Burl,
 
 BB> I have a 5 yr old grey who doesn't pluck the feather out but picks at 
the 
 BB> feathers so they become fuzzy. We have tried everything we know to do to
 BB> make him less bored, if it is bored, to no avail. One local vet 
apparently
 BB> proscribes Valium. I have seen greys that have responded and look very 
good
 BB> but I am wondering what experience other readers have had.  Burl
Valium is a drug that was created for humans. It was designed to be used in 
times of crisis. Instead, it became a drug that was over perscribed. Instead 
of being used in times of crisis it became the drug for "daily living" 
situations. Valium can be as addictive as any illegal drug.
Birds might respond to valium, but can they respond to their surroundings 
when 
they are on "downers".
Like everyone else, I find feather picking very depressing to watch. It is my 
belief, that once it starts it is difficult to find a solution to. I have a 
pair of Greys that are set up in a breeding situation. The male was a feather 
picker and getting a mate for him didn't help. He taught it to the female, 
but 
fortunately neither of them gets too bad.
Sorry that I can't offer you any positive feed back, but this is a problem 
that has very few solutions.
--- PPoint 1.88
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