My sweet African Grey parrot, Sunny, stopped flying a few weeks ago. I didn’t think much of it at the time, because he seemed to be feeling fine, was eager to eat, remained really vocal, loved being petted, and acted like all was well in his world. We’ve been together for over 20 years, but it wasn’t until the last few years that I realized that birds do not show illness or pain. It is a survival mechanism that keeps them alive in the wild. These birds are rarely, if ever, completely domesticated.
When I decided to take a look, I noticed reddish sores under his wings, and after doing some research, found that this was a common ailment, and was a type of bacterial/skin irritation, SCUD that could easily turn into an infection. Knowing how highly sensitive these birds are to any kind of medication, I thought, what is the most natural way to slow or stop an infection? Honey. So I proceeded to towel him, and put a small dab of the golden potion on the irritated areas.
The honey was obviously a very bad idea, although, to my credit, when I checked him the next day, the redness was gone. However, I later realized that honey and feathers do not mix. This should have been obvious to me had I not panicked and took immediate action to ‘fix’ him…. because common sense should have told me – sticky feathers, flight – what could go wrong there? Well what went wrong is that he proceeded to pull out every feather from under his wing, all the way down his legs.
Luckily, with the honey off of his feathers, he has stopped plucking them out. His legs and under his wings are bare of feathers, and he is still not flighted.
But still, I am NOT giving him any medications or antibacterial creams, or anything else that could cause a reaction, because as I said, they are super sensitive to anything that is not completely natural – both internally or externally.
This morning he seems better, but the lack of feathers is unnerving. Those who know me, remember that I have a small female grey ‘Gretchen’ who was so badly neglected / abused, that she has been biting her feathers off for almost 20 years due to anxiety and a deep seated fear of being left alone again for long periods of time. Sunny was/is my ‘beautifully healthy bird’. It is disheartening to say the least.
I have boosted him with a highly potent organic kelp mixture, a drop of apple cider vinegar in his water, and tonight, we’ll have garlic pasta. That should eliminate all signs of infection, and boost his immune system. I’ll report back on his condition, and if his feathers grow back. Here’s hoping!
FARM ANIMAL HAVEN SANCTUARY 