Molting

dramanea

New member
Dec 10, 2012
26
0
Parrots
1 Green Cheek Conure
I have a Green Cheek Conure who molted a while ago, and all of his feathers are ship-shape except for his head, which is still covered in pinfeathers because he can't reach them. I've scratched his head a bit, which he likes, but the tubes won't come off. How do I help him with the pinfeathers?
Also, I read that birds molt symmetrically, and they shouldn't have any bald spots. My bird had more pinfeathers on some parts of his head than others - a couple of places appear almost bald just because there's only pinfeathers there. Is that alright, or could something be wrong?
Thanks.
 

SandyBee

New member
Oct 5, 2012
1,455
1
Coquitlam BC, Canada
Parrots
DYH Amazon-Rescue- Bosley (36),
African Brown head-Rescue- August(9)
A picture always helps, but I wouldn't worry if there's pin feathers.
If the casings are ready to come off then a gentle pinch with tour fingernails will break them, if your bird doesn't like that then they aren't ready yet, showers and bathing help soften the sheath.
 

Kalidasa

Active member
May 8, 2013
1,954
Media
1
2
Michigan
Parrots
1 green cheek conure (Kumar)
2 male budgies (Charlie and Diego)
These mounts seem like they take forever :) if he doesn't like his head scratched he will be able to break them himself by rubbing his head against surfaces. Often some areas on the head will look thin if they're wet or the feathers are moved a certain way, but as sandybee stated, as long as you see pins all is well.
 
Last edited:

MonicaMc

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2012
7,960
Media
2
43
Parrots
Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
Birds that go through a hard molt can have a bald spot. I used to have one budgie that would get a bald spot right above his cere. Then all of a sudden, the spot would be covered with tiny little pins! Once they grew out, he looked normal again!

I've been watching the flights on Jayde's wing molt and they haven't been molting symmetrically! It looks like she has been, but it was more like she lost 6, 8 and 9 on one side and the other looks like 7, 9 and 10. Not quite symmetrical.


Baths can help.
 

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