I have a three year old umbrella cockatoo. I've had her since the beginning when we had to hand feed her. She is spoiled rotten. Not really vocal at all. Here recently her feathers have been looking weird, and not sure what is wrong or if there is anything wrong. We feed her fruits and vegetables that she can eat and nuts, along with parrot food. Fresh water daily. She's out running around all the time. Any advice would be great. I also spray her down once a week. Attached is a pic. I did give her a good bath earlier.
Need advice.
- Thread starter dee99gt
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Pinkbirdy
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- Feb 26, 2013
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Does she have pin feathers? If not might be over preening. Was their any change in her life recently ?
RainbowRose
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- Aug 6, 2014
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It does appear to be similar to perhaps the after effects of molting. Someone else mentioned pin feathers, which makes sense because birds like to scratch where there is discomfort and/or they want us to pet them there, so it may get ruffled up. Where is this on the bird's body?? (In the photo)
Like Karen asked, when was the last time she was seen by an avian vet? You might want to schedule her for a checkup.....
If you're talking about the curled and separated feathers, they could be indicative of a couple of different things, both of which would need a veterinary diagnosis.....
Good luck.....
If you're talking about the curled and separated feathers, they could be indicative of a couple of different things, both of which would need a veterinary diagnosis.....
Good luck.....
- Thread Starter
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She hasn't had any blood work done for two year when they did it to determine her sex. She's been after that and all has been good. I will schedule a vet appointment and get her in. I stopped by the pet store I got her from and they said she was plucking. So instantly I went into a panic. She's never been around other birds since she was a baby but she's all the time running around with the cats and dogs.... And I mean she's on the floor running around.
The areas are her on her wings and breast area.
The areas are her on her wings and breast area.
Do you have gas or oil heat? Both dry out the air in winter & home humidity should be between 40 & 60% to keep from drying a bird's skin & possibly cause plucking, but unless the people at the pet store saw your bird or different pics than what we saw, I'm not so sure that's what is going on, if anything is going on, but on the pic you posted here, I didn't see any plucking.....
If it is in fact plucking, read up on plucking and its causes.....much will be a process of elimination, so keep track of what you feed, when you feed new things, then you will need to wait several days to a week, maybe two, to see if there is any change.....this won't be a quick fix scenario, so keep good records.....it is good that you're catching this very early, if it is plucking...it'll be much easier to correct.....
Good luck.....
If it is in fact plucking, read up on plucking and its causes.....much will be a process of elimination, so keep track of what you feed, when you feed new things, then you will need to wait several days to a week, maybe two, to see if there is any change.....this won't be a quick fix scenario, so keep good records.....it is good that you're catching this very early, if it is plucking...it'll be much easier to correct.....
Good luck.....
Birdman666
Well-known member
- Sep 18, 2013
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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Plucking and chewing feathers are two different things.
Those look chewed to me... not severe, I've seen worse, but chewed.
Increase bathing when molting... increase "distracting" toys. Rule out some other physiological cause.
Those look chewed to me... not severe, I've seen worse, but chewed.
Increase bathing when molting... increase "distracting" toys. Rule out some other physiological cause.
It looks like she's over-preening them... I also vote for a vet check up with blood tests run to rule out any underlying medical issues- plucking/feather chewing/over-preening is a very complex issue....there are NUMEROUS reasons that could cause it.
I would increase baths- mist her daily and then soaking wet baths once or twice a week (plain water only).
Also, increase shreddable toys- I weave newspaper through my galah's cage bars, she has a roll of paper towels to shred up, cardboard boxes, and she also has a fleece snuggly thing at the top of her boing she likes to "hide" in and preen the fleece. Basically you need to get her attention on preening/shredding other things besides her own feathers.
I would increase baths- mist her daily and then soaking wet baths once or twice a week (plain water only).
Also, increase shreddable toys- I weave newspaper through my galah's cage bars, she has a roll of paper towels to shred up, cardboard boxes, and she also has a fleece snuggly thing at the top of her boing she likes to "hide" in and preen the fleece. Basically you need to get her attention on preening/shredding other things besides her own feathers.
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