Why Is My Budgie Itchy and Plucking His Feathers?
Colourful native Australian Rosella bird scratching its head

Why Is My Budgie Itchy and Plucking His Feathers?

Kris S. seeks advice:

We got a budgie when he was 1 month old rarely in his cage and very spoiled/loved. 

 

Got 2nd young male 2-3 months later, he was a month old as well.

 

Moody Blue, the first one, is VERY jealous of Zipper, the new one. 

 

Zipper wants to be friends and tries to be near Moody but he just won’t allow it and will bite at times. 

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Should I Be Worried About the Bald Spot on My Older Conure?
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Should I Be Worried About the Bald Spot on My Older Conure?

Barbara G. has a concern

Tootsie is a forty-two-year-old green-cheek conure who has lived with me for forty-one years.

The top of her head is completely bald, with front red feathers remaining.

She sleeps a lot but is otherwise active.

She enjoys her regular food along with a handout from her person.

She does not pluck her feathers, loves annoying me, and is a first-class cuddler.

Could this be age-related?

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How to Remodel a Cage to Reduce 2 Bird’s Hormonal Behavior?
Green cheek conure parrot on top of blue cage against an off-white background

How to Remodel a Cage to Reduce 2 Bird’s Hormonal Behavior?

This thread took place during the entire month of December 2020.

Spoiler alert (also found at end of the post)

Hi Catherine I don’t know if you got my email from the other day about the lighting treatment for Reggie’s hormones.

It did the trick.

She is so much friendlier to Kiwi there was just one time she went at him when he was on his stand but it wasn’t as bad as it was before the lighting treatment.

I know you are probably so busy I just wanted to know if she starts to show aggressive behavior do we do the 72 hr or 7 days she is still a little hormonal but not nearly as bad she loves going under my blanket lol.

Thanks again for your advice it was the best Christmas present we could have asked for.❤

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How Do I Get My Bird to Accept a New Playstand?
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How Do I Get My Bird to Accept a New Playstand?

Cynthia L. needs a bird feeding dish for her new bird’s stand:

The bird stand that I have came with stainless steel, 8 oz. bowls, my Grey loves to grab them and flip everything on the floor.

I need a heavy bowl that will fit.

Next, tell me how I get her to accept the nice new stand.

I have it in the same room, now 4 ft away from her cage.

If I have her on my hand and we walk anywhere near it, she will fly away.

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A Readers Advice for Patrick’s Biting Senegal

Lynn H. replied to Patrick B.

 

I have a 27-year old Senegal.  

 

I was reading your post (below) and thought I would offer a few suggestions to you.

 

First, as Mitch said, try clicker training.  

 

It is basically positive operant conditioning.

 

Birds do not understand the word “no” and yelling at them will teach them how to scream. 

 

So please give it a try. 

 

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Should I Be Concerned With a Spot on My Bird’s Beak?
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Should I Be Concerned With a Spot on My Bird’s Beak?

Lois D. has a question about bird beaks:

 

My 12 yr old male Jenday is in fine health–eating and playing and chewing wood etc all day.

 

But I just noticed a spot on his beak (right side) bottom, that is bare (not black)-I cleaned his beak.

 

Just wondering–have searched the internet and all my books– can’t find a thing.

 

Can you help?

 

Should I be concerned? Thanks so much.

 

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How Do You Rehabilitate a Biting Senegal Parrot?
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How Do You Rehabilitate a Biting Senegal Parrot?

The following is in response to our feathered community member Patrick.

Hi Patrick B,

I have a 27-year old Senegal.  I was reading your post and thought I would offer a few suggestions to you. First, as Mitch said, try clicker training.  It is basically positive operant conditioning.  Birds do not understand the word “no” and yelling at them will teach them how to scream.  So please give it a try. 

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How Can I Achieve Better Birdcage Environments for My Birds?
blue-quaker-birdcage

How Can I Achieve Better Birdcage Environments for My Birds?

Hey there, here for the brunch, but I’d like to speak to the manager, I just have a question or two before sitting down: 

So we have a 2 bird, 2 human family.   

The littlest one, a GCC named Pz is the comedian and energy ball of the group, with tons of personality packed into a 70gram feather suit.   

Our sanity these days hinges upon making sure the bird children are well taken care of, as we spend all our days with them now and find it very enriching to be attentive to their unique needs and the interesting ways in which they communicate them to us.

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How Can We Slow Our Cockatiel’s Flight?
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How Can We Slow Our Cockatiel’s Flight?

Scott S. is unsure about free flight (sort of):

Hi folks: My question: is there a “best way” to transition our flighted, little shy of three-year-old ‘Tiel to a quasi-free flight environment (inside a screened lanai).

Buddy is desperate to be with the rest of the flock out on the lanai, he flies and hovers by the door trying to find a way out to us.

Our other “fids” (Feathered Kids) have been great in the lanai but we’ve been “birding” since 1982 and we’ve never had a faster ‘Tiel…he’s a rocket and we’re afraid he may hurt himself if he hits a screen at full boogie.

Any thoughts?

Thank you much! Scott

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