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Post by orange on Jul 1, 2006 0:40:36 GMT
Hi, I have had probs logging on tonight which is why I am only posting this now. I went out to do the shopping and when I got back ALL of Ollies tail feathers were on the floor of the cage!!! He was fine before I left when I said goodbye... he doesn't overly preen, so I am convinced that he didn't pull them out. He hasn't had so much as a cross chirp with Puku, so I really don't think she would have done it. I took him out and had a look and could see the holes where the feathers had been and there was no bleeding or anything. Could this be due to a moult? Seeing as Puku hasn't shed hardly any feathers yet, I thought that they must moult when they are a bit older... I called my vet to see if he had any thoughts about why this has happened and he couldn't think of anything from a health point of view that would make this happen. Does anyone have any idea why his feathers would fall out like this? He seems happy enough now but I am not sure how well they can fly without their tail feathers so I haven't let him out again..... just in case the worst should happen and one of my dogs chases him and he can't fly away, the dogs are very good with them but I would never forgive myself if the one time they decide to go for the birds he won't be able to get away, it would only take a split second. How well can they fly without these feathers??
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Post by lin on Jul 1, 2006 0:52:14 GMT
Pop the dogs outside whilst you give him a fly, and see how well he goes, I should think he can fly very well, just might need a bit of practise to aim in the right direction again! He will overcome the change in his balance quickly.
Is it possible that he got his feathers stuck in the cage or a toy? Normally I wouldn't expect a huge amount of feathers to drop out in such a short space of time with a moult. He maybe got them caught, and they might have been loosening ready for a moult.
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Post by orange on Jul 1, 2006 1:03:40 GMT
D'oh!!! Stupid me Lin!! I didn't even think of putting the dogs outside!!! what a moron! I am so used to them just having the run of the house and so worried for Ollie that I just didn't think!! Thank you I don't think he could have got his tail caught in anything... at least not all of his feathers, there is just nothing obvious for them to get trapped in! The cage bars are pretty well spaced and the feathers were in the middle of the cage so I doubt he caught them in the cage.... I am just dumbfounded as to how this could happen! I am going to keep a close eye on him the next 24 hrs or so just to make sure he seems healthy and happy otherwise its a trip to the vets for him!!
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Post by lin on Jul 1, 2006 1:05:52 GMT
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Post by orange on Jul 1, 2006 1:13:47 GMT
Thanks Lin #cheesy# If any more feathers fall out or Pukus fall out too, I will panic then... #cheesy# Here is a pic of my poor chicken, looking not too pleased that I disturbed his nap to take it!!
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Post by Scully on Jul 1, 2006 1:33:42 GMT
how very strange ..poor Ollie, wonder what happened
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Post by silvercloud on Jul 1, 2006 5:23:51 GMT
Oh poor Ollie. He doesn't look very happy at all. I have no idea what could have caused him to lose all of his tail feathers. One of my lorikeets lost his but he was being harrassed by the other one and they came out over a couple of days.
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Post by Berserka on Jul 1, 2006 12:01:03 GMT
I think Ollie is way too young for a moult. Some birds have the abilty to lose all their tail feathers if they feel threatened, sort of a defence mechanism. A few weeks ago my Yellow Crown Cinnamon boy escaped into my backyard and after I eventually caught him I was removing him from the net and about to release him into the aviary when he started to panic and I only brushed his tail & the whole thing fell out! Now I did not grab his tail or yank at all, it was more like pulling him against me to readjust my grip.
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Post by orange on Jul 1, 2006 15:13:59 GMT
Well, he seems happy enough today, he and Puku have been flying about all morning. I have no idea how it could have happened but hopefully they will grow back fine and he'll be ok. Keeping a close eye on him and Puku together and they are such good friends that I don't see that it can have anything to do with her. Ollie follows Puku wherever she goes and if she flies off and he can't find her she calls to him until he comes!
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Post by boomberry on Jul 4, 2006 15:06:39 GMT
Hmmmm Patty ALWAYS rips her own tail feathers out when she is moulting every single time so it could be a moult yep.
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Post by orange on Jul 4, 2006 15:58:43 GMT
isn' t he a bit young Boom?
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Post by boomberry on Jul 5, 2006 13:43:18 GMT
Im not sure how old is he I dont know too much about kaks Im afraid - he is tiel sized and they usually moult at about 6 months old.
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Post by orange on Jul 5, 2006 15:56:57 GMT
He is only about 3 months old ish
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Post by boomberry on Jul 6, 2006 7:35:28 GMT
Hmmm still possible I think it could be a moult. Anyways if they werent blood feathers Im sure he will be fine.
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Post by orange on Jul 6, 2006 18:48:16 GMT
well, no others seem to be falling out, so I am happy. a couple of the longer ones did have blood in the tip but when I looked at where they came from I didn't see any blood in the holes, just a freak occurance maybe.....still as long as they grow back ok, I won't worry!
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