FEATHERING

Dear Dr. Rob, I am writing you about Titan, a Senegal parrot, who started plucking last February, 2005. It started a couple weeks after we adopted another cockatiel and parakeet, both females. In the same room, is an African Grey, a pigeon, and at the time, three cockatiels. The Senegal was born 2/17/2000. Once the plucking began, I tried Profeda in his water. I have also put flower essence drops for anxiety in his water. I have since moved the cockatiels out of the room. I give him a shower each day. I spray him with George's aloe vera each day. I put aloe in his water, along with 911 Stress Control. I spray him with 911. Lately I have also been spraying him with Silver 100. This is similar to Collodial Silver (a natural antibiotic). He needs to be caged unless I am around because he will attack the parakeets through the cage bars. He is jealous that the African Grey is out all day, and he wants out. But this situation has not changed for three years. He has a lot of toys in his cage. He enjoys sitting under the full spectrum light. He used to love being outside. Now, he completely plucks if I put him outside or into another room for more than a half hour. A few feathers will grow back and then he will get stressed and pull them out. He used to be a great eater of fruits and vegetables, and now is not. He will eat dried papaya, a bit of egg, a couple peas, a grape, dehydrated raspberries, Lafaber's Nutri-berries, safflower seeds, an almond in the shell, and a pistachio nut. During the last year I eliminated nuts at one point, which made no difference. He has become a screamer. He has anxiety and is nervous. He is so plucked, He has one tail feather left. He cannot fly He just falls if he tries. I went to the Pomona Bird Show last Sunday and spoke with Laraine. She said that I should write to you, saying that Titan's plucking is a problem that possibly you could help me with. She said Titan's situation was beyond her level of expertise. Since the show, I now have him on Calcium Plus, at four drops per two ounces of water, and still have the aloe and 911 Stress Control in his water. On his Nutri-berries, on the papaya, and on his wet food, I have been sprinkling the Feather Fast. I want to ask if maybe I should try to syringe the calcium into his beak to ensure that he is getting enough of it into his system. I appreciate your time in analyzing Titan's situation. He was a beautiful and happy Senegal at one time. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and suggestions as to what else I could do to try and break Titan?s habit of plucking. Best regards, Taryn