Amazon Parrot strange facial feather loss?

Paco_the_Amazon

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Aug 29, 2017
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Hello,
I am new to the forum and haven't really found my way around here, but I have a question regarding my 5 month old Amazon named Paco.
I've been noticing that he has been growing more yellow feathers around his beak and face, but what worries me is how patchy it looks atm. He gets feed a pellets seed diet, I just him regularly throughout the day, and has access to any toys or other things he needs. I'm not sure if this is part of a molt or what, but doesn't his skin seem really exposed in the facial area? He is very young and maybe that is the reason for the changing of colors, but I do see more pin feathers around the top of his head and around the nares. Has anyone had theirs go through this before? I also just use mite and lice spray whenever I clean his cage.
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SailBoat

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Thank-you, for finding Parrot Forums and bring an Amazon into your life!

Please take the time to read the two Threads at the top of the Amazon Forum, highlighted in light blue. The second of the two Threads is Titled: I Love Amazons - ... It is a huge Thread with numerous Segments with that address Living and Loving Amazons. On the first page you will find a list of the Segments. Look for the Segment that defines a Healthy Diet for an Amazon.

How long have this Amazon been with you?

What the photos indicate is that your Amazon may be rubbing the beak against the cage bars. This may be due to molting.

Let us know.
 
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Paco_the_Amazon

Paco_the_Amazon

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Thanks for the information. I will go through all the threads asap. I have had him for about 2 months now. Is there something I should do to help and will he regrow those feathers?

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texsize

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In the last picture you posted I can see new pin feathers coming in.
Has your bird actually been loosing those feathers or did he/she look that way when you got him/her ?

My second clutch of Cockatiel's I raised the parents were plucking feathers off there heads. This caused a slower development of feathers around the head. So if your bird came to you in that condition it could be du to the parents pulling out the feathers.

It's just a thought.
texsize
 
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Paco_the_Amazon

Paco_the_Amazon

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Hello,
He had all his feathers when I first got him, but now I am worried. He was handfed since he was small and removed from the parents, so I do not believe it could be that.

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Ladyhawk

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Kizzy - (most likely) female blue-fronted Amazon, hatched on May 1, 2017; Gabby - Male double yellowheaded Amazon, hatched, April 1, 1986; died February 22, 2017
Thanks for the information. I will go through all the threads asap. I have had him for about 2 months now. Is there something I should do to help and will he regrow those feathers?

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When my DYH was the age of your bird, this happened to him, too. After he passed away, I went through old photographs and saw that his feathers were bare around his face during his first moult.

Gabby's feather condition as a baby was horrible because 1) He might have been smuggled into the country after having been hand-fed a horrible diet. This was in the days before hand-feeding formulas became widely available. I'm not even sure any existed back then. 2) He played like a maniac in a cage that was too small for him. I didn't realize the cage was too small for him because I was young and stupid and could only use the information available to me at the time.

How hard does your bird play? Is he violent with his toys? I see what appears to be a bruise on his beak. That and the missing feathers say to me that he might be doing this to himself by rough play or as SailBoat said, by rubbing his face on the bars because he is itchy.

I took Gabby to the vet at this age. He also had a bruise on his beak, but it was much smaller. He was missing feathers on his face and all but one tail feather was gone because he was swinging upside down on his toys and violently hitting them with his beak in cage that, in retrospect, was way too small for him.

I'm not an avian vet, so I can't tell you for certain there's nothing wrong with your bird. If he's due for a checkup, you could take him in. In the meantime, try to make sure he's getting lots of nutrients and plenty of baths. He needs nutrition to grow feathers (as long as he's in good health, they should come in all right). Giving him lots of baths will help with the itchiness. If he's playing rough with his toys, make sure he has plenty of room to swing. If he lets you, pet him gently in the affected area. You have to be careful around blood feathers. If you rub him the wrong way or rub too hard, it will hurt him.

We've been having dry, hot weather here, so I'm giving Kizzy tons of baths (usually more than one a day) and I'm putting coconut oil on her feet if I think she needs it. I try to put it on her beak, too, but she isn't always accommodating. XD
 
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wrench13

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Mite and lice spray - do you have a problem with them where you are? Unless directed to by a CAV ( certified avian vet) I wouldn't use them every time you clean the cage. How often do you clean it?

Young amazons with yellow head feathers will change the yellow pattern until they get their adult feathers in.

To me it looks like he has been rubbing his nares and adjacent area. Keep an eye out, have you seen him do this?
 
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Paco_the_Amazon

Paco_the_Amazon

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Thanks for the information. I will go through all the threads asap. I have had him for about 2 months now. Is there something I should do to help and will he regrow those feathers?

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

When my DYH was the age of your bird, this happened to him, too. After he passed away, I went through old photographs and saw that his feathers were bare around his face during his first moult.

Gabby's feather condition as a baby was horrible because 1) He might have been smuggled into the country after having been hand-fed a horrible diet. This was in the days before hand-feeding formulas became widely available. I'm not even sure any existed back then. 2) He played like a maniac in a cage that was too small for him. I didn't realize the cage was too small for him because I was young and stupid and could only use the information available to me at the time.

How hard does your bird play? Is he violent with his toys? I see what appears to be a bruise on his beak. That and the missing feathers say to me that he might be doing this to himself by rough play or as SailBoat said, by rubbing his face on the bars because he is itchy.

I took Gabby to the vet at this age. He also had a bruise on his beak, but it was much smaller. He was missing feathers on his face and all but one tail feather was gone because he was swinging upside down on his toys and violently hitting them with his beak in cage that, in retrospect, was way too small for him.

I'm not an avian vet, so I can't tell you for certain there's nothing wrong with your bird. If he's due for a checkup, you could take him in. In the meantime, try to make sure he's getting lots of nutrients and plenty of baths. He needs nutrition to grow feathers (as long as he's in good health, they should come in all right). Giving him lots of baths will help with the itchiness. If he's playing rough with his toys, make sure he has plenty of room to swing. If he lets you, pet him gently in the affected area. You have to be careful around blood feathers. If you rub him the wrong way or rub too hard, it will hurt him.

We've been having dry, hot weather here, so I'm giving Kizzy tons of baths (usually more than one a day) and I'm putting coconut oil on her feet if I think she needs it. I try to put it on her beak, too, but she isn't always accommodating. XD
Yes, he is due for a check up and now that you mention it he does play very violently swinging around his cage. He has a large cage but sometimes falls because he is still clumsy. I will continue to mist him and make sure he gets the best food and attention I can offer him. Thanks. It helped ease my worries. Is there something I can use to help the itching?

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Paco_the_Amazon

Paco_the_Amazon

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Mite and lice spray - do you have a problem with them where you are? Unless directed to by a CAV ( certified avian vet) I wouldn't use them every time you clean the cage. How often do you clean it?

Young amazons with yellow head feathers will change the yellow pattern until they get their adult feathers in.

To me it looks like he has been rubbing his nares and adjacent area. Keep an eye out, have you seen him do this?
I have only used the spray twice but will stop using it. I wasn't aware that it had to be directed by a veterinarian. I have not seen him scratch himself against anything, but I have seen him scratch himself with his feet like a dog does, and I believe the new pin feathers are making him really itchy. Should I do something else besides mist frequently?

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SailBoat

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Mite and lice spray - do you have a problem with them where you are? Unless directed to by a CAV ( certified avian vet) I wouldn't use them every time you clean the cage. How often do you clean it?

Young amazons with yellow head feathers will change the yellow pattern until they get their adult feathers in.

To me it looks like he has been rubbing his nares and adjacent area. Keep an eye out, have you seen him do this?
I have only used the spray twice but will stop using it. I wasn't aware that it had to be directed by a veterinarian. I have not seen him scratch himself against anything, but I have seen him scratch himself with his feet like a dog does, and I believe the new pin feathers are making him really itchy. Should I do something else besides mist frequently?

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As my good friend Wrench had stated, over use or use without need is not advised with this type of sprays. The goal is to limit exposure to semi to toxic products. When needed and as directed, yes. But to use them just because one thinks it would be proper is not advisable.

As commented by Ladyhawk, running your finger over the area in the same direction that the feather (pin feathers) is a great source of relief for them and also works to continue bond development.
 
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Paco_the_Amazon

Paco_the_Amazon

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Aug 29, 2017
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Sun Conure and Yellow-Head Amazon
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  • Thread starter
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Mite and lice spray - do you have a problem with them where you are? Unless directed to by a CAV ( certified avian vet) I wouldn't use them every time you clean the cage. How often do you clean it?

Young amazons with yellow head feathers will change the yellow pattern until they get their adult feathers in.

To me it looks like he has been rubbing his nares and adjacent area. Keep an eye out, have you seen him do this?
I have only used the spray twice but will stop using it. I wasn't aware that it had to be directed by a veterinarian. I have not seen him scratch himself against anything, but I have seen him scratch himself with his feet like a dog does, and I believe the new pin feathers are making him really itchy. Should I do something else besides mist frequently?

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

As my good friend Wrench had stated, over use or use without need is not advised with this type of sprays. The goal is to limit exposure to semi to toxic products. When needed and as directed, yes. But to use them just because one thinks it would be proper is not advisable.

As commented by Ladyhawk, running your finger over the area in the same direction that the feather (pin feathers) is a great source of relief for them and also works to continue bond development.
Cool, thanks for the advice. Really helpful.


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Notdumasilook

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Jul 28, 2015
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Blue Fronted Amazon, Cookie..Sun Conure..lil Booger (RIP) Have owned Parakeets, lovebirds, cockatiels, cockatoos, pocket parrot, and quakers.
For some years my BFA Cookie relied on me to assist with pin feathers around his face and head. On purpose I let my thumbnail and little fingernail grow longer than normal.. so I could use them like the beak of another bird. I had to learn the proper touch to do it right. Cookie was very patient with me. Daily he would jump on to my shoulder and bow his head... thoroughly enjoying the preening I gave him. If I hit a tender spot he would growl and pull away.. and I would apologize and we would continue. I got the hang of it pretty well. Of course I have my lil Booger now and he took over preening duties for me. I haven't seen one pin feather on either bird since introducing them to each other a few years ago. Don't be afraid to let your bird teach you how to properly preen the spots he cant reach!
 

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