Could this be stress?

[OurDoveBron]

We went on a 3 week vacation the end of July, and we took our bird to our friend's house, so that they could care for her. They said she seemed fine, and she cooed all the time. But, when I picked her up 3 weeks later, her feathers just didn't look as smooth- they just looked a little more rumpled than usual, and they're still like that. They also said that she sometimes put her wing out and bit at it a lot and had a sore spot. I haven't noticed her doing this at all since she's been home.

Could she have been stressed?? She seems ok now, although she still doesn't look as smooth. Any insight?

This is how smooth she was before:


And this is what she looks like now:


Thanks!

[Skyeking]

Did your friends take as good care of her as you do?

I would think she was out of her routine and maybe stressed to the change in location, air quality, and/or maybe lack of sunshine and fresh air. Is she molting?

How do her poops look?

[OurDoveBron]

Originally Posted by Skyeking

Did your friends take as good care of her as you do?

I would think she was out of her routine and maybe stressed to the change in location, air quality, and/or maybe lack of sunshine and fresh air. Is she molting?

How do her poops look?

I guess I haven't paid much attention to what her poop looks like. I know they said they were home a lot, and walked by her cage a lot. They seemed to give her plenty of attention, and they are super nice people who are also animal lovers. They said they took her cage outside a few times when it was nice, and we never do that. But, they didn't really let her out, which we do a few times a day. So, I know her routine was different there. Also, I have no idea how to tell if they're molting.........

[spirit wings]

this is the time of year they molt..and then she had some stress with being away from home. molting means there will be feathers she is shedding. I would think of adopting the practice of setting her outside in the sunshine as they need that to make vitamin D3, which is needed to utilize calcium. the people may of been great to her..but just being away from home is a change and doves usually do not like change.

[OurDoveBron]

Thanks! I may have to wait on the sunshine, it's raining and storming here at the moment! LOL But, we've never really thought about putting her cage outside. We'll have to try that.

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by OurDoveBron

Thanks! I may have to wait on the sunshine, it's raining and storming here at the moment! LOL But, we've never really thought about putting her cage outside. We'll have to try that.

Im in va too, williamsburg.. where are you? Im so tired of this rain..lol...

[OurDoveBron]

Originally Posted by spirit wings

Im in va too, williamsburg.. where are you? Im so tired of this rain..lol...

I'm in Christiansburg- about 30 miles west of Roanoke. (Hokie territory! LOL)