Is this plucking or molting ?

Boysmom · Jun 4, 2012

I got a female Eclectus 2 months ago, she is around a year old. She has adapted well and loves to play with the whole family. Saturday when I uncovered her cage, there were about 10 feathers in the bottom. Sunday morning there were a few more, and she lost about 10 during the day. She doesnt seem upset about anything, so is this just molting ? I just love her so much, and want to know if this is bad or not. :red1:

stephend · Jun 4, 2012

When looking at her, does she seem to be missing feathers?
If she does appear to have missing feathers that is a sign of feathers being lost due to reasons other than molting. It could be stress or another cause rather than plucking.
And does she have pin feathers, especially around the neck and head?
This would be a good sign that she is molting.

Oedipussrex · Jun 4, 2012

My baby is a picker, and sometimes it can be hard to tell until they start to go bald, especially if they do it while youre not there

you should try and catch her while she is actually preening and observe what she is doing. they are supposed to run their feather relatively smoothly through their beak, and repeat if they dont think the feather is appropriately groomed.

Watch for any chewing as she moves along the feather or if she pauses halfway along the feather, and especially if she actively pulls on them as she reaches the end of the feather.

(giving them showers is supposed to encourage proper grooming behaviour as they try and dry themselves)

Although it does sound like she is at the right age to go through one of her first big moults

Boysmom · Jun 4, 2012

When she is dry, missing feathers not visible, when wet from a shower, yes you can visibly notice. She showers several times a week. After some research I believe she may have Candidas. She has had an odd odor since she has lived with us. We thought it was due to a seed only diet, which we changed immediatly. She had dark spots on her feathers, and I hoped a better diet would remedy this. I havent experienced a parrots molting yet, so thats the reason I question. After her shower today, she lost 10 more feathers within an hour or so.

HalfInsane · Jun 4, 2012

I'd start with a vet check to rule out a medical condition. It may be molting but since you don't know better safe than sorry. And the dark spots are probably what are called 'stress-bars'; they don't truly go away, but rather are molted out. Feathers are like hair; they're dead. They cannot change if they are already damaged or discoloured, just eventually fall out to be replaced.

Oedipussrex · Jun 5, 2012

I agree that you should probably take her to a vet. From the sounds of it she is losing feathers a bit too quickly for just a normal moult, especially if there are bald spots. :/

Boysmom · Jun 5, 2012

Thanks for all the wonderful advice. I am scheduling Ruby a vet visit today and will let you all know what I learn. I also realised last night that in the last week since my boys have been out of school, they are not uncovering her until 10 Am. where as I always awakened her at 8 Am when I left for work. Maybe she's upset about the extra dark time.

MollyGreenCheeks · Jun 5, 2012

Boysmom said:
When she is dry, missing feathers not visible, when wet from a shower, yes you can visibly notice. She showers several times a week. After some research I believe she may have Candidas. She has had an odd odor since she has lived with us. We thought it was due to a seed only diet, which we changed immediatly. She had dark spots on her feathers, and I hoped a better diet would remedy this. I havent experienced a parrots molting yet, so thats the reason I question. After her shower today, she lost 10 more feathers within an hour or so.

All birds look as if they are missing major amounts of feathers when they are really wet from a bath. Yes I agree that a avian vet visit is a good call especially if you have not been in a while. Take a look at this. This bird is wet and at looks like some spots are bare but at the same time you can see the pin feathers. They look like tiny straws. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...hXOT8_eLeWg2AWBs7DFDA&ved=0CH4Q9QEwCQ&dur=550

Boysmom · Jun 5, 2012

Thank you so much mollygreencheeks, that is an excellent photo of pin feathers. Yes I know when she is wet she always looks a little poorly, but now it seems like big patches are bare when shes wet . I will check today for pin feathers, as yesterday I was just freaked out by all the bare skin I saw. Under the wings was the worse. Vet to visit Ruby on Friday, as my avian vet only makes house calls. Now i think it may be just molting but im really worried about the odd odor. We thought it was from her previous living enviroment, but after 2 1/2 months it hasnt gone away. It doesnt smell bad, just odd. will try today to see if odor is from breath or body.

solobaby · Jun 5, 2012

let us know how things go with the vet

MollyGreenCheeks · Jun 5, 2012

Boysmom said:
Thank you so much mollygreencheeks, that is an excellent photo of pin feathers. Yes I know when she is wet she always looks a little poorly, but now it seems like big patches are bare when shes wet . I will check today for pin feathers, as yesterday I was just freaked out by all the bare skin I saw. Under the wings was the worse. Vet to visit Ruby on Friday, as my avian vet only makes house calls. Now i think it may be just molting but im really worried about the odd odor. We thought it was from her previous living enviroment, but after 2 1/2 months it hasnt gone away. It doesnt smell bad, just odd. will try today to see if odor is from breath or body.

When a bird is wet, the part under the wing will appear to be very thinned out of feathers. Also, be aware that there is a bare area on a parrots chest that does not have feather growth at all. There are feathers along the left and right side grown toward each other to cover up the bare spot. I cannot recall exactly but I think it is near the chest bone. As for the odor, GCC's have a very distinct smell. Some owners like it and some despise it. Make sure it is not the breath. If the breath smells sour, you have health problems. I dont recall the specifics, I just remember reading about it.

MollyGreenCheeks · Jun 5, 2012

"Most Eclectus owners say their birds odours is either sweet like honey or a musky smell. But the odour that you smell can also have a lot to do with your own sense of smell as well as what they have eaten. If your Eclectus has eaten a peace of fruit, they're likely to smell more sweet. More seed pellets offered & they can have a more musky smell."

Parrots Forum - Eclectus - General Information

Boysmom · Jun 6, 2012

The smell is definately Ruby's breath, and it is not pleasant. Yesterday i smelled her body well and then her breath. Ruby was not in the mood to allow me to check under her wings for pin feathers. She wanted to play instead. She has had this smell since she came to live with us. Now I am really kicking myself for not vetting her sooner. She seems healthy, good appetite, playful and very talkative. No feathers lost yesterday. I will be sure to update after the vet visits. Maybe I need to volunteer at a parrot rescue to educate myself much more than books and internet can provide.

MollyGreenCheeks · Jun 9, 2012

Just checking in to see how things are going!? Any change in the last couple of days? I had lost track of this thread but felt it was important to find my way back.

Boysmom · Jun 9, 2012

Vet visit went great ! She said Ruby was the best behaved Ekkie she has treated. It was molting, but she did 2 cultures from the crop to check for fungal or bacterial infection, due to the funky smell. Vet said Ruby was definately brewing some "moonshine" of some sort in the crop. Culture results expected within next 2 weeks, so I will let everyone know what comes of them.
Thanks Greencheeks for checking up on my baby girl !

Is this plucking or molting ?

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