Parrot loses feathers on beer and chips diet
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:32 
Sorry sight ... Charlie is still nearly bald despite his rescue. Photo: CASCADE NEWS
Charlie, a two-year-old African grey, has now been nursed back to health by new owner Alison Haybyrnes, and is regaining his plumage.
The poor pet had been brought up on a diet of chips, monkey nuts and beer and he was left alone in a dark corner with no interaction or socialisation.
The average parrot has a brain like a four-year-old child which means he needs stimulation, love and care.
The stress of his situation caused Charlie to pull out his feathers so that when he was rescued he was mostly bald.
On the mend ... with devoted new owner, Alison Haybyrnes. Photo: Cascade news
Thankfully, Charlie’s owner gave him to M&K Parrot Rescue after deciding he could not cope.
Alison, from Warrington, Cheshire, said: “It was heartbreaking when Charlie arrived. He looked like a piece of meat you would see on the shelves of a supermarket because he was that bald.
“He was really nervous when we first got him and the rescue team told us not to expect much from him for the first few weeks.
“But the next day he came out of his cage and went straight on to my hand. Moe, from the parrot rescue, said she had never known a bird to settle that quickly.”
Thanks to the love and care of Alison, aged 40, after six weeks Charlie’s plumage is starting to grow back.
Not-so-pretty polly ... Charlie plucked out his own feathers after poor treatment. Photo: Cascade news
And his cheeky character is on show for all to see.
“He makes me laugh every day, he’s so funny,” added Alison.
“He eats my wallpaper, he’ll bite the cats’ tails if they get too close and he’s started talking.”
And thanks to a special diet, including bottled water and plenty of fruit, Charlie’s taste in healthy foods is helping him on the road to recovery.
Alison said: “He loves red grapes and he will throw green grapes back when I try to feed him them.
“He loves to eat breakfast with me too. It’s a bonding thing to eat with him, so he hangs off his perch and has a piece of my toast.”
To find out more about the work M&K Parrot Rescue do to help parrots across the north, visit mkparrotrescue.co.uk.