Okay, thanks for that much. You didn't really give me everything I needed but I'll do what I can with it then if there are more questions, we continue as long as it takes to try to get you some answers. Since you didn't comment on your faith in the vet, I'm going to stick my neck out and say they might not be as experienced working with Avians as they should be. In my experience, a really good avian vet would turn to drugs only as a last and final resort with a bird who was a long term plucker and had progressed to the point of self mutilation. Putting a bird in a collar is usually the next to last step. If not for the upheaval in his routine, the first thing that should always be done with a bird who starts to pluck is to eliminate all possible health related causes. Since this apparently coincided with these changes, it may be totally caused by that but if he were my bird, I would still strongly consider having him checked out by a very competent avian vet to remove that possibility first. There are only two basic causes of plucking and they are a health issue or a stress/behavioral issue. Working on it from a behavioral approach is spinning ones wheels if there is any health based cause. You didn't say whether you were able to use the cage he had been accustomed to or if you maybe had to go to a smaller one since you are now in a motor home. (Keep in mind I'm assuming a lot here so you will have to correct me if I'm wrong.) I'm also assuming that you are now doing a lot of traveling. That is stress for him. If he had to give up the cage that he had called home, that is stress. If this was a new motor home, he may be having some toxic reactions to the building materials used in it and to the carpet, new upholstery and so on. Many birds have had fatal reactions by being moved into a new home, too soon after it was painted, had new carpet installed, new flooring and so on and it was not sufficiently aired out before brining the bird in. New mobile homes and motor homes have a lot of products used in the manufacturing process that can cause strong reactions in humans, let alone in a creature as sensitive as a bird. He may have fumes and odors settling on his feathers that he can't preen off to his satisfaction. Breathing in those fumes can cause a plucking reaction. If you are spending a lot of time on the road, just the fact that his "home" is in constant motion can be very stressful for him. All parrots are very much creatures of habit and this kind of upset just may end up being more than he can ever adjust to. A few things you can try are to give him ample opportunity to bathe. But only when you are going to be sitting still for awhile. To make the bath more soothing, you can cut the arm from an aloe plant, slit it open and mix the gooey center into his warm bath water. No over the counter product and don't let him have access to the plant or the rind as that can cause upset stomach. Provide him with as many different shredding types of toys as possible. You don't have to spend a lot of money on fancy parrot toys. Things as simple as a roll of white, non perfumed toilet tissue, or a roll of white paper towels. Rolls of adding machine tape, hung on cotton cord from cage bars are good. If he doesn't have a swing in his cage, try one. Most Sennies love swings anyway and if he learns he can sit on it and be less effected by the sway of the motor home, that may help him feel more secure. If he only has rigid surfaces, then he is having to fight to stay balanced the entire time the coach is in motion. That means that sleep deprivation could be adding to his stress. He needs to get a good 12 hours of sound sleep out of every 24. Even birds who live in homes, of course don't usually get it all at one time. But, their house is not in motion during the day so they can nap a lot as they need to. If he only has rigid perches, also get him one of the twisted rope styles. That will take a lot of stress off his feet and toes. It gives him a soft relief from constant hard surfaces and it will give him a much steadier grip while you are in motion. He may have very sore, cramped little toes and feet from having to spend to many hours in a tight grip. When you are moving, I doubt he is able to tuck up one foot at a time and rest it as he would if he weren't in motion. You need to give him as much one on one interaction as possible. I would not normally suggest this in a moving vehicle but if you can take him out and have him sit with, or on you for a portion of your travel time each day, that can increase his feeling of security. This is really going to be a hard one to over come, even if it's possible. From his point of view, the world has gone nuts and it's going to take an extreme amount of love, patience and spoiling him rotten to help him make this adjustment. Also make sure his diet is as perfect as possible with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, leafy greens and good nuts. My Sennie especially enjoys almonds and they are very good for them. I really wish there was a perfect and guaranteed answer for this but I'd be lying if I tried to say there is one. Only time and a lot of work on your part is going to help him try to make this kind of major adjustment. I do hope some of these suggestions will be helpful but if you have more questions or anything to add, don't hesitate to let me know. I'll sure do everything I can to help you and the little guy get past this. I will be signing off here in the next few minutes but I'll be checking in again tomorrow to see if there is anything else I can do for you. Good luck with him. Patricia
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