Chronic Egg Laying

View the online sources below to help demystify chronic egg laying in parrots, how to deal with it, and about the other accompanying conditions it causes.

• Beautyofbirds.com. "Chronic Egg Laying."
• BirdTricks.com. "Chronic Egg Laying in Parrots."
• Bukett, Dr. Greg. "Chronic Egg Laying."
• "Excessive or Chronic Egg-laying in Birds: Causes, Effects, and Treatment."
• Hartman, Steve. "Chronic Egg Laying."
• Parrot-and-Conure-World.com. "Chronic Egg Laying."
• VA Animal Hospitals. "Chronic Egg Laying in Birds."

Just heard about a product that is supposed to stop chronic egg laying. It is called Releaves Dietary Supplement. Though I am not endorsing it by any means, you can order it from www.HEALx.com.

Living With a Noisy Parrot

Do you have a noisy bird beyond the normal? Does your parrot engage in nuisance screaming? Here are some online and print resources for you to check out at your convenience.

• Athan, Mattie Sue. "Correct Excessive Screaming: Easy As 1-2-3," Bird Talk, 14 (Aug. 1996): 56-60.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Keep It Down!," Bird Talk, 13 (Sep. 1995): 60-65.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Negative and Acceptable Screaming in Parrots."
• Blanchard, Sally. "Parrot Psychology: Garrulous Grey Cheeks," Bird Talk, 9 (June 1991): 82-83.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Parrot Psychology: Is Harmony Possible?" Bird Talk, 8 (Oct. 1990): 17.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Parrot Psychology: Silence the Screaming," Bird Talk, 17 (July 1999): 74-75.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Stop That Screaming!, Nippy Fits, Do You Dislike Your Bird?" Bird Talk, 12 (Apr. 1994): 118-123.
• Blanchard, Sally. "What Those Screams Mean," Bird Talk, 9 (Mar. 1991): 117.
• Davis, Chris. "Heart to Heart: 5 Steps To Control Screaming" Bird Talk, 19 (Nov. 2001): p. 24-25.
• Davis, Chris. "Why Is That Bird Screaming?" Bird Talk, 12 (Aug. 1994): p. 24.
• Harris, Robbie. "About the Aviary: Bonded Grey Cheeks Are Loud Grey Cheeks," Bird Breeder On-line, July 1997.
• Johnson, Anne. "Bird Noise - Sound of Music or Torture Alley," Winged Wisdom (May 1997).
• Kaplan, Elise. "Stop the Squawk," Bird Talk, 22 (Nov. 2004): p. 60-63.
• Kaufman, Melissa. "Quiet! Oh, Those Noisy Birds," Bird Talk, 15 (Feb. 1997): p. 20-39.
• Micco, T. & M. "Why do Birds Scream and Bite?" Bird Talk, 4 (Apr. 1986): 25.
• Moustaki, Nikki. "Turn Down the Volume," Bird Talk, 20 (Apr. 2002): 51-59.
• New. K. "Tips on Quieting Birds" Bird Talk, 6 (Mar. 1988): 84.
• Pietroski, Linda. "Ask the Experts: Loud Birds," Bird Talk, 9 (Feb. 1991): 39.
• Rind, Sherry. "Living With A Noisy Parrot: Learn how to quiet a raucous parrot--and how to live with one," Bird Talk, 10 (Sep. 1992): 120-127.
• Sweat, Rebecca. "The Truth About Bird Noise (And Lack of)," Bird Talk 22 (July 2004): 18-25.
• Wilson, Liz. "Is Your Bird Quieter Than You Think," Bird Talk 23 (May 2005): 20-24.
• Wilson, Liz. "Parrot Psychology: Excessive Screaming," Bird Talk, 19 (May 2001): 46-48.

Feather Plucking Conures

Photo from bestbirdfoodever.com

Some conure owners deal with birds who pluck out their own feathers. Learn why they do it and ways you can work with your conures in the online and print resources below.  

Selected Online Resources:

• Highfill, Carol. "Feather Mutilation," Cockatoo Heaven.
• Johnson, Anne. "Feather Mutilation," Winged Wisdom (Oct. 1996).
• Moran, Leslie. "Natural Parrot Care: Why Do Parrots Pick Their Feathers?"
  
• Newman, Chick Ph.D, D.V.M. "Feather Picking by Pet Birds," Newman Veterinary Medical Services.
• Newman, Chick Ph.D, D.V.M. "Feather Picking Relationship to Species," Newman Veterinary Medical Services (mentions grey cheeks).
• Wikipedia. "Feather-Plucking."

Print Resources:

• Blanchard, Sally. "The Complexities of Feather Destructive Behavior," The Pet Bird Report.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Feather Picking in Parrots," IAS.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Parrot Psychology: Solve Behavioral Feather Picking," Bird Talk, 20 (Aug. 2002): 12-13.
• Dahlhausen, Bob. "Feather Picking in Pet Birds," Proceedings of the Mid-Atlantic States Association of Avian Veterinarians, 1997: 1-5.
• Davis, Chris. "Feather Picking: Living With a Feather Picker," Bird Talk, 15 (Aug. 1997): 72-79.
• Delp, Joanna and Ron Delp. "Overcoming Mandy's Plucking," Bird Talk, 12 (Mar. 1994): 66-68.
• Dicker, Layne David. "What Your Feather-Picking Bird Can't Tell You," Bird Talk, 18 (Jan. 2000): 68-81.
• Dorge, Ray and Gail Sibley. "What to Do With a Feather Plucker," Bird Talk, 13 (May 1995): 26-30.
• Evans, Kathy L. "Feather Picking and Self Mutilation," Bird Talk, 11 (June 1993): 102-103.
• Farlow, Susan. "Coping With Feather Plucking" in The Bird Care Handbook & Resource Guide, 1st ed., Monterey, CA: Seacoast Publishing (1997): 39.
• Hallander, Jane. "Feather Picking: The Pattern Often Tells the Story," Pet Bird Report, 9 n. 2 (Feb. 2000): 76-78.
• Johnson, Cathy. "Chronic Feather Picking: A Different Approach to Treatment," Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 1987: 125-142.
• Johnson-Delaney, Cathy. "Feather Picking Diagnosis and Treatment," Journal of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 6 (1992): 82-83.
• Kauffman, Melissa L. and Amy Taylor. "Feather Picking: Reader Case Studies," Bird Talk, 15 (Aug. 1997): 52-71.
• Lennox, Angela M. and Nicole VanDerHeyden. "Haloperidol For Use in Treatment of Psittacine Self-Mutilation and Feather Picking," Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 1993: 119-120.
• Linden, Phoebe G. "Feather Picking: A Complex Problem! Checklist for causes and cures," The Pet Bird Report, 3 (M/A 1993): 14-16.
• Messonnier, Shawn P. "Acupuncture: Discover this novel approach to treating feather-picking birds," Bird Talk, 17 (June 1999): 78-83.
• Murphy, Joel. "Homeopathic Remedies for Feather Picking," Journal of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 6 (1993).
• Oppenheimer, Jerry. "Feather Picking: Systemic Approach," Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 1991: 314-315.
• Ramsay, Edward. "Self-mutilation Syndrome," Journal of Avian Veterinarians, 5 (1991).
• Ramsay, Edward C. and Howard Grindlinger. "Treatment of Feather Picking With Clomipramine," Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 1992: 379-382 and 1986: 265-279 (mentions grey cheeks).
• Rosenthal, Karen. "Differential Diagnosis of Feather-Picking in Pet Birds," Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 1993: 108-112.
• Rosskopf, Walter J., Jr. and Richard Woerpel. "Feather picking in psittacine birds: a clinician's approach to diagnosis and treatment", Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, Miami, FL, (1986): 265-279.
• Rosskopf, Walter J., Jr. and Richard Woerpel. "The Psittacine Mutilation Syndrome: Management, Incidence, Possible Etiology and Therapy", Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (1990).
• Schmidt, Robert E. "Use of Biopsies in the Differential Diagnosis of Feather Picking and Avian Skin Disease," Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 1993: 113-115.
• Swicegood, Carolyn. "Feather Destruction," Watchbird, (July/August 1998).
• Turner, Richard. "Trexan (Naltrexone Hydrocholoride) Use in Feather Picking in Avian Species," Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 1993: 116-118.
• Vaughn, Samuel B. "Feather Picking: A Mystery of Avian Medicine," Bird Talk, 15 (Aug. 1997): 42,44,46-51.
• Wissman, Margaret A. "Causes & Cures: Facets of Feather Picking," Bird Talk, 22 (Sept. 2004): 18-22.
• Wissman, Margaret A. "Causes & Cures: Feather Picking Causes," Bird Talk, 20 (Aug. 2002): 14-17.
• Wissman, Margaret A. "Causes of Feather Picking," Bird Talk, 17 (Mar. 99): 78-79.
• Worell, Amy Beth and William L. Farber. "The Use of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Feather Picking in Psittacines," Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 1993: 121-126.
• Worth, Gail. "Ask the Experts: Causes for Feather-Picking," Bird Talk, 17 (Oct. 99): 98-99.

What To Do If Your Conure is a Biter

Have a problem with your parrot biting you? You are not the only one. I have had three different parrots who enjoyed biting the crap out of me. Learn to look for what kind of mood they are in before handling your bird.

If their irises are mere pinpoints, if their wings are jerking a bit, if their head and neck feathers are puffed out, or if they are chatting angrily to themselves, stay away. I have avoided many bites just from watching their mannerisms before handling them.

There are a number of reasons that parrots will bite you. I highly recommend you view the video playlist below from YouTube and read the articles provided about this problem behavior in parrots so that you can prevent bites and regain your parrot's trust.

• Burgess, Alyson. "Why Does My Bird Bite Me So Much?" About.com.
• "Correcting Bird Biting Behavior," drsfostersmith.com.
• "Exotic Bird FAQ: Why Does My Bird Bite?" thetrueparrot.homestead.com.
• F., Ann. "Success With A Biting Pet Bird!" Winged Wisdom (Feb. 1998).
• Hallendar, Jane."To Bite or Not to Bite - That Is the Question," Pet Bird Report.
• Hines, Ron. "How To Tame a Wild or Aggressive Parrot," 2ndchance.info. 
• Johnson, Anne. "Once Bitten...... Twice Shy," Winged Wisdom (June 1997).
• Mandis, Kathleen. "The Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde Syndrome."
• Margison, Becky. "Why Does My Bird Bite?" Petfinder.com.
• Nash, Holly. "Bird Biting: Why They Do It and How to Correct It." Peteducation.com.
• "Pet Tips: Stop Biting Birds," essortment.com.
• "The Biting Bird," Quakerville.com.
• Tucker, Kelly. "Ouch!! Bird Bites," Winged Wisdom (March 2000).
• YouTube videos to watch.
• "How To STOP Green Cheek Conure Biting and Make Them Listen To You."
• Wilson, Liz. "Biting Parrots: Why They Do It and How To Control It," UpAtSix.
• Wilson, Liz. "Don't Take It Personally," UpAtSix.
• Wilson, Liz. "Facial Bites, Nozzle Nuzzling, & Tummy Kisses," UpAtSix.
• Wilson, Liz. "Biting: The Great Power Game," The Grey Play Round Table.

Print Resources (try requesting via interlibrary loan):

• Athan, Mattie Sue. "Beyond Biting," Bird Talk, 16 (Sept. 1998): 62-71.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Biting: Getting Past the Fear," Pet Bird Report, 9 v. 2 (Feb. 2000): 6-10.
• Blanchard, Sally. "No More Biting Birds," Bird Talk, 9 (Oct. 1991): 109-115.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Parrot Psychology: Cheeky Grey Cheek," Bird Talk, 6 (Mar. 1988): 26.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Parrot Psychology: Minimize Biting Behavior," Bird Talk, 17 (June 1999): 68-69.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Stop That Screaming!, Nippy Fits, Do You Dislike Your Bird?" Bird Talk, 12 (Apr. 1994): 118-123.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Why Birds Bite," Bird Talk, 11 (Mar. 1993): 68-72.
• Chamberlain, Susan. "The Big, Bad Bite," Bird Talk, 23 (Jan. 2005): 26-35.
• Davis, Chris. "The Biting Bird," Bird Talk, 12 (Jun. 1994): 32-38.
• Davis, Chris. "Heart to Heart: Why Does My New Bird Bite," Bird Talk, 20 (May 2002): 22-23.
• Doss, Joanie. "Biting the Hand That Feeds Them," Bird Talk, 13 (Oct. 1995): 106-109.
• Dorge, Ray. "10 Ways to Avoid Bird Bites," Bird Talk, 15 (May 1997): 80-83.
• Micco, T. & M. "Why do Birds Scream and Bite?" Bird Talk, 4 (Apr. 1986): 25.
• Moustaki, Nikki. "Turn Down the Volume," Bird Talk, 20 (Apr. 2002): 50-59.
• Thornton, J. "Taking the Bite Out of the Bird," Bird Talk, 6 (May 1988): 16.
• Wilson, Liz. "Take the Bite Out of Biting," Bird Talk, 19 (July 2001): p. 30-39.