Self-plucking parrot on the mend in foster home

Tuesday

Feb142012

Self-plucking parrot on the mend in foster home

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 23:56

Muriel, the African Grey parrot, is in a protective collar to prevent herself from further self-mutilation. Photo: Kerry PowelWhen a badly damaged African Grey named Muriel was surrendered at a local shelter, the bird appeared to be beyond hope. But before the "execution" papers could be signed, an employee reached out to Patty Blau, a volunteer with Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue. Maybe Muriel could be saved?

Muriel was a beautiful but stressed African Grey who had plucked her entire body clean of feathers. She even attacked her own wings so badly that there were several holes through the flesh. Self-mutilation in birds, which usually takes the form of self-plucking, rarely gets this severe. What could have happened to Muriel to cause her such distress?

I took Muriel to an avian vet, who fit her with a large plastic collar to keep her bandaged wings out of reach. The wings required frequent medication and the collar needed constant mending since it became the focus of her destruction.

The scant information given at the time of Muriel's surrender hinted that a once-beloved pet had been placed in an aviary with bad results. Tests did not reveal any medical reason for her self-mutilation, and Muriel continued her obsession. Eventually, when her injured right wing had to be amputated, Muriel turned her destruction to her left wing, causing further damage. It was clear that Muriel needed dedicated behavioral modification by a committed individual. The vet could do no more.

So, Muriel moved in with Jackie, another Mickaboo volunteer who worked with Muriel daily. By this time, Muriel had accrued enormous medical bills; in an effort to enlist support and possible donations, Jackie made a Facebook page to share Muriel's sad story. This was how Muriel's original owner came to share his former pet's background.

Expressing sorrow and regret, he wrote how he had always wanted an African Grey and finally got one. He hand-fed the baby bird, named her Muriel and taught her to talk. For years, he cuddled and loved Muriel, treating her as his baby and not just a bird.

Then one day he saw an outdoor aviary with plenty of thriving, active birds. It looked like an ideal setting, which got him wondering: Would Muriel be happier with her own species and in a more "natural" environment?

This prompted him to give his beloved pet to a man who had an outdoor aviary. Muriel, who had never been outdoors or around other birds, found herself in a situation she didn't understand, and with birds that didn't like her. She had to compete for food and space, and became despondent and neurotic. Soon, out of frustration with her confusing new life, she started plucking herself from neck to toe and attacking her own wings.

Since her original owner wasn't in a position to take her back, he couldn't rescue her. Ultimately, the man with the aviary surrendered Muriel to a shelter.

Although her original owner meant well, he didn't realize that the creatures we tame become forever bonded to us. Even with the best intentions, we cannot suddenly dump a pet into a "natural" world that the animal has never learned to understand.

Today, Muriel is with a devoted foster family that is working with an avian vet to help the one-winged bird adjust to her new life. With plenty of patience and love, there's hope that Muriel will once again thrive.