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From: boris@ocf.berkeley.edu (Boris Chen)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Cockatiel feather picking
Message-ID: <1990Aug6.230634.4064@agate.berkeley.edu>
Date: 6 Aug 90 23:06:34 GMT
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My Cockatiel seems to have a skin problem. He is pulling out feathers. Also,
with some of his feathers have only the shaft left. I tried giving him
vitamin suppliments and anti-stress formulas, thinking it may be due to
me moving around. Also, I bought Feather Glo bird bath in attempts to
releave skin irritation. It didn't help, so I tried an anti-picking
spray called Quell made by Mardel labs, and that doesn't seem to help either.
I had a vet check for parasites or mites, and the result was negative.
The vet put a plastic crown around his neck to help prevent the pullling out
of feathers, but that doesn't solve the itching.
	I am a student in Berkeley and the vet I brought him to is in
southern California where my parents live. I am wondering if it is wise
to bring the bird down with me again to see the vet, since the stress
due to the trip (about 400 miles by car) would only make the bird's 
health worse.
	My bird seems okay in every other way. It acts the same as it always
did, so I suspect it to be a skin problem, not any type of internal
problem, though I may be wrong.
	Any advice would be helpful. And I would appreciate it if anyone
has any suggestions as far as books concerning bird diseases.

Thank you

boris@ocf.berkeley.edu