I have a question about my bird?

Question

I have a question about my bird he's a cinnamon tailed green cheeked conure and he has a long tail and he bites it and it's like shredding the tip of it and he's working his way up his tail and my Nanny says it might be mites! But I just got him like 1 or 2 months ago and the Pet Store didn't say anything could it be because I have cats?? Please give me some answers!!!!

Answer 1

It is mites.

Answer 2

You wrote that your bird is chewing the tip of his tail feathers and progressively working his way up: if he had mites he would be itchy and chewing his skin - underneath the body feathers and over the spots where the mites were busily chewing on him. Mites are very uncommon in the USA: they need to be introduced by wild birds and it is highly doubtful that your conure - or his aviary - had contact with wild bird species. It is more likely that he is stressed out either by boredom (if his environment isn't sufficiently stimulating) or by the presence of the cats (which to a wild prey animal such as a parrot is obviously a constant source of stress). The latter is probably the more likely scenario. I ask you, why on earth would you place this animal in a situation where cats (read: PREDATORS) are constantly lurking around? If he is becoming a nervous wreck (as evidenced by habitual chewing) this is entirely likely; the never-ending terror of possibly becoming catfood is making him neurotic. Birds who chew their feathers compulsively almost always get worse with time as the habit becomes more deeply intrenched. Conures, such as the green-cheek, are not by nature "nervous birds" (unlike, for instance, african greys). If he's chewing due to environmental factors (PREDATORS LURKING AROUND) you probably need to decide which to keep: the cats or the bird. Relegating your conure to a "bird room" where he is alone most of the time won't help matters any; in fact, that would be downright cruel in addition to possibly escalating the self-mutilation. Parrots are highly social animals and this, therefore, would not be a viable solution.

Answer 3

make sure he has lots of toys and things to keep him busy. You can also spray him with warm water or give him a bath. I would suggest you read all the info you can find in books and here on the Internet. The more you know, the better you'll be at taking care of your bird. Do NOT get one of those bird mite things to put in the cage, they are not healthy for birds. Please learn as much as you can about your specific bird. They live a long time and are great pets if well taken care of
good luck

Answer 4

If he did not have mites when you brought him home, where could he have contracted them since??? I personally have never heard of a parrot or conure having mites, but that's not to say it couldn't happen. In my experience,when a parrot begins plucking his feathers, or otherwise damaging them, it is because he is disturbed, and/or unhappy!!! Without knowing his history or age it would be hard for me to guess why he would be unhappy. Did he belong to someone else that he became attached to??? Was he in the petshop for a long time, and maybe disturbed by his new surroundings??? Do the cats pay too much attention to him and make him nervous??? Do you give him plenty of attention and let him join you in your activities? Parrots are very intelligent, and highly community oriented, therefore requiring lots of inter-action with their human family!! They cannot be left in a cage to decorate the living room, and defacing their feathers can also be a sign of boredom---Does he get out frequently, and have lots of toys to play with?? Preferably, his cage door should never be closed, he should be free to roam. If you can't do this for fear of the cats possibly injuring or killing him, you need to make a choice--cats or a parrot!!! He is too dependent on you to risk having him being harmed***Young kittens and birds can become devoted friends, but I would be very careful with older cats... If none of these suggestions are helpful, or the cause of his discomfort, have a GOOD AVIANvet check him for something like mites, etc... You should also mist him down with a spray bottle and clean water every day or two--Hope maybe something here is a help...Birdman

Answer 5

It might be mites but have you been giving him the same amout of attion as when you first got him? If not most birds get depressed & pull their feathers out. Or he may just bee shedding & helping it along.

Answer 6

He is fairly new to your home so the bird may be stressed.
visit this site: http://www.parrotsociety.org/newsletter/pg6.html

There are sprays you can purchase in attempt to stop the picking. I haven't seen that they really worked.

Mites: we use 1 part listerine to 10 parts water in a spray bottle and mist our birds about once a week in the winter and 2-3 times a week in the summer. Remember to be careful of drafts.

Answer 7

The best place to find out what is wrong with your bird is at your avian vet.

If you do not have a vet, you can find one at http://aav.org/vet-lookup

Online parrot fanciers are not veterinarians, and we cannot help you with your bird's health issues.