Should I spray?

[Harris]

Just went out to pick Bella up and noticed lots of small feathers and down around her perch. At first I thought that an unfortunate little birdie had flown in and had ended up on the menu. But when I picked her up I noticed that she had plucked most of the feathers from her right thigh and now has a small patch of chicken skin. I have checked her over and there is no wound or sign of ticks etc. So was thinking perhaps I should give her a spray with Frountline just in case. What do you think?

[Blaze]

I had a similar problem with my kestrel....she was lossing downy feathers and getting bald patches on the side of her face....I sprayed her up with johnsons anti mite for 2 days and she stopped lossing the feathers and they have now grown back!

[Trappa]

Yes, i would spray her for a couple of days. If she continues then a trip to your vet would be recommended.

[MickeyDredd]

I had a similar problem with my kestrel....she was lossing downy feathers and getting bald patches on the side of her face....I sprayed her up with johnsons anti mite for 2 days and she stopped lossing the feathers and they have now grown back!

She obviously disliked the taste of Johnsons ;)

[Lanner_Man]

hi simon theres a bird at the centre which does this occasionly, its down to bordom, providing shes out on the weathering everyday, she fine.

[Harris]

hi simon theres a bird at the centre which does this occasionly, its down to bordom, providing shes out on the weathering everyday, she fine.


I was wondering if it could be boredom luke. but she has a decent view of activity when bowed out every day, and I pick her up 2 or 3 times a day and fly her or just walk about with her. She did this over night. I will give her a quick spray tomorrow as I picked up some Frountline today, you never know what she picked up from the breeding chamber.

Cheers

Simon :yawinkle:

[Sprout]

Feather plucking in a Harris can be a stress response related to boredom or other factors. How is the bird houses ie tethered/free lofted, what does it have to look at/interact with when not flying, how often is it flown, what condition is it weight wise when not flying etc etc. Of course, ectoparasites can cause irritation, check the bird at night with a torch and look for what look like tiny grains of sand moving over the feathers - if present then treat. Also look for red mites or evidence of mite damage, ie chewed/worn edges to feathers

[Harris]

Feather plucking in a Harris can be a stress response related to boredom or other factors. How is the bird houses ie tethered/free lofted, what does it have to look at/interact with when not flying, how often is it flown, what condition is it weight wise when not flying etc etc. Of course, ectoparasites can cause irritation, check the bird at night with a torch and look for what look like tiny grains of sand moving over the feathers - if present then treat. Also look for red mites or evidence of mite damage, ie chewed/worn edges to feathers

Cheers Sprout, I will go and have a look at her now. As I said its only the top of her left leg, and thinking about it, when we caught her up in the breeding chamber, she had a small rough patch on the same leg, I assumed that this may have just been a graze or something. there is no sighn of any damage to the skin though.

[Harris]

Well I just checked her, and there is no sign of any crawlies! She is really chilled, I just went to her aviary and with a torch and she just stood there, leg tucked up while a examined her all over.

[TimDog80]

it wont hurt too but birds pulling there own feathers out can be a sign of boredom in hawks, just a suggestion you could look into, good luck!

[Vizla]

it may also be a sign of nervous disfunction generally associated to bow perch boredom free loft bird if possible and see how it goes

[GoodFooter]

Spray with johnsons anti mite spray any way. Red mites are noctural hence the advice for looking with the torch. Thay are tiny and found usually right at the base of the feathers.
At night the bird shouldnt be bored.....it should be sleeping or resting as it cant see anything anyway! But before it becomes habit radio four left on over night may distract her.

You dont want to freeloft unless she is fully trained in my opinion.

if the mite spray doesnt work let us know if it continues

Rob

[Harris]

Cheers for the advice, I can't free loft her yet as she isn't fully trained. but the intention is to freeloft her as soon as possible. I don't know about radio 4!! I would be swinging from my perch by the neck if I had to listen to that :lol:

[GoodFooter]

Cheers for the advice, I can't free loft her yet as she isn't fully trained. but the intention is to freeloft her as soon as possible. I don't know about radio 4!! I would be swinging from my perch by the neck if I had to listen to that :lol:

Radio 4 was for the night......if 'you' had to listen to it does that mean you sleep with your hawk????:lol: :lol:

seriously though my inherited HH gripped like hell when she was on the fist and someone spoke (this is the HH that went through a double thickness martin jones buckskin glove)...so two days of radio 4 ( just talking) day aand night and she was cured!
best of luck Rob

[Harris]

Radio 4 was for the night......if 'you' had to listen to it does that mean you sleep with your hawk????:lol: :lol:




PMSL I was putting myself in the position of my Hawk! :lol:

If she does it again I will give it a try.

[StormRider]

Seriously, you cannot underestimate stress in a bird. Only last week was Storm well coped and antimite sprayed.

I was out with Storm yesterday with a single rabbit brought down. She was at a good weight and feather perfect. Her conditioning is excellent and she is a very good bird to handle. Lastnight, we had a full night of repeated bursts of fireworks from a neighbouring garden. Ive been out to her today and she has pulled her left leg almost bare. She has never done this before. On the glove she seems a little weary and constantly looking up.
She's gonna have to go in box tonite to calm her down.
I hate this firework time of year. I need to move out into the country.

STU