A friend of mine, a wonderful gal from L’vul, but living here in Covington, had her African grey kidnapped and she negotiated a ransom. I am not making this up! The poor bird was truly traumatized by the event, withdrew, spent months plucking out its own feathers, etc. I actually think my unfortunant friend eventually sought some sort of avian psychologial help for the messed up creature.
WOW... I can so see that...
We’re just Indiana side of L’vul and took our Phoenix to Dr. Sam Vaun (I know I’ve forgotted how to spell his last name- but he’s a pretty well known bird and more doc) when she had an impacted preen gland. She still bites off her pretty red tail feathers when they just start looking nice, but I’ll live without the red feathers to keep from stressing her out with Prozac (no kidding) and the ‘collar of hell’.
I saw a special on dear, departed Alex when it showed him doing his thing and he must have been molting ‘cause he looked pretty rough. I decided to just let her have her head and do what she wanted, weaning off the meds SLOWLY.
She’s doing great. The ‘Bird Lady’ -Carol- we got her from as a baby asked me at a bird show meet up if she’d knocked my socks off yet. With-in weeks of no meds and collar, the talk and logic showed and she hasn’t stopped since.
African Greys can learn new things throughout their lives. They are wonderous.