My galah has bear spots under her wings

chucka

New member
Jan 13, 2014
44
0
Port Hedland West Australia
Parrots
Lewi - cockatiel
Esme - Galah
Pepper - RTB2
We saved an unwanted galah from a rough home about 7 months ago since coming to live with use we have converted her from seeds to pellets and beans and sweet potato and as many greens as we can trick her into eating:)
She is makeing lots of progress ever day with her training and trusting us :)
I noticed her feathers where a bit light under her wings about a month ago during a shower but when she had a shower tonight it looks really bad and is getting worse!!

All her other feathers look perfect and she isn't a plucker , she seems to rub her head in the same spot like she is itchy.....

We live in a rural town of west Australia and its a 16hour drive to the nearest avian vet .... I have sprayed her twice with a lice spray but I cant see any lice... any advice would be greatly appreciated

Charlie
 
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weco

New member
Nov 24, 2010
3,342
12
USA
Parrots
Nanday, suns, parrotlet, Patagonian
Not trying to be smart about it, but where did you get advice to spray her with lice spray? Do you or have you had a lice problem with any of your birds? What is the average humidity level in your house? Do the discarded feathers look chewed or normal?

Sorry for all the questions, but your pics are too dark for me to see much.....

Off hand, my thoughts are running toward your humidity factor being too dry and, unless the lice spray was prescribed, quit using it.....the suggested humidity level for most birds is around 40%.....too dry & sometimes they lose feathers under their wings.....since I'm on the other side of the world, do you know if galahs are molting right now? If there is a possibility of low humidity, give her more baths/opportunities to bathe & just use plain water.....

Sorry I can't offer something more definitive.....
 

Allee

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2013
16,852
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212
Texas
Parrots
U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
Hi Charlie, I'm sorry Esme is having this problem. I would discontinue use of the lice spray immediately. In the photos the skin looks raw and irritated, the spray is likely to make the condition worse instead of better. I would stick to frequent mists, showers or baths in plain water, according to Esme's preference. Cockatoos are prone to plucking, it could be diet related, due to medical issues you aren't aware of, stress or a number of other issues. Even a vast improvement in a parrot's life can be a traumatic experience. I know it's difficult to find an Avian Veterinarian in a remote area, but I think a thorough vet check and blood panel would be very helpful in Esme's case. Have you checked with all the vet clinics in your area? Some regular vets will agree to examine a bird for you and send the blood to a specialist. Good luck with Esme and please keep us posted.
 

Betrisher

Well-known member
Jun 3, 2013
4,253
177
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Parrots
Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
Esme might not be 'a plucker', but the feathers that are missing are right in the danger zone. It could be she has plucked severely in her former life and now the follicles are dead and the feathers won't grow back. My Dominic is completely bald on his back, under his wings and around his vent. He no longer plucks but is prone to over-grooming and I know those danger areas are irritable to him.

I agree that a daily mist-bath from a squirt bottle set on mist is a good idea (do not set it on jet - you might get unexpected results! LOL!)

Living where you do, I'd bet the problem is the dry atmosphere or possibly a dietary deficiency. You could try dabbing a very, very scant drop of olive oil and massaging the skin with it. Don't use enough to make the skin greasy - all you want to do is take away the dry, flaky sensation and protect against drying out. Of course, keeping the birdie fully occupied with toys and training is key and I guess you already have that under control.

While I realise you don't have a vet near enough to consult with, maybe you could phone one in Perth and ask for remote assistance? Most vets are more than willing to help native animals and your bird certainly qualifies as that! I hope you can find something to relieve your bird's discomfort and please let us know how you get on. Best of luck with it! :)

PS. I just had another thought. Do you feed sunflower seeds or safflower seeds? If not, it might just be worth adding a teaspoonful each day to the diet. While too much of these seeds can be fattening, the oil they provide can help with things like lubricating the skin and keeping feathers pliable.
 
OP
chucka

chucka

New member
Jan 13, 2014
44
0
Port Hedland West Australia
Parrots
Lewi - cockatiel
Esme - Galah
Pepper - RTB2
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Thanx for the replies all.

@ weco we used the lice spray just to make sure she didn't have anything as we didn't know her history, we got the lice spray from a rescue centre who assured us it was safe to use .....
The humidity these days is about 60-90% and the temp is currently 30c rising to 45c in the next two months, I will quit using the spray.
@ Alle and Betrisher I will up her showers and contact the vet in Perth and c what they suggest:) Thanx:)

A bit more info :
When she is dry its about the size id a 50cent piece and it looks like there is one new feather coming through and the rest looks like bare skin ... she seems to rub her head over it not her beak like its itchy...
I give her about 10 sunflower seeds every day when we train and I also a vitamin supplement in her water
She currently weights 270 grams
Thanx again for the help everyone I will contact the vet by phone and report back :)

Cheers Charlie
 

Featheredsamurai

New member
Aug 24, 2011
4,172
19
California
Parrots
African Greg
2 cockatiels
My galah Rosie is also bald on her back, and then her legs and underwings as well. It's filled in a little, but i'm sure the rest of her baldness is follicle damage and will never grow again.

My vet told me plucking the underwings, legs, and back, is a sign of hormonal stress which can literally stop the feathers from growing in those locations. I've given Rosie hormonal medication but the feathers never grew back. Hormonal stress is very bad, and affects more than the feathers. Puts stress on he organs and bones as well.
 

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