Pet advice

[Luna]

Hi everyone

Was wondering if someone could give me advice. I have a black capped lory who is 5 and a half years old. In the past 6 months he has started to pluck his feathers. He is almost bald on his breast and under his wings.

We have taken him to the vet who went through the usual questions ie any changes in food, living conditions or exercise which the answer is no. He gets out every day for atleast 3 hours and sits on top of his cage for about an hour after that before going back in himself. His cage is the same in the same place its always been and his food hasnt changed, Soya milk and fruit.

The only thing the vet could come up with is that he had hit puberty and this was causing him to pluck since he did not have a mate. He gave me some hormone drops but they dont seem to be working.

any ideas???

[Abigail]

Get him a mate? Probably not the most economical option though.

How long has he been on the hormone drops? It may take a while for the hormones to get into his system.

[Perdita]

Has he got toys/mirror etc.? He might just be bored, but I agree that he might want a mate if he has hit puberty.

[Trinity]

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Parrots-1638/Pacific-Parrolet-Feather-Picking.htm

This website suggests that it is indeed a hormonal response and gives some advise.

[Luna]

Thanks for all your reply and that link trin.

He has loads of toys which get changed often and mum says deffo no to getting him a mate!!

Another problem we have with him is his aggression towards other people. For example he was out today and i was sitting on the stairs talking to him as he bumped up and down them, he wont let anyone else do this. I made the mistake of asking mum to clean his cage (shes terrified of him so i opted to stay with him and make sure he didnt go near her if she did this) After about 5 mins or so he noticed mum had his cage and wasnt happy at all so flew up to her landed on her back and started biting her. Obviously not happy that she was anywhere near his home!!! I had to get him off her as im the only on who he trusts as a result ive ended up with 6 or 7 bites on my hands and arms!! Im starting to wonder if his feelings towards my mum are because of hormones too????

[samantha nixon]

Has he always had problems with other people/your mum, or is it only since you say he has been acting differently

[Luna]

yeah he's always not liked her but not to this extent. Parrots only fall in love with one person all parrots are like this. But he wont even let her feed him!!!

[Chloe O'brien]

My sister has an African Gray and it's violent towards anyone except my niece. He sits on her hand and kisses her but last week my sister was standing ironing and he got out of his cage and he flew at my sister and started attacking her head.