Quakers and Feathers Disorders

08-27-2007, 08:38 AM

Quakers and Feathers Disorders

First, Take The Bird To A Vet

When a parrot first begins pulling or mutilating its feathers, Dianalee strongly believes the bird should immediately be taken to a qualified avian veterinarian for a complete work-up, including a CBC, to rule out any possible medical problems.

I have to agree. There are medical causes of feather plucking and with the tests that are available, they are the easiest causes to determine. It just makes sense to go this route first.
Humidity

Regular bathing is necessary for feather health, and a bird that has dirty feathers and/or dry itchy skin is more prone to plucking. This is especially true in areas of the country that experience a lack of humidity. Remember that in many areas, lack of humidity is a seasonal problem so if your bird tends to pluck only at certain times of the year, this is a cause you might want to consider. Frequent showers or baths may help alleviate or prevent feather disorder behaviors in parrots, especially if you live in an area where lack of humidity in the air is an issue. Using a humidifier during the dry times of the year may also help.
Diet

There are several dietary considerations when discussing feather grooming disorders. One is the presence of salt in the diet. Removing any source of salt in the diet can be helpful. When plucking is seasonal, you may want to look into changes to the diet that are made based on the seasonal availability of certain foods that you perhaps aren’t even aware of. Finally, some parrot behavior consultants believe that the artificial colors and preservatives found in some parrot diets can contribute to feather grooming disorders. You may want to consider switching your bird to another diet; Dianalee specifically mentioned Harrison’s, which is made from organic ingredients (no pesticides or fertilizers) and has no artificial colors or preservatives.
Lighting

Dianalee recommends full spectrum lighting if your parrot does not have access to unfiltered sunlight (light coming through the windows in our homes is filtered). She also believes that seasonal lighting changes can contribute to feather grooming disorders. Mattie Sue Athan said much the same thing in her presentation on screaming. She states that the time of the year that she calls "Screaming Season" beings at the winter solstice (Dec 21st). One way to deal with this is to provide plenty of light in your home that goes on and off at regular times.
Boredom

Parrots sometimes pluck out of boredom. It is important to give your bird time out of its cage each day. It is also important that the bird receives interaction with the humans in its household on a daily basis. Teaching your bird that talking is an acceptable way to get your attention may help prevent or alleviate feather grooming disorders.

In addition, make sure your parrot has plenty of toys to play with, with new toys rotated into the cage frequently. If your bird doesn’t play with its toys, you may have to teach it how. Another important consideration is that many parrots need items in its cage that can be chewed on and shredded. Dianalee suggests paper, paper towel rolls, leather and soft woods that bark that can be chewed off. In her presentation on screaming, Mattie Sue added that as soon as most of the bark has been removed, it is time to remove the limb or twig and replace it with a new one. She also suggested that a great way to attach limbs and twigs to a cage is with plastic cable or wire ties that can be found at a hardware or computer store.

I have also found an inexpensive way to keep beaks busy is to use a holder such as one of those shish kabob hangers. Hang some dried pasta shapes (some shapes come with holes in them, perfect for hanging) and some chewy dried fruit. It’s best to dry your own and it’s very easy. Of course, the major benefit is that your dried fruit doesn’t contain any chemicals or preservatives that store-bought dried fruit often contains. And because the moisture has been removed, you can leave it in the cage for the day without being concerned about it spoiling.

Lack of Sleep

Some birds may feather pluck if they do not get enough rest. Make sure your bird is getting 10 to 12 hours of sleep each night.

Wing Feather Trims

Some wing feather trims can cause a parrot to feather pick. One way this can occur is when the wing feathers are trimmed in such a way that it causes the trimmed feathers to poke into the sides of the bird and irritate that area. Another theory that Dianalee shared has to do with a bird exercising by flapping its wings. She believes that when a clipped bird flaps its wings, it expects and needs to feel a certain amount of resistance to the air. If it doesn’t, it can become frustrated and begin to feather pick as a result. She recommends a moderate wing feather trim as does Mattie Sue Athan. Click here for Mattie Sue's instructions.

Exercise

Dianalee also believes that our pet parrots need daily exercise, and she recommends getting them to flap their wings long enough to get them breathing heavily. This makes a lot of sense to me, and I plan to start this with my birds. I have done this as a fun game with my Quakers in the past but never on a regular basis.

Here is how I do it. This can be done standing or sitting, although standing works the best for me. I have my Quaker perched on my index finger with my thumb gently but firmly placed over the toe facing forward on one foot. I hold the bird over my head and bring my arm down just fast enough to get my bird to flap its wings. I always precede this by asking my bird, "Wanna fly?" and pretty soon the bird will associate the phrase with the game. Also, if you laugh and have fun with it, your bird will enjoy it, too. I think it would be wonderful if breeders would teach their babies how to exercise in this manner and also educate their customers how to exercise their new bird.

Remedies

Dianalee also shared her thoughts on some of the common "remedies" for feather grooming dis orders. She does not believe in immediately collaring a bird when it begins to feather pluck. Drug therapies may be useful in the short term to break the feather picking cycle, especially if the bird is a rescue and has been abused. However, she does not recommend drug therapies for long term use. As far as homeopathic remedies, Dianalee has seen some success with these, but it is important to find the right formula. You may have to try more than one to find the one that helps. Again, this would be for short term and not long term use.

Give The Bird More Control

Another idea that may help is giving the bird more control over its own life. One way to do this is to announce what you are about to do to or with the bird. Some examples include asking the bird to step-up to your finger, tell it you are giving it food or water, let is know you are about ti give it a bath or it’s time for bed. Another is to encourage the bird to talk and to learn to ask for what it wants. Of course, when it asks for what it wants, it’s important to reward that by giving the bird what it asked for.

Stress and Changes in the Home

Sometimes stress and changes in the home can bring on an episode of feather plucking. I experienced this myself when my first Quaker, Alex, began to pull out her feathers during the time we were moving into a new home when she was 2 years of age. If you are experiencing stress or change in your life, be sure to take into consideration how it may be affecting your bird, and try to minimize it if possible. Diana lee also spoke about the value of having a surrogate family for your bird. If the bird is being affected by something going on in your home, removing it to another home for a while can be a solution. When your situation stabilizes, then the bird can return.

A General Discussion of Feather Plucking | QuakerParrots.com

Arty

08-27-2007, 08:52 AM

Quaker Mutilation Syndrome (QMS):
Part I
by Theresa Jordan

While this article was written in reference to QMS, the information
contained herein is applicable to any case of feather plucking
and/or mutilation exhibited by any species of companion parrot.
There has been much discussion recently on the topic of feather plucking in companion parrots, along with even greater speculation on its possible causes. Companion bird owners who have watched their beloved and well-cared for parrots pluck themselves bald, as well as the veterinarians who have attempted to treat these birds, have come to the unfortunate conclusion that rarely is there a single definitive cause for feather plucking, making a "blanket cure" for any birds falling into this category virtually impossible. For the owners new to plucking and mutilation syndromes, this is a heart-wrenching and devastating discovery.

One quaker owner recently wrote:

"Her plucking has been worse lately. I am so scared it could escalate into mutilation. Lately she has been pulling and letting out that little scream like they do when you touch the wrong pinfeather, then she goes right on and does it again, so now she's plucking even if it HURTS..and I have seen several small spots of blood on her crop and under her wings. Feathers not plucked are chewed. There isn't any way to give her more attention, unless we stay up all night together too. And I know they say you can give the problem too much attention, which I may be guilty of. She was sitting in her cage last night saying, 'Plucking? Plucking your feathers? Your pretty feathers? Poor baby bird...'."

"Right now I'm trying the mirror, a humidifier, a negative ionizer to clean the air, daily baths, and chicken meat in her diet several times a week. I've already tried more attention, bigger cage, aloe vera, various 'plucker' toys, etc,etc. I'll let you know if any of this stuff ever works. I might consider getting her a friend, but as near as I can tell, she hates other birds. Right now she's in this endless moult and also very nippy and touchy, last night she bit my oldest son while he was sharing his food with her..........."

Quaker Mutilation Syndrome, (also known as QMS by those quaker owners who are unfortunate enough to be familiar with it), is a little-understood, yet terrifying condition specific to quaker parakeets that takes feather plucking one step further.

Quakers who suffer from QMS not only pluck and/or mutilate their feathers; they mutilate their own flesh to a devastating, and sometimes fatal, degree. Target areas appear to be the flesh on the chest, under the wings, and the thighs; many cases have been reported that involve other areas as well. And while feather plucking is a serious problem in itself, QMS can potentially result in severe scarring, physical handicaps and debilitation, or even death.

It has only been in the last few years that QMS has been given its definitive name. I don't think that QMS is a new problem, but rather an identified result of an ever-increasing number of quaker parrots kept as companion birds. While plucking and mutilation have been observed in all species of captive parrots, it appears that an increased number of incidents have been noted in those species which have exhibited a higher intelligence, such as the African Grey parrots and members of the Cockatoo family. The addition of the quaker parrot to the class of "prone-to-plucking" species seems to follow a logical train of thought; quakers are becoming quite well-known for their intelligence and talking ability. Their popularity as companion parrots is at an all-time high, and with the unveiling of recent new color mutations their desirability is only expected to increase.

Feather plucking and/or mutilation in and of themselves are not diseases; but indicators of an underlying problem. This definition, in turn, has resulted not only in frantic brainstorming in an attempt to identify those underlying causes in order to design, for each individual cause, a potentially effective treatment or cure; but also in the question of which problem came first: Are these birds plucking/mutilating as a result of a psychological cause? Or is the plucking/mutilation a psychologically maladaptive attempt to deal with an underlying physical problem?

Feather plucking, biting (snipping the feather shaft at the base, where it emerges from the skin), and feather/skin mutilation are all designated as behavioral problems, and are seen only in the captive bird population. Feather care behavior is crucial to the survival of birds in the wild. Feathers have many functions aside from their obvious contribution to flight: They are intimately involved in the regulation of body temperature, protection from the elements and in courtship displays. In captivity, some of these roles aren't quite as critical to a bird's survival.

Yet classifying plucking and/or mutilation as a "behavioral" problem is a generalization that can be confusing to some, since most common "behavioral" problems are the result of an owners inability to correctly read their bird's body language and provide for his/her needs accordingly, or the result of the owners unknowingly reinforcing their bird's negative behaviors. 99% of the plucking/mutilation cases I have discussed or viewed first-hand have most definitely not been the result of any negligence or ignorance on the part of the owner/s, which makes them all the more puzzling. The cases I have seen have involved birds whose owners have provided them a varied, complete diet; lots of toys that are rotated frequently and routinely; plenty of TLC; roomy cages with frequent time out of it; a definite flock order and loving, nurturing guidance beginning in their early formative stages. All medical causes have been ruled out. Yet these very same birds will pluck and mutilate themselves until they bleed profusely.

Such is the case with "Gator", (in photo) a then-unweaned, 3-week old baby quaker that I sold to quaker-list owner Shelly Lane in the fall of 1996, along with 4 other baby quakers. Gator proved to be a DNA-sexed male, and is now a little over 1 year old. Shelly reported that Gator's first plucking episode was in February of 1997 - he would have been just 5 months old at the time. He plucked and mutilated an area on his neck. Shelly took him to the vet several times and numerous exhaustive tests were conducted, but the cause was never found. He was in a collar for several months while the area healed and the feathers grew back in. After the collar was removed, he never plucked the area around his neck again - but he does pluck his inner thighs now. Shelly believes this is probably a habit now and something he will always do. To read Gator's complete story as well as additional articles and information on QMS, please visit "The QMS Resource Center".

Gator was the only quaker out of a clutch of five that I am aware of that plucks. His parents are wild-caught quakers that were purchased from a well-known aviary in Florida several years ago. The parents are not pluckers, nor have they ever, during the 8 productive years that we have owned them, produced any other chick that suffered from QMS.

QMS is especially horrifying for an owner to witness, and often evokes deep feelings of guilt even though the owner is obviously not at fault. While I myself have been fortunate enough not to have experienced such a tragedy, I have continually heard stories of quakers who have mutilated their flesh to such an extent that their muscles and tendons were exposed; and after emergency trips to the veterinarian to stitch up the damage, proceeded to rip open those stitches within seconds and continue to further mutilate their own flesh. To the desperate and heartsick owners of these quakers who have spent countless hours searching for any possible explanation for this self-destructive behavior, the question remains:
see part 2

Arty

08-27-2007, 08:53 AM

Part 2

"WHY???"

As with plucking, the causes of self-mutilation can be multiple, and each one can be interwoven with still others, making definitive causes impossible to detect. For instance, a broad-spectrum diagnosis of "pruritis" (itchy skin) is quite common in some cases of feather plucking and mutilation, yet further investigation is required in an attempt to identify the cause of "itchy skin". At the very root, most causes will fall into two general categories: medical and non-medical (psychological).

Medical Causes Could Include:

Endocrine diseases such as low thyroid levels, progesterone or testosterone imbalances, diabetes
Bacterial-related feather disorders such as bacterial sinusitis, feather folliculitis, Chlamydia
Virus-related/feather disorders such as PBFD, PDD, French molt, Psittacine pox, canary pox
Skin and/or feather infections
Fungal diseases
Internal organ diseases (Quakers are prone to Fatty Liver Disease)
Internal parasites such as roundworms and tapeworm
Internal tumors or kidney disease may cause birds to pluck diseased area
Intestinal, respiratory, or crop infection could result in a hyper-sensitive reaction, which in turn leads to pruritis
Nutritional deficiencies or food allergies
Hormonal imbalances
Guardia
Simple dry, flaky, itchy skin (or the itchy skin could be a secondary result of a medical cause listed above)
Ingested allergens, such as:
---certain proteins
---carbohydrates
---chemical additives (preservatives, colors, or flavors)
Inhaled allergens, such as:
---smoke
---cockatoo dander
---perfumes
---house deodorants
---pollen
---dust mold
Contact allergens, such as:
---laundry detergents
---deodorants
---perfume
---hair products
---litter or nest box material
---newspaper ink

*Note: As of this writing (December 25, 1997), it has been reported that the newest Avian Journal mentioned discovery of an unknown organism present in QMS afflicted birds. More research is under way to isolate the organism.

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Potential Treatments

Obviously, the sheer number of possible medical causes is overwhelming, and makes pinpointing or ruling out any particular one (let alone a number of them) a painstaking and frustrating process. Hopefully you already have a veterinarian who is avian-certified and has an extensive background working with avian species. Tests can be conducted that can identify most of the medical conditions listed above, and other possible causes (such as allergens) can be identified through the process of elimination.

Your veterinarian should conduct a complete physical exam, looking for lumps, injuries, feather cysts, lipomas or other tumors. Diagnostic tests should, at a minimum, include a CBC (Complete Blood Count) and blood chemistry panels. Tests should be run for parasitic, yeast, fungal, and bacterial infections, as well as for psittacosis, Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease, and Guardia. Other tests may include radiographs or a skin biopsy. For a more in-depth look at tests that should be included in an exam along with explanations of their meaning and importance, please read "The Annual Well Bird Exam", by Lisa Paul, D.V.M.

Meeting nutritional requirements is vitally important in any avian species, since deficiencies can sometimes lead to plucking. Quaker owners face an especially daunting task here. While quakers are classified as "parakeets", there are traits specific to them; individualized and separate from those birds that are normally thought of as "parakeets". One veterinarian stated that the nutritional requirements of a quaker most closely matched those of a cockatiel, while another stated that food designed for "small parrots" (i.e, Conures, Senegals, etc.) would be more beneficial.

At any rate, providing good nutrition is imperative, and often a particular food can provide entertainment value as well. Raw carrots, green beans, spinach leaves, peas in the pod, corn on the cob, apples, bread sticks, wheat toast, zucchini sticks, mini bagels, and mini rice cakes are easily shredded and may provide an alternative to plucking. (Similarly, toys manufactured with 100% cotton rope or sisal rope may alleviate or reduce incidents of plucking).

Angela Lennox, DVM, is a very knowledgeable avian veterinarian who has taken an interest in QMS, and has treated several quakers suffering from this syndrome. Mrs. Lennox stated that although there will never be one definitive cause for QMS, she has found that most cases are related to some type of medical cause as opposed to psychological. Many of the quakers she has treated for QMS have been found to have some type of nutritional deficiency, most notably Fatty Liver Disease resulting from all-seed diets. Another frequent medical cause appears to be mega bacteria and yeast infections. While Mrs. Lennox agrees that plucking and mutilation in other species, such as the African Grey and Cockatoo families, can often be a result of psychological causes, she believes that this is rare in cases of QMS.

Several treatments exist for allergic skin and feather diseases. The first is to identify the source of the allergy and remove it. The second is to medically manage the problem by treating the signs of the allergies with antihistamines or steroids. Once the allergens are identified, desensitization programs attempt to reduce the bird's reaction to the offending antigens. The vet may administer a series of subcutaneous injections over a four-to-eight week period.

Hormonal imbalances are another oft-cited cause for feather plucking/mutilation. Unfortunately the most often heard response to this is, "Put the bird in a breeding situation". Needless to say, this is not always an effective, nor feasible solution.

Some veterinarians will prescribe different drugs in an attempt to treat plucking/mutilation syndromes. Progesterone injections, testosterone, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), Haloperidol (haldol), and Prozac are some of the common suggestions. However, as with any treatment, there simply isn't a specific one that is going to be effective in all cases. Many times the drugs are only effective for a short time, if at all; and many owners have no desire to put their birds on antipsychotic drugs.

It is imperative that birds have the opportunity to bathe frequently, particularly in the colder, dryer seasons. Artificial heating tends to dry the air significantly, and in turn dries out skin rather quickly. Also investing in an inexpensive filter for your main water faucet may be useful in filtering out undesirable additives such as chlorine.

Making diagnosis even more difficult is the fact that many of these causes can also be effects of feather plucking or mutilation, creating a vicious cycle that could prove almost impossible to break. For instance, some types of skin (bacterial) infections may be a result of the mutilation to the skin, as opposed to the cause. Additionally, the plucking/mutilation can quickly and easily become a habit, and may continue even after the original root cause is found and treated effectively. In this case, the plucking/mutilation has simply "cycled" into a true behavioral problem..... resulting in a whole new set of questions.

Part II of this series will be posted in the February issue of "Winged Wisdom" and will concentrate on possible non-medical (psychological) causes, along with current and potential treatments.

Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Quaker Mutilation Syndrome (QMS) in pet parrots & exotic birds

Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine, Pet Bird Ezine - Pet Parrots E-zine & Exotic Birds Magazine

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