIT AT 12 YEARS OLD	`Fri Nov 01 1991 07:52`	6
	Hi, regarding leg mutilation, people could be overlooking parralell situations among us humans. Many people bite their fingernails to various degrees, some so that their fingers are permanently disfigured. This is usually blamed on nervousness.
621.6	Update	ANARCY::GRADY		`Thu Nov 07 1991 16:39`	22
	I wanted to let all of you know how well Corey is! We took off his collar last Saturday (he was really upset with it so I thought I'd give it a try) and he has been getting better ever since. He ate for two days and seems to have put back the weight that he lost. I have kept a close eye on him since and he hasn't done any damage to his legs. One is completely healed and the other is looking very good. I guess the most important thing I did was get him to the vets for the collar cause that stopped the mutilation and gave him something else to think about. I moved the collar the other day and he went racing to the other side of the cage trying to get away (was kind of funny) so I guess it made a lasting impression on him. I would not hesitate to put it back on if he started picking on himself again. He is still scared of other rooms in the new house but I think little by little he will get used to it. He said "time to go to work" yesturday morning (I haven't heard that for 5 weeks) and he is up to his mischievous ways again. Thanks so much for all your support and good luck to all who have "sensitive" birds... I wouldn't trade him for the world! Debbi :-)