African grey plucking his feathers

[Ariba]

Hi, my african grey Coco has started plucking his feathers so im trying an anti pluck spray but he seems scared of it, poofs his feathers and tries to lunge for it. Is there a reason behind him plucking his feathers or is it because he is preening too much.
Also another question (im a new african grey owner) how many times do they have to shower because coco just hates the water he won't even let me spray him and does not do anything if i put a shallow bowl for him bathe but he does try to awkwardly shower in his water bowl
Also maybe he is preening a lot because he hasn't taken a bath for 2 weeks now‍

 

[Toy]

Once a week. Try placing him in the bath tub & using a gentle shower spray on him. a handheld shower head works great for this. Mine prefers cool water. Sing, act silly & make fun sounds. Turn the vacuum cleaner on. It makes them excited.

He could be plucking due to boredom, hormones, etc. Try adding more toys he can destroy, foraging toys, etc.

 

[Ariba]

Once a week. Try placing him in the bath tub & using a gentle shower spray on him. a handheld shower head works great for this. Mine prefers cool water. Sing, act silly & make fun sounds. Turn the vacuum cleaner on. It makes them excited.

He could be plucking due to boredom, hormones, etc. Try adding more toys he can destroy, foraging toys, etc.

Can i give him a book to tear up?

 

[Xoetix]

Can i give him a book to tear up?

I gave my cockatoo a catalog and while she picked at it, my GCC has been absolutely shredding it. Are you in the US?

 

[Toy]

Can i give him a book to tear up?

Yes. We use junk mail catalogs, old phone books, etc. You can also use a small paper (Dixie cup 3 ounce size) & put a treat in it for him to rip up. Squish or twist the top of the cup shut.

 

[April]

@Shannan @Nikomania any ideas?

 

[Emma&pico]

@IQ's Human

 

[Ariba]

I gave my cockatoo a catalog and while she picked at it, my GCC has been absolutely shredding it. Are you in the US?

No im in the middle east...

 

[Ariba]

Yes. We use junk mail catalogs, old phone books, etc. You can also use a small paper (Dixie cup 3 ounce size) & put a treat in it for him to rip up. Squish or twist the top of the cup shut.

Thank you i will try that

 

[sunnysmom]

I'm not sure what an anti plucking spray is but I don't think I would use it. Anything that goes on his feathers, he's going to ingest when preening. How is he acting otherwise? Has anything new happened to make him anxious? Any new sounds? New pets, etc? As for bathing, I try to make it fun. Don't force it. I do mist my birds, but if they're not liking it, I stop and try again later. My one bird hated being misted in the morning but loved it at lunchtime. No idea why. I usually sing a silly song. Spray my hand first so they can see what's going on. Use luke warm water, not cold. And try to make if fun.

 

[flwindsurf]

As a new Grey owner you should watch these free African Grey video's:

Webinars – Grey Parrot Consulting

 

[Shannan]

Grays are very very smart. They also tend to crave being in the center of activities. Mine didn't necessarily want to be involved, but wanted to be in the center of the house. It also sounds like you haven't had him very long so he may be still settling in. Some questions that might help us help you. Where is his cage? How big is it? What kind of enrichment is available to him? How much time does he spend in his cage, vs. out of his cage (If he is new. he may not yet be comfortable enough to leave his cage). Also, do you know how old he is? (hormones can play a part in plucking).

As far as bathing, Walter hated a bath and would do exactly as you describe him lunging for the sprayer. In the old days people were wrongly instructed to use sprays of water as a deterrent for behavior which didn't do anything for the behavior but sure made birds hate a water sprayer. My Walter would do as you describe and try to squeeze himself into his water bowl despite my many attempts to give him bigger bowls. Finally, under a vets suggestion, I would steam up the bathroom and take him in and we would play until the temp cooled down. As the air cooled, the water would condense on his feathers (very fine droplets) and that would encourage proper preening. I would also take my hands and wet them down and then give him skritches. Sometimes he would allow me to sprinkle gently some drops onto his back. That worked for him, when nothing else would.

Your gray sounds so much like my beloved Walter. We are here to help.

 

[Nikomania]

Plucking is undoubtedly a very complex and utterly exascerbating behavior. Of my 10 birds, only one of my birds, my macaw, has plucked. In his case it was because I had to isolate him to another room in order to appease my neighbors who hated his vocalizations. So, from boredom and isolation from the flock. I purchased a plucking collar, hoping to break the plucking cycle, but he learned how to either unfasten it or navigate underneath it to reach his feathers.

For many birds, once they start plucking it's extemely difficult to brake the habit. Similar to nail biting in humans. My guess is, with your bird, he's stressed being in a new home, so my recommendation is to introduce him to everything slowly until he becomes comfortable with it.

 

[Ariba]

I'm not sure what an anti plucking spray is but I don't think I would use it. Anything that goes on his feathers, he's going to ingest when preening. How is he acting otherwise? Has anything new happened to make him anxious? Any new sounds? New pets, etc? As for bathing, I try to make it fun. Don't force it. I do mist my birds, but if they're not liking it, I stop and try again later. My one bird hated being misted in the morning but loved it at lunchtime. No idea why. I usually sing a silly song. Spray my hand first so they can see what's going on. Use luke warm water, not cold. And try to make if fun.

I have attached the picture of anti pick spray. He does not act anxious or anything but he is kind of aggressive and hates baths even if i sing a silly song he just flys away from the water i tried putting him in his cage and using the shower head spray but he just moves away from the water

 

[Ariba]

Plucking is undoubtedly a very complex and utterly exascerbating behavior. Of my 10 birds, only one of my birds, my macaw, has plucked. In his case it was because I had to isolate him to another room in order to appease my neighbors who hated his vocalizations. So, from boredom and isolation from the flock. I purchased a plucking collar, hoping to break the plucking cycle, but he learned how to either unfasten it or navigate underneath it to reach his feathers.

For many birds, once they start plucking it's extemely difficult to brake the habit. Similar to nail biting in humans. My guess is, with your bird, he's stressed being in a new home, so my recommendation is to introduce him to everything slowly until he becomes comfortable with it.

Okay i will try that thank you so much

 

[Ariba]

Grays are very very smart. They also tend to crave being in the center of activities. Mine didn't necessarily want to be involved, but wanted to be in the center of the house. It also sounds like you haven't had him very long so he may be still settling in. Some questions that might help us help you. Where is his cage? How big is it? What kind of enrichment is available to him? How much time does he spend in his cage, vs. out of his cage (If he is new. he may not yet be comfortable enough to leave his cage). Also, do you know how old he is? (hormones can play a part in plucking).

As far as bathing, Walter hated a bath and would do exactly as you describe him lunging for the sprayer. In the old days people were wrongly instructed to use sprays of water as a deterrent for behavior which didn't do anything for the behavior but sure made birds hate a water sprayer. My Walter would do as you describe and try to squeeze himself into his water bowl despite my many attempts to give him bigger bowls. Finally, under a vets suggestion, I would steam up the bathroom and take him in and we would play until the temp cooled down. As the air cooled, the water would condense on his feathers (very fine droplets) and that would encourage proper preening. I would also take my hands and wet them down and then give him skritches. Sometimes he would allow me to sprinkle gently some drops onto his back. That worked for him, when nothing else would.

Your gray sounds so much like my beloved Walter. We are here to help.

I have had him for 3 and a half weeks now not really aure about his age and he spends all of his time out side the cage mostly sitting on the perch or on top of the cage i got him a really big cage and set it up in my room.

 

[sunnysmom]

If it's just been 3 and a half weeks he's still settling in. Give him some time. (And I'm not familiar with the product you're using.)

 

[Ariba]

If it's just been 3 and a half weeks he's still settling in. Give him some time. (And I'm not familiar with the product you're using.)

View attachment 445573

Omg this is so helpful thank you

 

[Shannan]

Sounds like you are on the right track. He just needs to settle in to his new routine and people. I would not worry about bathing right now just develop a basic routine to help him settle. Take it slow and Grays really like to be told what you are doing and what to expect. Telling him you are going to change his water or leave the room for a minute will help a lot, in the meantime spend lots of quiet time just being with him so he can observe you and figure you out. You can also read the good bad and ugly about grays. Love the pictures!!!!!

 

[jmfleish]

No one has mentioned diet. Do you know what he was being fed before he came to you? What are you feeding him now. This could be part of the issue.