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Post by zena on Apr 11, 2013 17:09:58 GMT 10
Hi everyone, Today I noticed that my female Princess has a lot of feathers missing, and this isn't from moulting. I bought her inside (As much as she hated it...) and took a look at her because she looked 'odd'. She has lots of feathers on her wings missing, close to the front (Flight and the the other feathers) and also has lots missing on her head giving her a bald patch... I've not had a bird with plucking problems before, and i don't think its her mate (But I'm not sure as I haven't been able to see who it is...) I'm not actually sure if it is plucking, because shortly after I got her she lost almost all her flight feathers and couldn't fly... but ow some of these feathers have grown back and they are kind of deformed... Some of these feathers don't go down the back (Like they're supposed to) but instead go towards the wing and curve down the wing, and some of the flight feathers are 'wiggly' (As in instead of being straight they are in kind of wiggly line shape) I'll post some photos when I can get some. The flight feathers kind of goes like this line... If you looking at if from the top, not the flat side... Attachments:
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Post by avinet on Apr 11, 2013 22:20:10 GMT 10
Feather loss on th ehead cannot be from plucking - the bird cannot reach that area, only from the neck down. So feather loss is either from mate plucking (very unusual in Princesses) or for another reason - disease being a real possibility given the other symptoms you describe. I would really need to see photos - both of the "plucked" areas, the deformed feathers, and any feathers that have fallen out - especially flight feathers.
My concern is that she may have Psittacine Beak & Feather Disease - photos will help, but a visit to an avian vet might be worth planning. Princesses are rather prone to PBFD - my very first pet Princess died from PBFD some 20 years ago.
cheers,
Mike
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Post by zena on Apr 15, 2013 16:35:53 GMT 10
Thanks, and I will be taking her to an Avian Vet when I can. I was kind of thinking that she might but the breeder told me she didn't. (I don't think I'm going to buy birds from them again...) Here are some photos, some of them aren't that good...
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Post by zena on Apr 15, 2013 16:59:03 GMT 10
There might be some yellow feathers in these photos but thats because these are a a week old... I aven't been able to get near her... Attachments:
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Post by zena on Apr 15, 2013 17:00:21 GMT 10
This shows only one of the bald patches as I couldn't get any of the head... Attachments:
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Post by zena on Apr 15, 2013 17:02:16 GMT 10
Also, Some might have a longer beak, but her beak has been trimmed... might be one reason why she doesn't like me... Also she doesn't have any yellow feathers anymore Attachments:
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Post by zena on Apr 15, 2013 17:06:05 GMT 10
There are feathers under the curved ones that are going over some of the lighter green ones, I'll post a photo of her mate, the feather condition is quite different, and she's not in with any of other birds. Also she's missing a lot of tail feathers
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Post by zena on Apr 15, 2013 17:14:38 GMT 10
Her mate... Its weird because he loves me, and she's terrified of me... Attachments:
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Post by avinet on Apr 15, 2013 21:44:52 GMT 10
I'm afraid the photos don't really help - from what I can see the feather slook more like they are damaged rather than deformed. Certainly the tail feathers are damaged rather than deformed.
You mention trimming her beak - why was that necessary? trimming a beak is serious stuff to attempt - it is very easy to hurt a bird and that could well be why she doesn't like you.
cheers,
Mike
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Post by warh3d on Apr 15, 2013 23:31:05 GMT 10
I agree with Mike, her feathers only look a little damaged, as opposed to "deformed". She actually looks quiet healthy to me, my previous experience with Princess parrots with PBFD has showed me (& I do stand to be corrected on this) that one of the 1st signs of the disease in a princess is 'yellowing' of the plumage. Has there been any significant change in her coloring? If you are truly worried about your baby, a trip to the vet is always less traumatic than a dead bird. Good luck & all the best wishes for you & your little poly  |
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Post by zena on Apr 17, 2013 14:43:13 GMT 10
I was hoping that she didn't have PBFB, and she did have deformed feathers, i think that she may have moulted them out before I took the photos.... Also she has a beak with a broken part in the middle of the bottom beak-which hasn't grown back yet and the top part was getting long (almost to the bottom of the bottom beak...) I have trimmed a birds beak before though.... A budgie that was metally disabled- for some reason she didn't like eating food herself (Even though she was over a year old but she did sometimes) and her mate would feed her.... some of the time she forgot that she could fly...
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Post by warh3d on Apr 17, 2013 16:50:11 GMT 10
The broken beak could be the result of her flying into a wall or the mesh on her cage as princess's are renown for their clumsiness (I've even had it happen to a few IRN's before). Have you noticed any change in her personality? (aside from not liking you) As depression is another sign of the disease. Also, if possible, try to monitor her weight (weight loss is another sign of PBFD). Another thing I'm wondering (regarding the need to trim her beak) is does she have access to plenty of things to chew/ play with? I make sure that all my birds have a concrete perch & calcium & iodine perches for them to grind their beaks and claws on, in addition to a selection of natural perches (mostly red gum) & leather & timber toys. For your sake I hope she only damaged her beak in flight. However, being as this is just a hobby for me, I would be taking her to a vet to get a checkup immediately. It's the only way to know for sure. Sorry for ranting on & I hope this was of some help |
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Post by avinet on Apr 17, 2013 21:17:28 GMT 10
If the bottom beak is split to the base then it is unlikely to grow back normally and she will need regular beak trims. I have a cockatiel pet bird that has had a split bottom beak since a baby on the nest (?maybe due to an inexperienced mother) and I have to regularly trim his top beak - around monthly intervals, and occasionally the bottom beak as well. I've been doing that for 16 years  When we had our shop we had regular visits from an assortment of birds with similar problems - the most extreme example that appeared was this cockatiel shown below on his first visit - with both a before and a couple of after shots. He came to us regularly afterwards for his beak trim. cheers, Mike    |
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Post by warh3d on Apr 19, 2013 11:25:00 GMT 10
Mike, those pic's of the tiel's "Tusk's" brought a tear to my eye, poor little fellow  Do you know how long he lived? |
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Post by avinet on Apr 19, 2013 17:56:05 GMT 10
Mike, those pic's of the tiel's "Tusk's" brought a tear to my eye, poor little fellow Do you know how long he lived? I trimmed his beak for around 8 years, including a couple of years after the shop closed when he would be brought to our house. He was a very happy bird, very chirpy and a good whistler but the owner moved some distance away about a year ago and I believe he is still going strong at around 10 or 11 years. I recommended a vet to the owner in the area they were moving to so that trimming would continue. cheers, Mike |
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Post by zena on Apr 22, 2013 13:06:21 GMT 10
She doesn't have a split beak, but a large part is missing out of the front of the bottom part. All my birds get loads of natural branches, usuallly i give them 3-4 every 2nd day. She doesn't really chew on them though, maybe I should get some calcium perches? And I'm taking her to the vet this week... So hopefully it's all good ;D
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