Hi Christine

I have recently read a new article saying sugar snap peas are ok a few times a week, so I have modified my article to say the same. Initially, I was lead to believe that peas react in the same manner as beans do with a bird – that is they produce a lot of ‘wind’ and therefore pain in your bird.

Continue doing what you are, your bird sounds very happy!

Good luck.

Feather mutilation can be the result of sexual frustration, boredom, a skin irritation or a pain deep within the birds body. It can also be caused by a bacterial infection or another health problem.

Anytime your bird shows signs of mutilation, they should be taken in for a veterinarian exam, which you say you have done. If the physical issues have been ruled out, it is most likely a psychological or dietary reasons.

Checking the diet should be easy enough – just make sure they have a good variety of food to eat during the week and plenty of fresh water. Now as you have said you are giving your bird attention (which is great), does the bird have many toys to play with in the cage when you are not around?

I would also not rule of sexual frustration either, so perhaps look at getting a ‘furry friend’ for your bird to snuggle into. Also, if you have recently changed the cage, or objects around the cage, your bird may be protesting about this and instead of screaming, has decided to pull out its feather to show disapproval.

Good luck.

Hi Heidi

While I have no experience keeping budgies and galahs together, I have read some stories of people attempting such a thing with cockatiels with some success. I do know that budgies are very territorial and would definitely bite your galah or pull out it’s feathers if it entered territory the budgie objected to.

It should not be too much of a problem to have them both in the same house, but I would be inclined not to proceed with keeping them in the same cage. You could experiment with letting them both out at the same time, but not without supervision. You never know, they may just get along just nicely.

Good luck.

Hi Ann.

Sorry for not replying earlier. I have not paid much attention to the blog lately.

I don’t think the screaming is from changing the birds diet – in my experience the bird is more likely to throw the food if it does not like it. I would guess perhaps something else changed – is there a new pet or a new housemate/person in the house? In that particular case, the bird is objecting to the new person or pet.

The only other things that comes to mind is that perhaps the birds sleep is becoming interrupted in the new place or the bird is not getting as much attention as it has become used to.

Hope this helps.

Sorry for not replying earlier. I have not paid much attention to the blog lately. Goji Berries are fine for a parrot, as they are a very good source of beta-carotene and Vitamins A, B, C and E. As with any treat, a little is fine, but not everyday and not for every meal.

Good luck.