Honey has had only one shower since he came to us (he came in january) and that is because it was really cold out here and since he did not have all feathers (head was bald), I thought it’d be best to wait for warmer weather.

The weather cleared up a lot and it is sunny so my Mom and I gave Max and Honey a shower. However, I noticed few red / baldish spots on his body, particularly on top of both his wings and under body area during the shower. These spots aren’t visible when he’s dry and this is the first time I’m noticing them. Ofcourse, Max doesn’t have these.

So does that mean he’s very young and that all his feathers still haven’t come in? The couple who gave Honey to me said that he was approx 3 - 4 months in january. Or is this not normal?

I’m a paranoid mom.
They’re not visible much in the photos but they’re definately there.
Any advice is appreciated.

It looks to me as though your little friend is doing some plucking.
In addition to the bald spot you noticed I see redness at the edge of the outer wing (in the first photo).
My Pinky is a plucker and that is one of the areas she picks at.


Everyone will probably tell you to have her checked out at a Certified avian vet.

I won't say it's bad idea but I have taken Pinky in several times and she is still plucking and I got no real answers.

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cockatiel family :
Lucky (M pied)
Baby (M pied)
Pinky (F lutino)
Sunny mother (cinnamon)
Cheeky father (whitface)
Angel (eldest lutino F)
Mango (middle pearl F)
Popeye (male grey M)

The 'bald elbows' are normal afaik, every thouroughly soaked bird I have ever met has those
(and yes, once the down on the backside is soaked you will start to see skin. )


I do not know tiels well enough to say anything about the bald head-spot, but I think I read somewhere they are something that this crops up in breeding as well (just like the red eyes and white feathers).

My Male Cockatiel Wylie had the same issue when he was younger before his first major molt. Took him in to vet as wanted to get him check out as he had previous crop infection when I first got him. He check out good.

So could be normal as now bald spot on head is no longer their since major molt months ago. Of course your was soaked in picture, so is very normal to see skin on backside.

I don’t think he’s plucking, I would know. I examine both my birds each morning after I let them out. I’m hoping its just a spot growing in...

He doesn’t have them anymore, then?
Vet visit was couple of weeks ago and He was given a clean bill of health.
Maybe I’m being too paranoid.....Hopefully, it’ll go away after his first molt.

Honey is really cute!!! I would wait a bit til her first major molt before you use the "P" word.
Also, if you are not finding plucked or chewed off feathers in her cage......well she cn't be eating the whole feather right. New Mom jitters are easy to instill. Deep cleansing breath, and wait a bit.

Tjhat is my opinion, and sorry I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night. Good Luck.

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The bird is young to be plucking.
It just resembles the look of Pinky my Tiel that plucks.
Late on I will try to upload a pic of her so you can see what I mean.
Another thing tat it could be is that the Tiel parents were pulling feathers off the chick.
My cockatiel pair did this to there babies and I had to separate them to protect the chicks.
I hope it works out, you have a beautiful little bird there.

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cockatiel family :
Lucky (M pied)
Baby (M pied)
Pinky (F lutino)
Sunny mother (cinnamon)
Cheeky father (whitface)
Angel (eldest lutino F)
Mango (middle pearl F)
Popeye (male grey M)

Honey appears fine to me. They will have bald spots where the wing articulates it's easy to see when wet. I honestly don't see anything out there for the ordinary on a wet tiel. Usually bald spots on Jazz's head go away.

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https://www.chewy.com/petcentral/top...stions-answers

Quote,"2. My pet cockatiel has a bald spot on the back of his head behind his crest; is this normal?
Many pet cockatiels — especially the color and pattern mutation cockatiels such as lutino, albino, fallow, cinnamon, pearl and pied, to name some – have an area behind the crest devoid of feathers."

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..David..