Paprika’s first molt

Alembic772 · Jan 13, 2021

Paprika is going full swing into her first molt and is losing a lot of feathers. It’s very different then Basil, my male, who never really looks deshoveled even in the middle of his molt. She has some patchiness to her molt and I am probably being an over cautious dad because it’s worrying me at times.

I’ve checked her pin feathers and those that have opened do not show any signs of stress bars. She is on a mostly fresh diet other, with getting tops pellets if I cannot be home for a feeding switch (morning / nighttime fresh food) and an occasional nutriberries for a treat.

Her tail looks very ratty too but always has.

I’ll try to take pictures later as she took a shower this afternoon and she is still a little damp.

I’m probably just worried for nothing.

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Alembic772 · Jan 13, 2021

See how just above the bib line she has those dark spots where the base of the lower feathers are showing? Am I just being too protective of a dad?

She’s turned seven months on January 10. She doesn’t talk yet but jibber jabbers nonstop and I believe she is starting to make some sounds that sound like phrases like “Hello Paprika” and “I love you”.

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noodles123 · Jan 13, 2021

Alembic772 said:
See how just above the bib line she has those dark spots where the base of the lower feathers are showing? Am I just being too protective of a dad?

She’s turned seven months on January 10. She doesn’t talk yet but jibber jabbers nonstop and I believe she is starting to make some sounds that sound like phrases like “Hello Paprika” and “I love you”.

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I AM NOOOOT an ekkie expert at all--- never owned one, but when my cockatoos feathers look like that it is usually because she is over-preening them. It could be totally different in these guys because they are so sensitive to diet compared to other species--- so do wait for others to chime in. The two points are directly near where she could comfortably chew on either side, or at least that's what it looked like in the picture...Then again, ekkies are unique, and parrots in general are tricky, so, hang in there and I hope others will confirm or deny what I have guessed.

SailBoat · Jan 13, 2021

Young Parrots and pretty tail feathers rarely occur in the same sentence.

The combination of turning in the cage and side bars tend to work together in providing ratty tail feathers.

Molting or over-preening feather look much alike when first starting. Search for the feathers that have come out /been removed. Commonly, a molted feather will appear much like the same feather still on the Parrot. A chewed feather is a good indicator of over-preening.

As stated above, with ekkie's, its DIET, Diet, diet and assure that your's is getting a very healthy diet is critical. Dig deep in the Ekkie Sub-forum for discussion about their diet is well worth your time and effort.

Alembic772 · Jan 13, 2021

SailBoat said:
Young Parrots and pretty tail feathers rarely occur in the same sentence. The combination of turning in the cage and side bars tend to work together in providing ratty tail feathers.

Molting or over-preening feather look much alike when first starting. Search for the feathers that have come out /been removed. Commonly, a molted feather will appear much like the same feather still on the Parrot. A chewed feather is a good indicator of over-preening.

As stated above, with ekkie's, its DIET, Diet, diet and assure that your's is getting a very healthy diet is critical. Dig deep in the Ekkie Sub-forum for discussion about their diet is well worth your time and effort.

The feathers that are coming out are intact and do not look chewed or over preened. I literally have a bag of them that I was keeping since this is her first molt. Her tail has been ratty since she was little because she likes to fly to and land on the blinds and usually gets her tail all smushed in.

None of the feathers that I have found look like any signs of self destruction. The new pin feathers look like they are opening normally. She’s not chewing them either. They just seem to be in big clumps causing the “dark spots” in the photos because you can see the darker base of the feathers since the pin feathers haven’t filled out.

Her diet is all fresh chop with beans, veggies, fruits, and nuts. She is my second eclectus, as my male recently turned 23 years old. Her diet is much better then his and I am trying to get his stubborn butt to eat more fresh stuff.

Again I will go back and reread all the stuff. I can post pictures of the feathers coming out if that helps.

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Alembic772 · Jan 13, 2021

Here are photos of feathers. First pic are ones I just pulled out of bottom of cage. Second are ones I am saving in a bag for future. I am sentimental like that.

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noodles123 · Jan 13, 2021

Alembic772 said:
SailBoat said:

Young Parrots and pretty tail feathers rarely occur in the same sentence. The combination of turning in the cage and side bars tend to work together in providing ratty tail feathers.

Molting or over-preening feather look much alike when first starting. Search for the feathers that have come out /been removed. Commonly, a molted feather will appear much like the same feather still on the Parrot. A chewed feather is a good indicator of over-preening.

As stated above, with ekkie's, its DIET, Diet, diet and assure that your's is getting a very healthy diet is critical. Dig deep in the Ekkie Sub-forum for discussion about their diet is well worth your time and effort.

Click to expand...

The feathers that are coming out are intact and do not look chewed or over preened. I literally have a bag of them that I was keeping since this is her first molt. Her tail has been ratty since she was little because she likes to fly to and land on the blinds and usually gets her tail all smushed in.

None of the feathers that I have found look like any signs of self destruction. The new pin feathers look like they are opening normally. She’s not chewing them either. They just seem to be in big clumps causing the “dark spots” in the photos because you can see the darker base of the feathers since the pin feathers haven’t filled out.

Her diet is all fresh chop with beans, veggies, fruits, and nuts. She is my second eclectus, as my male recently turned 23 years old. Her diet is much better then his and I am trying to get his stubborn butt to eat more fresh stuff.

Again I will go back and reread all the stuff. I can post pictures of the feathers coming out if that helps.

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EDIT-- I think sailboat is probably right- see below especially if all feathers (away from beak reach) have a the same texture on the ends--although tails etc will vary due to birds being birds. Still , I have never owned an ekkie.

SailBoat · Jan 13, 2021

The molted feathers look great!

The dark areas are likely the under feathers which are normally a mid-to-darker gray color and will look like dark spots when exposed.

chris-md · Jan 13, 2021

It’s hard to see the base of the molted feathers, but they don’t look intact - though these body feathers arent always deeply rooted. But you know what a molt looks like so I’ll take your word that the feathers are normal.

She’s right at the age for her first molt, so it’s great news that it’s happening! You’ve got her on the right diet for a molt (slightly upped plant proteins and calcium). You’re doing great

saxguy64 · Jan 13, 2021

My guy started a pretty big molt about a week or so ago. Have to say, where my first Ekkie was a life long plucker, I always panic a little, even though I know it's just a normal molt. Maybe it's just Ekkies, but always interesting how one wispy little feather can cover so much, or look bare when it's not there. I think she looks great for a baby in mid-molt. That too shall pass.

BTW, I save feathers sometimes too, the big pretty ones. I put them in a skinny vase like a bouquet. It's beautiful and I get lots of comments about how unique it is

Alembic772 · Jan 13, 2021

I will try to get some close ups tomorrow. She wanted to go to sleep now and I don’t wanna keep bugging her.

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Ellie777Australia · Jan 13, 2021

It looks like a 'healthy' molt from pics. Their skin can get a bit 'itchy' during this time. I usually mist my babes with pure Aloe Vera spray or a weakened calendula/camomile tea spray to help soothe the itch. You can also give her a weak camomile tea to sip.

SailBoat · Jan 13, 2021

IMHO, with Amazons, I tend to stay with pure water mist. If one uses other products, understand that they can build-up and a good pure water bath is important to remove any build-up.

Alembic772 · Jan 14, 2021

Ellie777Australia said:
It looks like a 'healthy' molt from pics. Their skin can get a bit 'itchy' during this time. I usually mist my babes with pure Aloe Vera spray or a weakened calendula/camomile tea spray to help soothe the itch. You can also give her a weak camomile tea to sip.

She loves to jump on me when I am in the shower. I can’t take a picture of what she does so I will try to explain it. She stands on the door frame of the shower while I am in there, Basil usually is on the other side too. She will then get excited and make a calling sound. She then jumps onto my head. Then she reaches down and “bites” my forehead to indicate she wants my hand to step up on. She steps up when I give my hand to her, but then she dives against my chest while the shower is streaming. She will stretch her wings out across my chest and just lay there and coo.

She will not go in the shower by herself, which is how Basil prefers it. She only will do this with someone in the shower.

I checked her skin this morning and she seems nice and pink underneath the feathers. It’s still very humid here in Florida, but will keep an eye on it to see if she gets dryness.

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Alembic772 · Jan 14, 2021

chris-md said:
It’s hard to see the base of the molted feathers, but they don’t look intact - though these body feathers arent always deeply rooted. But you know what a molt looks like so I’ll take your word that the feathers are normal.

She’s right at the age for her first molt, so it’s great news that it’s happening! You’ve got her on the right diet for a molt (slightly upped plant proteins and calcium). You’re doing great

The base (follicle / quill) is intact on all the feathers. I just didn’t get a good angle on them. None of them are chewed in any way that I can tell.

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Ellie777Australia · Jan 14, 2021

Alembic772 said:
Ellie777Australia said:

It looks like a 'healthy' molt from pics. Their skin can get a bit 'itchy' during this time. I usually mist my babes with pure Aloe Vera spray or a weakened calendula/camomile tea spray to help soothe the itch. You can also give her a weak camomile tea to sip.

Click to expand...

She loves to jump on me when I am in the shower. I can’t take a picture of what she does so I will try to explain it. She stands on the door frame of the shower while I am in there, Basil usually is on the other side too. She will then get excited and make a calling sound. She then jumps onto my head. Then she reaches down and “bites” my forehead to indicate she wants my hand to step up on. She steps up when I give my hand to her, but then she dives against my chest while the shower is streaming. She will stretch her wings out across my chest and just lay there and coo.

She will not go in the shower by herself, which is how Basil prefers it. She only will do this with someone in the shower.

I checked her skin this morning and she seems nice and pink underneath the feathers. It’s still very humid here in Florida, but will keep an eye on it to see if she gets dryness.

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It sure sounds like Paprika loves the shower

. Glad to hear that her skin is nice and pink.

Alembic772 · Jan 18, 2021

I think I must just be paranoid. If you look at these pictures from her bath today she has tons of new pin feathers.

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saxguy64 · Jan 18, 2021

Hehehehe, she's a papricupine!

cneuhauser · Feb 1, 2021

saxguy64 said:
My guy started a pretty big molt about a week or so ago. Have to say, where my first Ekkie was a life long plucker, I always panic a little, even though I know it's just a normal molt. Maybe it's just Ekkies, but always interesting how one wispy little feather can cover so much, or look bare when it's not there. I think she looks great for a baby in mid-molt. That too shall pass.

BTW, I save feathers sometimes too, the big pretty ones. I put them in a skinny vase like a bouquet. It's beautiful and I get lots of comments about how unique it is

Actually those feathers look pretty good... also... aren't we all sentimental, I've kept my Ekkie's first big feather and taped it inside his birdie journal. I've kept a journal since I brought him home and weigh him regularly as well as keep track of his mood swings.

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