Re HANNES MCCAW

[wendilla]

I asked for advice a few months ago as to why my Hannes kept plucking her breast feathers. I took on board all your replies but she is still doing it . A friend of mine through conversation said When did she start this. And I said about 18 months ago .And she said Isn't that when you had to have your Labrador put to sleep.. This got me thinking as she used to watch my Lab all the time trotting in and out. She even copied me saying Go and wee. Now my son has aquired a puppy and the only time my Hannes says Go and wee is when she sees the pup when he comes over. Could there be some connection?

[daisya]

Aww does sound like it to me Wendi, birds can show signs of grief with loss of people and animals too maybe your bird is stressed to the point of missing your dog. That's usually when they pull feathers when their stress levels are high. I hope you find a solution to it, perhaps being able to keep her interested in other things at times to take her mind off the plucking?

[wendilla]

Yes Daisya only thing we can think of now as she is not bored as out of cage most of the day.

[wildwood]

It certainly is a strong possibility wendella.

Some parrots start plucking when they move home, or indeed when it has a strong bond with the owner and s/he dies. IN captivity they can become attached to any animal, not just humans, so lets hope that's what it is and the birds stops plucking.

As I've said before though, once they start plucking it is very hard to stop them.

[Mamyalynne]

Oh it certainly sounds like she is grieving bless her, and you of course.

[wendilla]

Thank you all for replies I am now sure that is what it is .I have my daughters new puppy here in the day till it is old enough to be left so I am hoping now she might stop but the dogs will be coming over regular so she will be seeing them lots.