Bird jackets

[IamJolyn]

Hi everyone, I know this isn't a normal thing, but do any of you have a simple pattern for a large bird jacket? I had two wonderful featherkids (a Cockatoo and a blue and gold Maccaw) that passed away after an awful company sprayed for termites without telling us. Anyway, long story short, I have gotten involved in some bird resuces, and sometimes when a parrot or 'too are not taken care of properly they pluck out feathers, too the point where they don't grow back. I have seen people make little jackets for them that cover the chest and back, and have little charms woven in for the birds to play with. I would love to make some and donate them to a bird rescue. Anyway, thanks in advance for any help!

~Jolyn

[birdlady1]

It would have to be made of chain for a macaw or cockatoo (or any larger bird) not chew it to pieces (g). But take a look at www.thegabrielfoundation.org (http://www.thegabrielfoundation.org) for some ideas. I don't think sewn jackets would last more than a day unless you couple it with an E-collar temporarily and that would be awfully stressful for any bird.

But, in my opinion, the birds that end up in rescues have enough problems to overcome without having to tolerate jackets.

[IamJolyn]

Birdlady, I have seen birds wear them, Moe a large 'too loved his, and yes he would shread it (preen it to death lol) but was able to wear it for a few months, and it keeps them warm and prevents them from doing any more plucking, at least in that area. I know some birds wouldn't take to it, but I personly know some who do, and without something there, they will preen and puck until they bleed. Thanks for the website, I will look into that, and also maybe call the rescue I have dealt with.

[birdlady1]

Good luck!:angel:ducky I think the rescues would appreciate any donations, but I know The Gabriel Foundation, for example, loves to receive parts to make toys or even complete toys themselves. (I donated several garbage bags full of fabric that is torn into strips [after deemed safe] and then added to other materials to make toys.)

Distracting the bird from plucking is a better option, in my opinion, rather than offering a "band aid" approach, such as a jacket would be.....

[IamJolyn]

You are very right, keeping the bird from wanting to puck is the best, but just thought of poor Moe, who's owner said he shivers in the winter (they live in Co) and the vest/jacktes help keep him warm, as he has pucked to the point where his feathers will not grow back. Anyway, I might do something different like give them items to make toys, but if nothing else i want to make a few for Moe and others like him who are used to the vests.
If I lived closer to the rescue, I would love to spend some time there, helping them take care of the birds, clean cages etc. but it is a few hours drive for me.

[miss_soarneagle]

Bird Jackets sound interesting, I would like to see pics of these jackets,got any? i somehow can't picture them in my head. that is nice of you to think of the birdies.

I have my parakeet cage on the couch with me when i'm crochetting and sometimes my bird pecks at the yarn that I have put down in front of her cage. This past winter i was making a suede scarf, and she was pecking at it. so I had a little left over so i crochetted her a cape kind of thing... well she was scared of that!!!!!! lol Silly Sunnie Bird!

I guess hanging it in her cage was a bad idea... lol so i took it out and stuffed it in my yarn drawer.

[happy stitcher]

:lol
You reminded me of my mother's crazy bird. He was a Nande Conure. (Here's a picture of one.) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2474099565_1b96a26a12.jpg?v=0)

He was flying loose, and my parents caught him and got him a big cage, essentially doted on him. :manyheart

Despite all the love, he plucked himself almost completely bald! He had little tufts of feathers around each foot, wings, and head feathers. But his whole body was bare. The bird vet said that it was a common bird problem. He didn't like to be inside. That's probably why he was loose. Somebody got tired of the bald bird and let him go. But my parents kept him and he seemed happy - he was just bald! When they caught him he was fully feathered.

I can't imagine Holly Bird (named because of the red and green plumage) putting up with a jacket. He was friendly to a point, but he didn't want people messing with his body.

Anyway, thanks for the memories! He was a character! :D

[birdlady1]

People sometimes release their parrots to the wild when they realize how loud they can be or how much work it takes to care for them! They figure they're birds so they should be able to survive in the wild. Duhhh. :think Wrong.

Nandays and quakers seem to be the most common of "released" birds. They're relatively inexpensive birds and people think they're getting a "bargain" (i.e., a BIG bird for a little money). You may have read/heard about quakers building HUGE communal nests in various parts of the U.S., including downtown Chicago. In many states, quakers are banned (including Wyoming) and will be immediately euthanized if found (even in a home). Some states (Pennsylvania, most recently) tried to ban the nanday for similar reasons.

Getting back on topic, I tried to find a website exhibiting a photo of a jacket but was finding nasty websites instead.:(:angry

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

We have quaker nests here they are huge & they build them on power lines. We used to own a quaker or should I say I did she only liked me & bit everyone else. We gave her to a young man 16 yr old that worked in a local bird store.I really miss her she was very loud but to me it was cute. I love the idea of bird vests I've seen so many poor things that are practically bald it makes me sad.

[IamJolyn]

I guess the first place i saw bird vests was in Santa Barabra CA where there was a bird breeder turned rescue only, she had serveral birds that loved there vests, and had some older ladies come down and crochet-to-fit for them. They had little charms attached to them, and the birds could preen and play with those (bird safe charms, taken off bird toys i was told). These birds were used to them, and also loved the cloth bird beds i have seen in stores. I would never try to put one on a bird that wasn't used to it, if the bird is showing signs of being scared of it, please don't try! I had a ringneck (large bright green parakeet) that loved any type of cloth or blanket, even nested in my hair :) He would have worn one and loved it, and he was full feathered. Anyway, I will look for pictures of them, and hopefully not come across those bad web sites birdlady! :worried

[birdlady1]

Anyway, I will look for pictures of them, and hopefully not come across those bad web sites birdlady! :worried

Well it wasn't porn I found:lol. It was just stories about plucking geese to make down-filled coats and pillows. Awful!

[SweetLilRachy00]

We have quite a bit of chickens (almost 150, just butchered 50ish for meat yum). I'm a member of a large chicken forum and someone had an issue with the male accidently pulling out the feathers on the hens back when he'd mount her to breed. So the guy solved the issue with that extra wide duct tape across her back. Stuck on nicely and solved the issue of her back getting raw. Although that wouldn't help very much for the front since they'd be able to get to it.

You can also buy some stuff at the tractor supply stores called Pine Tar. This is actually used for the coating on horse hooves, but it's a germacide (?) to keep germs out and help heal areas of injury. It comes in a little paint can type can and you just paint it onto the area. They don't like the taste, so they don't pick at it and this will also give it time to heal. You can also put some Vicks Vapor Rub onto the area too, they will taste it once and leave it alone. Those might be a little less traumatic than say a jacket that you have to wrestle the bird into.

As for jackets, I was thinking some tough leather and making it like an apron style. Let me see if I can find a pic of the chicken diaper that I made for my indoor babies.



http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h154/SweetLilRachy00/chickdiaper001-1.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h154/SweetLilRachy00/chickdiaper005.jpg

It's basically a little strip of fabric with a hole in one end for the head, it goes down over the breast and down between the legs, and up over the tail (with a pocket for poo) and then ties over the tail or to the back of the neck hole. I know youcan't see it that great because of my fluffy butts...

You could probably think I'm off my rocker huh?

[birdlady1]

That's pretty gross and very inhumane.:angry

[morehotcoffee]

Getting back on topic, I tried to find a website exhibiting a photo of a jacket but was finding nasty websites instead.:(:angry


:laughrollOMGosh! Now that is funny. You made my afternoon! I can only imagine the jackets you found.

[ThePlushPets]

You could probably think I'm off my rocker huh?

Not at all. After having to sew a bonding pouch for a sugar glider with a removable maxipad pouch in the bottom so they won't pee on you... no. Not at all. :lol

[happy stitcher]

It's basically a little strip of fabric with a hole in one end for the head, it goes down over the breast and down between the legs, and up over the tail (with a pocket for poo) and then ties over the tail or to the back of the neck hole. I know youcan't see it that great because of my fluffy butts...

You could probably think I'm off my rocker huh?

:lol Very creative! It looks like it allows for plenty of movement, too!
I NEVER would have thought to diaper a chicken! :lol

[craziebunny]

:lol I told my DH I never thought I would see this chicken daiper!! too funny! I dont see anything that is hurting the bird at all on it.

[SweetLilRachy00]

That's pretty gross and very inhumane.:angry


Was this directed at me?

[DebbyQ]

I have a green cheek conure that I got when she was a tiny baby. Had to feed her with a dropper for quite some time and from the day I got her, I would wrap her in a baby blanket at night when she went to sleep. Now she has a rolled up baby blanket in her cage that she sleeps in every single night, no matter how hot it gets here. Sometimes I wonder how she can stand it. A friend of mine got her twin and she bought one of those hanging quilted beds the you can get at the petstore for your birds. The bird slept in it all the time, but one day while she was at work the bird got her foot all wound up in a loose thread on the bed. By the time she got home, it was too late and the bird ended up losing her foot. Just a word of warning. If you are going to buy those beds please, please check them frequently for loose thread. Birds love to chew and of course pull on any threads they can get ahold of in something that is sewn.


Debby

[birdlady1]

Was this directed at me?

Yes. What is done to the chickens using duct tape and tar is inhumane and inexcusable.

[IamJolyn]

I really didn't mean to start up any fights . . . I just knew that the bird rescue in CA that I wanted to help (and near where I live now too) used these vests. The Cockatoos I saw these little vest type jackets, where they could preen and play with those instead of pucking. These birds where totally used to them, and enjoyed having them on, and some of the ones i saw just tied in the back and where totally open around the vent, no bird diapers (not that I have heard of one used the right way hurting a bird). No, they didn't last long, yes they were chewed through, but that is the point. I wouldn't want duct tape on any bird or that tar stuff, unless directed by the vet. I would only use this vest on a bird that was used to it. Sorry my post stirred up so much trouble. :(:(

[SweetLilRachy00]

OMG apparently I'm the only one that has chickens here. lol

It's not tar that you drive on on the highway, it's made for ANIMALS! LOL I'm not an idiot nor would I do anything to hurt an animals, Yes, I slaughter my own for FOOD, but I don't do anything to hurt them. I was simply RESTATING what someone ELSE did. I wouldn't want to put duct tape on my birds, but it's not like it's stuck to their skin. it's stuck to their feathers, like if yo'd get it in your hair. nothing major.

I was just stating my opinions and things i've heard. not trying to argue. :D