While I can’t pinpoint the exact time that Spike started plucking (it was a gradual thing), I can tell you exactly when and why my eclectus started to pluck.
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It turned out to be exactly the wrong thing to do. When we got home on Sunday Rani had plucked out the feathers around her neck, and of course the tree was still in the front yard. I’ve written about how much Rani liked to look out the window, but I had no idea that she would pluck because she couldn’t see outside! For a long time I thougt that was why she started plucking, but a couple of years ago I got another explanation. A pet psychic told us Rani thought that because the blinds were closed it meant we were never coming home!!!
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There was a tree in the front yard that would lose large branches every time there was any amount of wind, so we called someone to remove it. The guy came out to give us an estimate and told us he couldn’t cut it down – something about the village owning the property so far back from the road – and we would have to call the village DPW about it.
'There was a tree in the front yard that would lose large branches every time there was any amount of wind, so we called someone to remove it. The guy came out to give us an estimate and told us he couldn’t cut it down – something about the village owning the property so far back from the road – and we would have to call the village DPW about it.
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We did, and they agreed that the tree was damaged and needed to be cut down, but they couldn’t give me a date. I was working 2nd shift at the time, so it really wasn’t a problem; there was only about an hour in the afternoon between the time I left for work and Mark got home. This happened early in June and I really didn’t expect to wait all summer for the tree to be removed, but that’s exactly what happened.
We did, and they agreed that the tree was damaged and needed to be cut down, but they couldn’t give me a date. I was working 2nd shift at the time, so it really wasn’t a problem; there was only about an hour in the afternoon between the time I left for work and Mark got home. This happened early in June and I really didn’t expect to wait all summer for the tree to be removed, but that’s exactly what happened.
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Late in July we had plans to spend a long weekend with friends in North Carolina. I was worried that the village would show up the minute we left – it would be just the kind of thing that happens to me. I knew that the large trucks and noise right outside the front window would frighten the birds, so I asked my sister to leave the blinds on the windows closed while we were gone. I figured that if the birds couldn’t see the trucks they wouldn’t be as scared.
'Late in July we had plans to spend a long weekend with friends in North Carolina. I was worried that the village would show up the minute we left – it would be just the kind of thing that happens to me. I knew that the large trucks and noise right outside the front window would frighten the birds, so I asked my sister to leave the blinds on the windows closed while we were gone. I figured that if the birds couldn’t see the trucks they wouldn’t be as scared.
'It turned out to be exactly the wrong thing to do. When we got home on Sunday Rani had plucked out the feathers around her neck, and of course the tree was still in the front yard. I’ve written about how much Rani liked to look out the window, but I had no idea that she would pluck because she couldn’t see outside! For a long time I thougt that was why she started plucking, but a couple of years ago I got another explanation. A pet psychic told us Rani thought that because the blinds were closed it meant we were never coming home!!!
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Rani has never stopped plucking. She doesn’t mutilate herself like Spike does, but she won’t let a feather grow where she plucks either. Slowly that area is extending down her chest. I just ordered some stuff to put in the water; it’s supposed to help stop plucking. I’m going to give it to Spike and Rani – who knows, it might work.
Rani has never stopped plucking. She doesn’t mutilate herself like Spike does, but she won’t let a feather grow where she plucks either. Slowly that area is extending down her chest. I just ordered some stuff to put in the water; it’s supposed to help stop plucking. I’m going to give it to Spike and Rani – who knows, it might work.
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Cathy
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P.S. Yes, I did say pet psychic. That was quite an experience. I’ll write about it eventually.
P.S. Yes, I did say pet psychic. That was quite an experience. I’ll write about it eventually.
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