:( PLEASE HELP Self mutilation???

polly-anna · Member Joined: Jun 27, 2007 Posts: 11

Polly has been displaying signs of agitation and pulling out teh feathers from her chest a lot lately. I have just moved her into a much bigger cage which she, at first, seemed very happy with. But she spends all her time going aroung and around the edges, trying to get out and when she cant she will pull out her feathers in what appears to be frustration.

I am at a loss as to what to do to stop this and I dont want to be a bad owner. Please tell me what I can do to help???

I have thought of getting her a 'friend' even a cockitile (sp*) but I just dont know???? :?:

Peter · Foundation Member Joined: Oct 15, 2004 Posts: 599

Hi Polly-Anna,

I've never heard of a frustrated Kakariki. Kakariki adapt verry well. In most cases when a bird pulls his feathers is when something bothers him. That can be a skin disease, a parasite or even a tumor.
A frequently occurring cause is Giardia. This is a disease caused by a type of Flagellate, a parasite who lives in the digestive tract. This is easily to tread.

But, in my opinion it is advisible to visite a bird vet.

BIGBADBK · Snr Member Joined: Apr 05, 2007 Posts: 48

Us above treat for mites and worms. If you still having problems put heaps of gum branches around the inside of the cage it will hopefully make it feel more at home and will hopefully send the time it has on pulling these apart rather than it self. Is it hand tame, has it be moved, has any thing changed. How long have you had it?

BIGBADBK · Snr Member Joined: Apr 05, 2007 Posts: 48

Oh didn't read about the change of cage. This may be the problem. Put both cages together and let her walk between both, she may be home sick for her old cage.

polly-anna · Member Joined: Jun 27, 2007 Posts: 11

She is partly hand tame. I will go and get some more gum leaves etc tomorrow. I dont know how I could put her cages together, but I will check it out.

I am also wondering if she may be lonely???? The wires of this cage are set further apart than her old one and she is always trying to squeeze out between them??? wall

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

Kakariki, be hand tame are not prone to feather plucking...
In all of the cases in these forums over the last 3yrs, and of all the kakariki I have seen over the yrs, there is not one case that can be put down to enviroment or bored or whatever...unlike other species of Parrots...
Kakariki, be tame what ever, maintain an independant nature.
If a kakariki plucks, it is because of mites, parasites, or lack of basic care.

Due to their independant and hypoactive nature, Kakariki can not be kept as a budge or canary in a cage...They must have free flight on a regular basis...
This and mites parasites, dease, old age are the only reasons for feather loss.

polly-anna · Member Joined: Jun 27, 2007 Posts: 11

OK... well she is in a large cage and can fly in it... I will check her out for mites... her food and water are updated every day.. cleaned out and replaced with fresh. Her cage is cleane dout every week.