staggering pullet...whats wrong?

[Judy]

Aprolium blocks the uptake of thiamine in cocci. I don't think it does so, to any extent, in the chicken. I've read that it mostly stays in the gut. Purina says you can eat eggs from hens on amprolium because the hen doesn't absorb it. FWIW -- just what I've read.

 

[jak2002003]

^^ The Amprolium blocks the uptake of certain vitamins in some individuals.

Oh, thanks for that info.

On a side note, what is wrong with your parrot - why has it missing all those feathers? Did you rescue him?

 

[Sparrow]

Yes, he and his girlfriend Winnie have only lived with us since Christmas, when they lost their previous home to fire. The woman who had them before us also rescued them from the previous caretaker, so they have really been through it in their 10 years of life. Winnie does all the plucking, as she is a very unstable bird, so she plucks her body and every feather she easily pull out on Toby. We are apparently the first people who keep them stimulated mentally, give them an excellent diet, and also rules and guidelines for behavior, so there has been feather regrowth, but at a certain point Winnie pulls them all out again out of habit. Most of Toby's follicles are so damaged they don't even try to regrow. If we separated them to see how much will actually grow back, he would be a basket case because he loves her and can hardly stand it if she is even in the next room. So, Toby will likely always be bald and beautiful. lol!

 

[Sparrow]

That's strange, because I've been advised by several people to take my own chick who is exhibiting similar symptoms, but more severe, off of the medicated feed during treatment because it does block vitamin uptake in some individuals. Figured it can't hurt at this point, whether it affects them or not.

 

[nursebecky99]

How is she doing today?

Up moving around the brooder box, still staggering and unsteady, but eating, drinking pooping like normal. I will get the vitamins in the am, worked last night and tonight too.

 

[nursebecky99]

Aprolium blocks the uptake of thiamine in cocci. I don't think it does so, to any extent, in the chicken. I've read that it mostly stays in the gut. Purina says you can eat eggs from hens on amprolium because the hen doesn't absorb it. FWIW -- just what I've read.

thanks for this info.

 

[nursebecky99]

bump...any opinions or other ideas?

 

[jak2002003]

Yes, he and his girlfriend Winnie have only lived with us since Christmas, when they lost their previous home to fire. The woman who had them before us also rescued them from the previous caretaker, so they have really been through it in their 10 years of life. Winnie does all the plucking, as she is a very unstable bird, so she plucks her body and every feather she easily pull out on Toby. We are apparently the first people who keep them stimulated mentally, give them an excellent diet, and also rules and guidelines for behavior, so there has been feather regrowth, but at a certain point Winnie pulls them all out again out of habit. Most of Toby's follicles are so damaged they don't even try to regrow. If we separated them to see how much will actually grow back, he would be a basket case because he loves her and can hardly stand it if she is even in the next room. So, Toby will likely always be bald and beautiful. lol!

So pleased they have found a good home at last - and they are together too.

I think you can make them a massive feather duster toy and keep it in the cage - maybe she will pull the feathers out of that rather than herself and her boyfriend.

Or, maybe knit him a jumper lol.

 

[Sparrow]

She LOVES toys made of felt fabric, she just sits and crunches the fabric in her beak, and it seems very soothing for her. so that helps, but there appears to be only so much we can do to stop her. We are actually looking into getting him some clothes to protect his cute little body!

 

[jak2002003]

She LOVES toys made of felt fabric, she just sits and crunches the fabric in her beak, and it seems very soothing for her. so that helps, but there appears to be only so much we can do to stop her. We are actually looking into getting him some clothes to protect his cute little body!

I used to work at a zoo and we had one Macaw similar to yours, in that she would pluck her mate - he had a totally bald head through her over - grooming him - he looked like a colourful vulture!

We found hanging lots of willow twigs and branches (with leaves on) in their aviary helped a great deal. They both loved to strip off the bark and eat it and the leaves. We also sprayed them with a hose to have a shower every day and they were able to go outside each day also to get sunlight. They also got a big rotten tree stump they like to chew to bits. She really reduced plucking him and his head feathers grew back almost perfectly after about 7 months.

I use a UV reptile light with all my indoor birds to give them Vit D and it seems to help with their feathers looking shiny and bright. It is good for healthy skin too, and strong bones. Perhaps you can try on of those lights above their cage?

Also giving them a large wooden nest box will help, with chunks of wood in the bottom - they will spend many happy hours going in and out of it and chewing it to bits.. and the breeding and nest making stops them getting frustrated. (You can let her lay eggs and raise chicks, or you can swap the eggs with dummy ones - they will still love brooding them).

I am sure you have them on a good diet already, but you might like to add a little scrambled egg (with shells) once a day for extra protein to help feather re growth.