Conure Molting Or Feather Plucking?

Hey, my Conure Kiwi looks like he's feather plucking, but I didn't know if he was feather plucking or not. I went online and did research, it seems like he's just molting and he sometimes will pull some feathers out by accident or that's just part of his preening activities. Anyways, I decided I would hit up the forums to confirm if he is molting or if he is feather plucking.

To give you as much information to work with I'll tell you everything about him with the situation.

He's a 5 month old yellow-sided green cheek conure. He preens a lot and hates being in his cage a lot, but his feathers fall out outside of the cage too. We give him lots of attention when he wants it and leave him alone when he's had enough.

I will give you 5 pictures I took of him so you can observe to see his feathers, also he has little barb looking things sticking out of his head and body which are growing into feathers as I can see. I constantly moniter his behavior everyday aswell.

https://ibb.co/mGKZ7m

https://ibb.co/c9L7Sm

https://ibb.co/fWiSSm

https://ibb.co/gvedYR

https://ibb.co/b3zdYR

Thank you for the time and if the links do not work then I will edit this thread so they do. Have a very birdy day

Honestly.... I don't see any evidence of plucking.... and yes those lil sheaths on his head are the start of new feathers... he just cant reach them. Might give him a lil misting... it will help. Beautiful baby by the way!! Gentle head rubs might help too but be gentle.... those are tender right now.

Notdumasilook said:

Honestly.... I don't see any evidence of plucking.... and yes those lil sheaths on his head are the start of new feathers... he just cant reach them. Might give him a lil misting... it will help. Beautiful baby by the way!! Gentle head rubs might help too but be gentle.... those are tender right now.

Click to expand...

Thank you very much! I do sometimes scratch him on his neck and he LOVES it as I read up that feathers coming in can be very itchy. I have to be careful as sometimes when I scratch him he bites me. He is VERY specific about where I can touch him and where I can't, but anyways, I will try giving him gentle head rubs sometimes to see if he likes it. Thank you for the help!

Have a very birdy day

If he’ll let you, you can very gently rub the pin feathers between your fingers and the sheath will come off. He’ll let you know if you hit a tender spot. This is a great way to promote the bond between you and your bird. He’s very cute, btw!


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Thank you for the information, I will make sure to give him gentle headrubs if that increases the bond. I have very little problems with his biting so I should be fine :red:

Is My Parrot Molting or Feather Plucking?

Any discussion regarding the combination of Molting and Plucking first begins as to where in this huge World you are located... A precise location is not needed, but a region is important.

Understanding that with Adult Parrots, Spring and Fall Molts are common events. The amount (volume) of the Molt is heavily dependent on Weather conditions in your region prior to and during the Molt. The Parrot is either preparing for upcoming Warmer Weather or the upcoming Cooler Weather. Both Molts can be equally extensive and commonly affects all areas of the Body. To understand, which Molt, requires knowledge of which Seasonal adjustment your Parrot is making. Additional Molting occurs though the year as your Parrot is adjusting to small variations in the weather.

General Molting is specific to the feathers of the Body, Neck, Head and upper Legs with Flight Surface Molting limited to the Wing and Tail Feathers. It is also important to understand that Parrot's Molt in a very specific pattern with very specific timing when they Molt Flight Surface Feathers of the Wings and Tail. These specific feathers are Molted in 'sets' balanced between the surfaces. Flight Surface Feathers are Molted year around with two goals in mind: First, that the Parrot is always able to fly and second, that the Flash Display Feathers are at their best prior to Mating Season.

Guessing that you are located in the North, your young Parrot is likely experiencing its first major seasonal adjustment, in addition to the transition to Adult plumage. That Molt is commonly extensive and can look like your Parrot attempting to create a Feather Storm of both body and downy Feathers. This sudden volume of Feathers can cause alarm because of the underlining 'fear' that one's Parrot is Plucking.

Plucking is important to first identify and once identified quickly visit a Certified Avian Vet (CAV) to determine whether if it is medically based. Commonly, Plucking starts with the loss of Feathers in a very specific area, i.e. that area 'quickly' losses 'all' its Body and Downy Feathers. You can 'clearly' see the skin without having to move Feathers.

There is a Medical condition that must be identified very early and hence, the need to quickly visiting your CAV if you see such an area develop. Once a giving time passes, the Plucking becomes behavior and halting it becomes ever more difficult.

Determine the location of your nearest Avian Specialist! Assure that you have their contact information in an easy to locat place. Consider at least an every other year visiting schedule. You may just be faced with an emergency and showing up with little more than a very sick Parrot is not a great place to start from.