Cones, Bubbles, and E-collars Continued

The other day we were talking about collars for plucking parrots. Let me share a picture with you. This picture is one of Sisco's ponchos doing its job. On the poncho WAS a flower, Sisco just about demolished it to the point where I will need to fix it before she wears it again. The poncho did 2 things. It was comfortable to Sisco which allowed her to eat, preen, drink, and play. Whereas an e-collar, cone, of bubble would not allow most of these things, but especially preen. If a bird gets depressed from having one of these devices on her, she will stop eating, too. That could be dangerous. So, it allowed her comfort and also kept her warm.

The second big job this poncho did was to keep her from totally plucking her feathers out. Now, it didn't keep her from plucking, period. But, it did keep her from constantly plucking. It kept her distracted long enough to let some new feathers grow in.

Job well done!

PS. Last night at dinner, Sisco ATE a bite of broccoli!!!!! 

Cones, Bubbles, E-collars

I got to thinking just now, as I was scritching Sisco and removing some of the sheath on her new pin feathers, that when she had an E-collar on, how uncomfortable that must have been when she had new feathers popping thru. I wonder if we aren't doing more harm than good using these types of devices.

When I got Sisco, she had a bubble collar around her neck. It looked very uncomfortable to me and so we took it off the next day, but as soon as it was off, she went on a plucking spree! We made an E-collar of X-ray film and put that on her. I took that off of her when it was apparent that she was having trouble getting to her food.

I have not used anything like that since, and the plucking continues. But, I'd rather her be comfortable rather than be in pain due to a pin feather bending the wrong way. If I touch a new pin feather, I get bit. Can you imagine if a bird has a bubble collar on and has a new pin feather coming thru, but is bent or rubbing the collar, how grouchy they are because of the pain of that new feather?

That's why I feel it is important to use something more soft and pliable rather than something that won't move and will inhibit growth of new feathers under it. For some birds, feather plucking is due to a medical condition. For others it is due to environment and then becomes a habit that is very difficult to end. To get it to stop, something needs to change or become better in the bird's environment. Look around to see what could possible be a trigger for this plucking. An air freshener? A new lotion (or something on your skin like residue smoke, cleaners, metals, hazardous materials, etc) causing an allergic reaction to him? A new family member (can be human or animal)?

We looked around, but did we spot anything? Yes? Good, fix it. No? Look again. Still nothing? OK, work on getting the habit to stop by replacing it with a new habit or habits. A way to do that is to literally replace that habit with something else. Keep him or her extra extra busy so she doesn't have time to pluck. Easier said than done if you have a job. All you can do in that situation is to try and keep her busy while you are gone with special toys that you only put into use when you have to be gone. The idea is to keep her engaged during the day so she doesn't think about her feathers. Whether or not you have to work, it doesn't matter because this will be a slow on going process, or so I am learning. :-)

Good luck! Any questions or comments, let me have 'em!

Dare I say It?

This morning, Sisco still had her new feathers on her shoulders and the ones on her chest are still there! Today's plans are to give her a bath and to get her to eat some scrambled eggs. We're not going to be home much today, but while I am home, I will make sure to give her one on one attention. 

New Feathers!!

Sissy has new feathers on her shoulders and 2 coming in on her chest! Yes, I am celebrating these feathers even though I know that they won't stay for very long. It's an accomplishment, no matter how tiny! :-)

Another Observation

Tonight's cuddle session lasted almost an hour and a half and not 1 pick or pluck!

Day 2 of Sisco training

Today is far from over, but I wanted to share something... Normally, when I am busy doing housework, Sisco is on her cage. She is just too much of a handful to cart around with me all day. She either bites at me, preens me too roughly, or pulls my hair. She also digs into my shoulders and scratches my neck all up to smithereens.

That doesn't mean that she can't come into the same room as me, tho and hang out while I am doing other things. Duh! She was in the kitchen with me while I cleaned (non-toxic chemicals of course!) and while she was with me, we talked and I kept her engaged so she wouldn't pick!

Since the sun is shining so beautifully today, we will work on her fear of water. 

My new full time job

I have been given some wonderful advice regarding Sisco's plucking issues. She told me that I may have to dedicate 6+ hours into helping her to stop and it is going to be a long process, but it is doable. I am determined and encouraged to get her to stop plucking! And of course, I will keep everyone posted on our progress.

More About Sisco

I found the cutest buttons at Walmart while grocery shopping and decided to buy them to use on some of Sisco's ponchos. These buttons are lightweight and made of felt. So cute!!

The one with the little collar is for day time and the one without the collar is for night time. The reason for that is because she will pick at the collar and make it unravel.