I have a hormonal barber. Kira shreds her chest feathers when she's nesty. She had brand new feathers filling in and barbed them again....today I found an egg. Figures.

I know it's tough, but it's hormones and like you said, except for spending 24/7 with her, I'm pressed to find the ultimate solution.

Bathing/spraying helps. I started using AvianRx solution just before the new pins came in and I thought it helped. Pinecones, good, crunchy, keep her busy, pinecones help too. I know some people wash/dry/bake them at home to sterilize them for less $, but I'm not handy so I buy mine online. You can offer them as a foot toy or incorporate them in a homemade toy or side mount them to the cage with a little creativity.

The clucking sound is definitely a hormonal thing. Kira doesn't do it to me...she does it to her egg and I assume that's because she has no mate. She had a green wooden block that she used to cluck for and make kissy noises to! I don't know if I should laugh or cry...my baby girl is so hormonal she's making out with a piece of wood.

Susan

Yep I was saying for bathing. I agree the whole water thing has two sides.

Actually, distilled is supposed to be a neutral 7.

I guess if I had to chose acid over alkaline I'd chose acid. Since it makes the gi less receptive to bacteria. There are some theories floating around out there about acidifying the upper gi actually helping controlling megabacteria symptoms.

But I dont really worry too much about manipulating the ph in the gi in my birds.

All my rescue friends and I compromise now with rotating distilled with spring. We used to use distilled mostly all the time. I rotate especially so their g.i. systems "adjust" to variety, though.

Here in the US the whole bottled water thing is goofy, anyway. Like "Purified" can be distilled or spring or something "else".

I don't see an issue with preening after bathing so much, really.

I DO try and only use distilled with soak and sprouts and on calcium days. But if I'm rinsing with ACV with sprouts they're getting acidic anyway....lol. And some days I decide to do that....it all depends on what's going on in my house.

Well I never heard of sweet potatoes for plucking...but yeah everyone gives them for overall health (vitamin a).

Flax is more and more being known as an allergen especially in animals. There are some top offenders, soy, peanuts, wheat, corn, and I'd add flax to that list. I know a BUNCH of dogs who cant tolerate it. My own included (now deceased). And even though I never had an allergic bird I know about allergy in mammals and they don't seem different at all.

I got the "no sweet potatoes for pluckers" from an acquaintance who is a liason for Gabriel Foundation. She's a hard core food expert IMO so I do what she says LOL. In fact I just dont even give sweet potato and nobody plucks here. I figured like you, Jim, it doesnt hurt to "plan ahead" LOL.

Susan have you had her calcium checked? If she laid I'd call the vet and ask about supplements after reviewing her diet with them. I'd rather not use man made supplements but IMO it's better than the side effects of a deficiency...especially if a hen is laying it can be life threatening.

Thanks for clarifying about the water issue, Cindy

Cindy,

She doesn't lay that often and when she does it's one or two eggs then months and months before any more. However, I do try to keep on top of her calcium naturally, almonds, kale, collard greens, broccoli and white navy beans...she also likes to share a little yogurt treat now and then. We had a toetapping incident about 1-2 years ago (I've lost track) and I seriously believe more attention to calcium was the answer for us. It's what our vet suggested and it seems to have worked.

Susan
PS

AHHHHHHHHHH I just posted this long response, and wasn't logged in!!!

Ok, quick recap...I haven't been online much so I'm just catching up on things now.

Gypsy is still plucking. I didn't know sweet potatos were a no-no when they did this. I use that as the base for her dinner-time mush! I'll be making birdie bread this weekend (with a corn muffin mix). I typically use peppers and a bag of mixed veggies...any suggestions for other items that bake well? I want to change it up a bit. Has anyone tried using beans in bb? How'd it work out? (I'm worried about the water content)

Are peaches (no pits) ok for them? I read somewhere that spinach isn't good for ekkies...is that true? (my thinking is that it's a dark leafy green...should be ok)

I can't move her cage more than a few feet to either side, is that enough of a change?

I will start moving the bowls around each day.
I've started changing out a toy or two every couple days too

I don't let her in dark areas

She doesn't much care for the other animals. Not that she doens't like them, but she seems to have this NEED to prove she is THEE BOSS...and attacks them every chance she gets...always unprovoked. I swear it's a "seek and destroy" game to her. lol Once her point is made the grunts can take their place beneath the queen. lol

If I understand correctly I want to lower the fruit and nuts she's getting and up the veggies? What about the whole grains? (is there a new ratio I should be following?)


I'll have to finish this when I get home...