I've tried something new with Shiloh and Gypsy as sometimes they like to get into screaming matches. Or Shiloh breaks into that nasty whistle that sounds as though she has a cheap plastic flute strategically placed somewhere. Drives me nuts. as of late I've tried hushing her or saying be quiet etc.. With cockatoos praise or reward seems to work better than punishment ( hollaring back, covering cage etc)So I'm trying music. If the screaming starts I put something on their radio/cd player and if the respond by listening or some kind of singing I say that's right!!! Let's sing and dance along with them. This is helping plus the rest of the birds love it. I'm happy to report there is less irrating noise and happier sounding birds.
Also you people with problem feather pluckers! this months Bird Talk lists some more type foods to try to reduce inflamation of the skin. At this point there is no blood test or skin tests for allergies in birds.. A veterinarian in Louisnana did extensive testing on the skin only to discover that that kind of test is not very reliable for birds.
Also there is a theory that a depressed thyroid is very commen in birds that have plucked The data states that plucked birds have lower thyroxin levels than ones that do not
Some supplemental foods for inflamation are : green peppers, cooked eggs,green beans, almonds, spinach or kale, olive oil( I cooked veggies in that) stawberries,cantaloupe,chickpeas, pinto beans, black beans, roated soybeans, and lentils. these are to suppliment their diet.
I guess just removing things like corn,wheat, and peanuts is not enough, but you have to use this antitoxins to help heal the skin.
Please check this article out as it goes into much more detail than I have covered, and it also lists some medications for allergies as well.
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
Recommend
First 
