Possible Feather Chewing?? I'm really not sure...

Hi guys! I've had my Green Cheeked Conure, Olive, since October. She just turned one year old the 21st!! She's molting right now, as far as I can tell. I took her to the vet, maybe a month ago, to get a general birdie checkup. They did a weight, a fecal sample, a general look over. Everything is in tip top shape! But the one thing my vet pointed out to me is that Olive's shoulder feathers are slightly chewed. I had never noticed it, which leads me to believe she came into my household that way. Now, when I got her, I know for a fact her poor little tail feathers were really torn up, but I attributed that to the fact that she was kept in PetSmart conditions, and basically on the floor all the time. Since then, she's lost and re-grown pretty much all of her tail feathers, and they'd start off nice, but the ends are slightly frayed again. I'm not sure if tail feather fraying is normal?? As for her shoulders, I have never once seen her chew them, but grey down is poking through in a place or two. I assume that means it's getting worse, because I really hope I would have noticed that before.

Honestly I'm pretty distraught and also kind of freaking out. I feel like I'm a bad bird mommy :c

As a side note- her flight feathers are growing in (she's on to her fourth for each wing now!) and I have to decide what to do about that. My vet and I believe she never had a chance to learn to fly, since she has balance issues and falls in her cage a bit. I'm not ready to have her fully flighted, I don't think (I'd like to get her used to a Flight Suit - opinions?), but I also want her to regain her balance. Any ideas what I should do here? I mean, she totally has enough feathers to fly right now, and she's not going anywhere.

Don't feel like a bad mommy, you've only had your little one since October, it sounds like she had the problem when she arrived. You've already taken her for a vet visit, that's a good start.

Sometimes young birds aren't extremely adept at preening and get a little carried away, especially when they are molting. Since your vet mentioned the wings, there's probably reason to watch the situation closely, but I wouldn't freak out yet.

Can you post photos? What is her diet like? Frequent baths are usually appreciated when birds are having feather issues.

Even when clipped you can do flight recall training from short distances. Start having her walk between two very close perches then gradually increase the distance until she has to flap her wings to get across. That might help her with her balance issues if she never had the chance to fledge.

Allee said:

Don't feel like a bad mommy, you've only had your little one since October, it sounds like she had the problem when she arrived. You've already taken her for a vet visit, that's a good start.

Sometimes young birds aren't extremely adept at preening and get a little carried away, especially when they are molting. Since your vet mentioned the wings, there's probably reason to watch the situation closely, but I wouldn't freak out yet.

Can you post photos? What is her diet like? Frequent baths are usually appreciated when birds are having feather issues.

Click to expand...

She eats Zupreem Naturals! I've ordered her a big bowl to hook on the side of her cage that she can bathe in, but currently she only bathes in her drinking water bowl. Which I changed out recently (since I ordered new bowls...) and I haven't seen her bathe in it. Maybe I'll put her old one back. It's plastic though :c I've gotten her out and offered her different kinds of dishes to bathe in. Shallow, deeper, plastic, metal. She doesn't like any of them o.o I've tried misting her while she's flapping around in her water dish. She got really upset at me!! I don't really blame her though, haha. It might take a little while for the baths to become a thing she really likes. Any advice on that?

I'll post pictures when I get home from work!!

Puck said:

Even when clipped you can do flight recall training from short distances. Start having her walk between two very close perches then gradually increase the distance until she has to flap her wings to get across. That might help her with her balance issues if she never had the chance to fledge.

Click to expand...

That sounds awesome. Right now she has about four feathers on each wing, with another growing in. Should I clip these (modestly, not toooooo much) so she doesn't get overly ambitious? I don't want any major crashes :/ I'm going to call the vet tomorrow and see what they recommend as far as clipping for now. Basically, I want to help her learn her balance and stuff, but until she and I are both more ready (better apartment and roommates, for one) I don't think she needs to be fully flighted.

I say go with your gut. I am not a fan of clipping, but neither do I believe that everyone MUST have free flighted birds. If you don't feel ready for it then don't do it because you need to be confident enough in the security and bird safing of your living environment to keep it safe. However, it sounds like your baby has its flight feathers back now, and since it never fledged properly and doesn't seem gung-ho to fly on its own, you might try the two stands thing. Most birds are simply going to fly from you to their play stands to their cage--other places get boring fast when there no toys or treats there and they head back to areas where there are fun things to do and food to eat. If you cut her freshly grown feathers now it will be quite awhile Til they come in again and so it is a long term commitment and I am glad you are taking time to look at pros and cons.

My personal opinion? Older birds can learn to fly safely and like letting our sixteen year old kids drive the car, sometimes you just need to trust and pray that everything turns out well--and it probably will, even if there are a few hitches along the way. Just makes sure your fid understands what windows are and you start it in a big room making easy flights back and forth for food rewards. I personally see no reason to clip. But that's what I would do. I am not in your situation right now, and you should do what you and your vet feel is best for you and your bird at this time. It's a long term decision, but if you change your mind they WILL grow in again someday so it's not life changing!

Oh dont worry just yet! But I know exactly where you are! Lilo started plucking after 2 years! Like patches of feathers missing to where it was just fuzzy down! I was scared! But it may just be from being at Petco. Also have you changed her routine lately? Maybe the air is dry? You could try giving her more warm baths. With Lilo, i would give her more attention and tell her how amazing she is! So good luck!

Here are some pictures of her and her feather condition!!

Thanks for all the info and advice, Puck!! I'll take it all into consideration when I decide whether to clip or not

And thanks to you too, Kq_Fan!! It makes me feel better to know others have been here and come through it just fine!! Olive doesn't really like baths (unless they're in her water bowl... of course, not the one I set out for baths, but the one I set out for drinking. Whatever, haha.). I've tried different kinds of bowls and spraying her as she's flapping around in her bowl. I dunno what else to try. Ideas?

Peep doesn't like baths except in his water dish (silly bird...he always bathes right after I've cleaned the cage!!). His feathers were a bit messy too after I first got him but after a good diet, baths, love, molting and time he looks amazing! I'm sure Olive's feathers will turn out amazing soon too! You sound like an amazing bird mama!

LeaKP said:

Peep doesn't like baths except in his water dish (silly bird...he always bathes right after I've cleaned the cage!!). His feathers were a bit messy too after I first got him but after a good diet, baths, love, molting and time he looks amazing! I'm sure Olive's feathers will turn out amazing soon too! You sound like an amazing bird mama!

Click to expand...

Aww, thank you!! You're so sweet. I've got Olive on a good diet (ZuPreem Naturals. Good, right? Thinking of switching to Harrison's. Opinions on diet?) She's working on molting now, and she's never lacking love from me!! Hopefully her feathers will get better soon Thanks!