Gosh, I got that wrong, I should say the below message (and now messages), are for you "Annie". By the way, I should say that I keep the master bottle in the fridge as I think keeping it cool might be a good idea to preserve it's life span. I reheat this mix in a hot water bath of water before I spray him. I use a fine mister, it is one that I bought many moons ago for spraying indoor ferns. It seams to be a light enough spray and it is small enough spray as to avoid hitting his eyes. Although....he is a macaw and his body is large enough to hit directly I am still very careful. Maybe for smaller birds, just holding a light envelope in front of their little face or off to the side might do the trick to help avoiding hitting them in the eyes. Once again, good luck.

Thanks Missywoo.  I was going to ask how you kept it out of his eyes while spraying.  I think Diana will allow me to cover her face with my hand.  Will depend on the mood of the moment.

I also go down the list of pet names saying WooWoo Bobby, etc., everytime I come in from town.  Not a single bird says it though.

I'll let you know how well it works for Diana. 

I hope Toolady has seen the message from you about it working for your bird.

Annie

Thank YOU so much for coming back and letting us know whats going on with your bird. So many times we answer and really try to help and then the person disappears --it makes you wonder if answering is worth it--but happy this is working out for you and hope you will keep coming back and update us.       Katz

Hi Katz, yes indeed, I will be keeping the board up to date on this as things progress. I enjoy coming to the board often to read others messages and  for any  information or insight that might help me to understand how to be a better friend to my birds. It is so nice to see happy people with happy birds or when people write in (such as myself) looking for help or in distress over an ill bird or the passing of one. I feel the sorrow and kindness given from those on this site when needed. How nice this is. I love to view the photos of all the birds and their human friends too. Very nice community to be a part of. Hope you have a wonderful night and thanks once again for your speedy aid in helping me to (hopefully - successfully), solve my problem. 

I finally got all the ingredients together and sprayed Diana for the first time yesterday.  She was rather miffed with me since I covered her face. But she got over it very quickly. Looked perfectly awful, worse than plain water.  She dried looking OK though.  She had absolutely no breast feathers and very few under the wings on her body so if she stops picking I will be able to tell very soon.  She isn't naked because she has thick gray down. She had allowed a few on her breast to grow but yanked them out several days ago.  Her brand new wing feathers are already barbered.  The blood hasn't even receded completely yet. 

Boy, I hope this works.  Will keep you posted.

Annie

I am going to buy  stuff tomorrow , I have a m2 that mutilates , I have to see if this stops her, hopfully it will help, I will let every now if it does help

OK, here's my first update on Diana ekkie and the anti picking spray.  I sprayed her three mornings in a row.  On the 4th morning I noticed that the down on her belly and legs was clumpy, dirty looking and orange. I sprayed her with plain water hoping she would clean herself up, but she didn't.  So I used a washcloth with plain water and washed her belly and legs.  Did this for  three days before she looked clean again. Today I didn't spray her with anything, not even water.  I think I will dilute it down a little more, maybe by 1/3 and try again.  If it clumps diluted down that much, I may give up.  I haven't seen her picking but no pinfeathers have come in on her breast, belly and legs.  She has a few blue ones on her shoulders.  I will watch them to see if they get yanked out.

Annie

Annie--what kind of eucerin are you using? I had to use it on one of my kids as a baby and it would get very thick--almost hard- so I am trying to imagine how it would blend--am curious. I am about ready to try something on Oscar.     Katz

Eucerin Original Moisturizing Lotion.

My problem was in deciding which colloidal silver to use. It comes in several strengths.  I got the weaker one.  The final mixture turned out to be quite orange before diluting it for the spray.  Still orangey color but not too bad.

I can't imagine what a white bird would look like if yours turns out like mine.

Annie

 

Ok, here's my final update on Diana ekkie and the feather picking formula.

I give up!!  She has picked worse than ever.  Has naked spots on her breast now, where before she was thickly covered with gray down.  She still picks every single body feather as soon as it's long enough to grasp it in her beak.  And now, for the first time in her 4 or so years of plucking, is removing down too.

Because the formula made her so sticky and clumpy, I poured it into a wide glass, allowed it to settle out and skimmed as much of the Eucerin off the top as possible.  I managed to get most of it.  Then I diluted the spray on mixture more by using 2 more ounces of water than the original 3 ounces called for in the formula, ending up with 5 ounces instead of 3 ounces. 

Since this formula has worked well for several birds, I think it is well worth trying for other birds who pluck, but Diana's plucking had become so habitual over the 4 years, there may be nothing that can help her. I am hoping that she will at least allow the down to re-grow. Naked skin has no insulation.  She lives in a climate controlled room so she isn't going to get cold but she sure looks awful.

I should mention also, that over these 4 years, I have been in frequent consultation with our avian vet and have tried many different things to help her, such as lab tests, dietary changes, lighting changes, cage placement, toys, etc.  Nothing has helped.  I am so glad I tried it, otherwise, I would have always wondered if the formula could have worked for her.

So, I will continue to love this beautiful, smart bird  no matter how she looks.

Annie

 

 

I have a lutino ringneck who picks.  He wears one of those awful plastic collars because he will pick the elbow of his left wing until it bleeds.  This is the only spot he makes bleed. His neck is completely bare all the way around though. As soon as a feather comes in, it is gone.  I have tried everything, including lab tests.  What is the recipe for the formula everyone is talking about?  I will try anything that will help him.  I hate that collar.  I did notice something about a moisturizer, is it safe for that to be on his feathers and what if he ingests some of it?  I hope I am not responding too late to this message, I just found it.  Please help. 

 

Blondie

HI blondie I have a M2 that is a mutilator I also tried every thing on her , had every possible test run and have consulited with several bird behaverilest noting has worked I to had Tuffy in one of those awful collors that was 4 yrs. ago after about 100 try's I've come up with a cape that works excellant if you'd like I can send you pictures on how to make it , she can sleep with her head back on shoulder, its really easy to take of and put on so she can groom, plus she has no problems climbing and playing Tuffy will always be a Mutilator, This cape has made her life and mine a lot better. I tryed the formulor it did'nt help her out she still chewed her skin

herbfolkes,

Thank you for telling me where to find the formula.  One question, do you know if it is harmful for Andre to ingest any of this?  What if I try it and he still picks, therefore eating some of this, will he get sick?  I'm probably just worrying too much but he's 10 and well, he's my baby.

 

Tuffy1,

Thanks for responding to my message.  I will keep the cape in mind.  Andre is pretty used to his collar, he's had it for about 4 years.  He has figured out how to sleep with his head back even in this thing.  I think he gets a little depressed about it sometimes though because he isn't as playful.  When I take it off, he is like a different bird.  I'll try the spray but, what is the cape made out of so I can think about it.

 

Thanks again,     Blondie

To Tuffy1,

I would like to see the cape you made for your bird.  Can you post a picture and instructions.

 

Thanks,

Diane (dlaura)