2 Sun Conures Picking Feathers

fluidimagery · Jan 21, 2011

We're new to birds and we purchased 2 Sun Conures about 2 months ago. They're about 7 months old and we live in the North East if that has anything to do with this.

Both birds are picking feathers. One is picking from behind it's neck and the other is picking or scratching feathers from it's breast and top of it's wing. I can't visually see anything on their skin but I'm not sure what to look for. Is it molting?

Outside of the picking they're acting normal.

Von1983 · Jan 22, 2011

If the birds are molting, you will see white pins in their place. These are sheaths that hold the new feathers. Being specific areas though, I am doubting this.....

I would advise you take them to an avain vet for a check to ensure there is nothing medically wrong. Otherwise plucking feathers is usually due to stress or boredom. Other factors can be irritation due to something like an air freshener. perfume....etc.

Being as there are two of them doing this I would suggest the vet though!

Let us know how you go

Ladyeclectic · Jan 24, 2011

At seven months old they're going through, or have gone through, their first molt or mini-molt. My 6 month old Sun is looking pretty shaggy right now especially around her breast, and little pin feathers are sticking out everywhere. Our Green-cheek when we got her at 6 months seemed to have done her molting but was full of pin feathers that needed the sheaths removed. It's a nice bonding activity to groom them too, which is a perk. Just be careful to be gentle and if the feather is still smaller than those around it leave the sheath alone for the time being as it's probably still growing.

mishykinz · Jan 24, 2011

If they are in the same cage, they might be picking at each other. The pet store I work at has a pair of suns for sale, and as babies their feathers were always really raggedy because they would always play rough with each other. Even their tail feathers were beat up, even though they had an ENORMOUS cage, just from playing too much.

fluidimagery · Jan 24, 2011

We went back to the pet store we purchased them and she thought they were molting as well. I can feel pins now if I gently rub the bare spot.

Thanks for the help.

2 Sun Conures Picking Feathers

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