slight concern

Owlet

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Oct 27, 2016
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Lincoln (Eclectus), Apollo (Cockatiel), Aster (GCC)
So, awhile back I noticed Apollo had lost two of his flight feathers, they were clipped and have since grown back which I was happy about because I want to keep him flighted. I assumed them falling out was due to him still being very clumsy and didn't get around his cage very easily then. But more recently I've noticed a lot more smaller, contour feathers and downy feathers scattered about. He was born October 13th so he would be about 4 almost 5 months old now. From my understanding that is way too young to be having his first molt... correct?

Maybe he just doesn't get how to groom properly yet and is being a tad too rough? Is that relatively common in young babies? Could it be something else? This is my first time raising a bird from such a young age so I don't really know what the norm is for babies ;A;
 

Laurasea

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Aug 2, 2018
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Neptune molted at that age. I got him at seven weeks on June 23, he molted in the fall when all the other birds did. But not all have his cut flight feathers have been replaced yet.. he seems to do them one at a time
He had every single feather on his wings cut !!!! Ugh!!!!! But enough have been replaced that he can fly very well.
 

Laurasea

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Owlet, I have freaked myself out now. Because Neptune hasn't replaced his flight feathers! So I'm going to start my own post so as not to take over yours, ok?
 

EllenD

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Aug 20, 2016
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Senegal Parrot named "Kane"; Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure named "Bowie"; Blue Quaker Parrot named "Lita Ford"; Cockatiel named "Duff"; 8 American/English Budgie Hybrids; Ringneck Dove named "Dylan"
I'd say that as long as Apollo is replacing the feathers he's losing, then it sounds like he's just starting his first molt. It's not uncommon for them to start molting at that age, with some birds they go through their first big molt long before puberty. As long as you can tell that his feathers are growing back-in, then I'd say it's perfectly normal...

As far as Neptune not growing his flight feathers back in that were "cut", do you mean that the flight-feathers that were clipped have fallen out and just not grown back-in yet, or have they not even fallen out yet? Because if he was clipped that long ago and the clipped feathers haven't fallen-out yet and nothing has started growing back in, then it may be that you need to take him to your CAV to have them pulled-out, which will prompt his new flight-feathers to start growing back-in immediately in most cases...
 
OP
Owlet

Owlet

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Lincoln (Eclectus), Apollo (Cockatiel), Aster (GCC)
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Found some pin feathers on the boy today, definitely a molt D: baby is growing up too fast!
 
OP
Owlet

Owlet

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Oct 27, 2016
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Lincoln (Eclectus), Apollo (Cockatiel), Aster (GCC)
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They've been doing alright. I don't let them freely interact, even under supervision though. Only time they're near each other is when they're on my hands. I'm not willing to risk anything though both have seemed indifferent to each other's existence.
 

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