Really bad itch

Hello everyone,

My little buddy Houston has had a rough time for the last two months. He seems very itchy on the front and back and has been plucking all his feathers out. I've been to the avian vet about 6 times and had blood tests, stool samples, x-rays and a skin biopsy. All the tests have come back negative and I've tried anti inflammatory, anti fungal, anti bacterial, lidocaine cream.....the works (no insects or bites either). There have been no environmental changes, no dietary changes, his sister is just fine and still plays with him when he has the energy. He's also become nearly impossible to give medication to.....he spits it all out, no matter what it tastes like.

Has anyone had a similar issue with a male cockatiel ? He's 5 years old.

Stress? Feather lice?


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He's been tested for lice twice and has absolutely no stressors or recent changes.

Try Aloe water :3

Porter started plucking his back...
Dry environments tend to irritate skin; aloe water baths misting and heck I used to hold the little brat down and smere him with it.

He's better now so it worked xD

Thank you so much, I will try anything at this point. What product did you use?

I buy pure aloe vera juice, hard to find sometimes tho, may look at the health sections of the store you use. Mix it with water and shake in a sprayer and then spray them all over. If your baby isn't used to being sprayed it may scare him, so you can just spray your hands and massage it through.

it might be an allergy, though some pests can be difficult to diagnose if it's a light infestation.

If there has been no changes in diet/environment things I'd look at-possible food allergy, that has gotten worse with time, which is how most allergies work. This would be my last try, and I would get him on a bland diet to start with not more than 2 or 3 ingredients and if it works, start giving new foods one at a time till you find the harmful one. The starting food would be like a basic grain-with a cockatiel millet might be a good choice and a two veggies perhaps and work from there.

First allergy i'd look for is environmental, perhaps it's a seasonal issue. Something coming from outside or even molds inside blooming. I'd would encourage a lot of baths and thoroughly clean his environment. If you don't have one you might get an air cleaner.

Good luck.

Thank you very much, I will give it all a try!