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Lovebirds : Courting style?
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Recommend  Message 1 of 18 in Discussion 
From: MSN NicknameJJodiJ  (Original Message)Sent: 1/25/2005 2:11 PM
Benji has developed an interest in Bambi's egg place and is pulling out her feathers from that area.  She seems to accept it as grooming and to enjoy it.  Is this normal courting?  I've not known it to have happened in the past.  They have been lovers for years.  Her skin is bare in that small area but not irritated.  They would be very unhappy to have to be apart, especially this close to Valentine's Day.


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Recommend  Message 4 of 18 in Discussion 
From: birdladySent: 1/25/2005 8:04 PM
Since the cloaca is the cavity that serves as both an excretory and reproductive duct, he must be pulling feathers either further toward the tail or closer to the lower breast -- depending on what you mean by "under".  No matter which way your going, I've never heard of such a thing.  Which doesn't mean it isn't perfectly normal . . . it just means I've never heard of it.  What kind of birds are these two, please?

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Recommend  Message 5 of 18 in Discussion 
From: MSN NicknameJJodiJSent: 1/26/2005 10:27 AM
    This is not a picture of her but it is a good view for me to explain.  The black dot is the "cloaca" & within the red lined area is where he is plucking.  I call it the egg place because when she has an egg it is where I see & feel the bulge.  Bambi and Benji are Japanese White Lovebirds.  I called the vet.  He said to keep them interested in something other than each other and call him tomorrow.  I bought those real long imported green beans they like & frozen fruit, which they don't like, and three new toys and put on their Rainforest CD.  We played all afternoon but they are in bed now and I am afraid they will do it during the night.  Thank you for being interested.

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Recommend (1 recommendation so far) Message 6 of 18 in Discussion 
From: MSN NicknameJJodiJSent: 1/26/2005 11:19 AM
Looks like that picture didn't work.  Let me try again.
(and again).
 Egg Place.bmp.lnk  

Reply
Recommend  Message 7 of 18 in Discussion 
From: birdladySent: 1/26/2005 11:35 AM
The picture didn't come through for me but if it's where you can feel an egg, it would be slightly toward the lower breast area.
 
My first comment would be that I would find another avian vet immediately.  Your vet's response, in my opinion, is comparable to a doctor telling his patient to "take two aspirin and call me in the morning" when the patient might have an immediate crisis.  Diagnosis cannot be made sight-unseen, as far as I'm concerned.
 
I'm not a vet but I would at least recommend that you separate these two into side-by-side cages  -- at least until the feathers have had a chance to grow back in and the thoughts of another clutch of eggs has passed for the time being.  Be sure that they both get a really nutritious diet of veggies and fresh fruit in addition to seed and other good people food, 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night, and some supervised play time together when it's convenient for you.  Check the female frequently so you catch the beginnings of any infection early, and be sure that she doesn't already have an egg that may have become bound inside.
 
And last, but not least, I urge you to find an avian vet who takes more interest in your concerns than the one you spoke to.  There's bound to be one out there who is happy to share his knowledge of the situation with you.  Let us know how this turns out, please. 

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Recommend  Message 8 of 18 in Discussion 
From: MSN NicknameJJodiJSent: 1/26/2005 12:37 PM
Would you please look in the picture album Judi's fids at "Egg Place"; again.  She is not egg bound.  I know how to check for that & I do almost daily with all my girls.  I am scared now.  I will have her at the other vet (Amy Worell) who is a renouned avian expert by 9 AM.  She is expensive and very busy.  I usually make a decision on which to use based on my opinion of the severity of the problem.  He is so much more sensitive & concerned & he will help any animal any time of day or night.  Though I do think she has more expertise with birds.  You don't think I should take her into emergency right now do you?

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Recommend  Message 9 of 18 in Discussion 
From: birdladySent: 1/26/2005 3:16 PM
I don't think it's an emergency.  It probably isn't even a risk to the bird's health.  I do think it is a situation that should be looked at and determined to be a non-emergency - or not - by a qualified avian vet.  I have no qualifications to make that determination -- nor the possible remedies for the situation.  See the vet, as you planned, and let us know what she says so we can all learn something about this, please.

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Recommend  Message 10 of 18 in Discussion 
From: MSN NicknameJJodiJSent: 1/26/2005 4:07 PM
We are leaving now.  Morning traffic.  Rain.  They are zipped up inside my fleece hoodie peaking out looking cute.  Love to ride in the car & they know when we are going.  Thank you for being with me.  We should be back about noon.

Reply
Recommend  Message 11 of 18 in Discussion 
From: birdladySent: 1/27/2005 10:24 AM
So what did she say, please?

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Recommend  Message 12 of 18 in Discussion 
From: MSN NicknameJJodiJSent: 3/9/2005 12:13 PM
Birdlady, I do hope you read this so you don't think I am ungrateful.  I was so upset that nite & morning & you helped me.  Knowing that someone else in the whole wide world cared about these precious lives was important.  Thank you.  When we left the vet's office it was to celebrate at the juice bar where we three are well known.  They get lucious treats there and much desirable atention.  I had over reacted as usual & they were fine.  While we were there I received a phone call that a close friend had been injured in a metro train accident.  We went to his sister's home and Bambi and Benji were Godsents.  I never know what to do or say at such times and I would have not taken them with me had we not already been out, especially in pouring rain.  They eased some of the pain people were feeling in a way I could not possibly have done.  They were asked to come back.  Me too.  We stayed busy with that situation for several days.  He did recover.  And then my Mother passed away.  They are such comfort.

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Recommend  Message 13 of 18 in Discussion 
From: MSN NicknameToolady2U2Sent: 3/9/2005 4:45 PM
I am so sorry to read about your mother and my condolences to you.... I know this has to be a difficult time..... God Bless.....Too2

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Recommend  Message 14 of 18 in Discussion 
From: birdladySent: 3/9/2005 7:04 PM
You have my heartfelt sympathy in the loss of your Mother.  You've had more on your plate lately than most people could say grace over.  I hope that you are healing and coping better every day.  Give Bambi and Benji a kiss for me.  So good to hear that they had no problems to further complicate your life.

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Recommend  Message 15 of 18 in Discussion 
From: 1GoodBirdSent: 3/9/2005 10:25 PM
Pulling feathers from the cloaca is not unusual and nothing to worry about.  They do it to aid in the direct contact between male and female when mating.

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Recommend (1 recommendation so far) Message 16 of 18 in Discussion 
From: MSN NicknameJJodiJSent: 3/12/2005 10:48 AM
Thank you Miss AmDilusional.  You were the first person to offer condolences. 

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Recommend  Message 17 of 18 in Discussion 
From: MSN NicknameJJodiJSent: 3/12/2005 11:01 AM
Birdlady, Thank you.  With all this lovin how could I not heal..  Bambi & Benji say please no more kisses.  Tomorrow for sure.  They are entirely too lovable.  You sure have a way with words.  Thank you again for helping me.

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Recommend  Message 18 of 18 in Discussion 
From: MSN NicknameJJodiJSent: 3/12/2005 11:05 AM
1Goodbird:  I know that.  I paid $75 to hear it. 

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