Deformed Feather - is this PBFD?

Hi all,

Thank you for allowing me to join your community.
I have had conures for 6 years. In June we added a blue throated hen to our flock. She was around 16 weeks old when we got her and appeared to have no health concerns. Over time she has bonded well with my 5 year old blue throated conure.

About 3 months ago she developed a rather odd looking flight feather - which was yellow instead of blue and stunted. It fell out on its own yesterday - see attached photo below... I was not sure how to ad the photo so I attached this link of the photo in my album. I hope that is okay?



She has no other discernible health issues and the rest of her feather formation appears to be normal.

Tomorrow is a public holiday so Wednesday is the earliest I can get in to see our Avian vet. We live 2 hours from our vet. I am worried this looks like PBFD... does anyone have any similar feather development stories where PBFD was not the prognosis? I am worried and stressed out but I won’t have an answer for a few days any words of wisdom or encouragement to get me through my panic until we can see the vet?

Thank you

Welcome to the Forums Jpenny_m, although I am sorry that it is under these worrying circumstances.

Unfortunately (or fortunately!) I am not familiar with PBFD, but I certainly think you are wise to be concerned - it's just lousy timing you can't get to the vet sooner due to the public holiday, ain't it always the way! One malformed feather does not mean PBFD so hopefully it's just a problematic follicle and nothing more. Growing all those feathers takes a lot of energy, nutrients and biological resources, so it's perhaps not unexpected that one or two may misfire along the way, or it may be symptomatic of something else entirely, but I am not a medical expert and am in no position to comment diagnostically.

Hopefully some more of our membership will weigh in with their viewpoints in the meantime. I wish you a successful visit to the vet and will keep my fingers crossed for her blood tests to come back negative, keep us updated won't you?!

Thanks for the reply LaManuka! I have spent the entire day reading through threads and trawling the internet... there are not a lot of possibilities and no photos that even come close to being similar to this odd feather.

I am hoping it’s as you say - deformed during a time of rapid growth and her first major molt.

Issues with feathers can be PBFD. It can as noted above be a deformed feather, that are rare, but do happen from time to time.

The feather is not a primary (outer wing feather), but more likely a secondary /inner wing feather based on the feather's shape (side to side). The lack of any blood at the root of the feather would indicate that the body has rejected the feather.

FYI: Place the feather in a ziplock bag and place in the refrigerator (not the freezer) and take with you to your Avian Medical Professional. Limit your handling of the feather.

Welcome to Parrotforum!

Heading to the vet soon... nervous :-(

good luck with your feather kids.
I'm unsure what to make of the feather , and hope it is just a one time thing!

Seriously no worse feeling in the world than worrying about a potentially sick birdie, i'm so sorry you're going through this. Wishing you the very best of luck for a negative result!

It's hard to make light of a feather. But one backfire does not a situation make. Just keep an eye out.

I didn't read all of this-- the answer is, it could be, but isn't necessarily. That can happen to parrots' feathers for a variety of reasons (but I wouldn't say it's super normal/typical--especially if it keeps happening). That having been said, a feather like that happened 2x on Noodles and the first time, I was worried (like you) and asked vet- wasn't until the second time that I was even more freaked out b/c she suggested testing independently of me. Noodles didn't have it (based on the blood test that we did at the time--it's a special, separate blood test). That having been said, it can lead to feathers like this Even a healthy bird with no symptoms can spread and be carrying it, so when you see feather abnormalities, it is important to look into them--especially if you own more than one bird, or plan to own others in the future. It's probably just a damaged follicle or something, but no way to know without testing. While PBFD tests can create false negatives in ASYMPTOMATIC birds, it's likely that yours would test positive IF this was a symptom of PBFD (as it would no longer be asymptomatic if mutating feathers etc).


You need to get your bird tested either way, and not using the feather test-- get an actual PBFD blood test if you are able. If your bird has it, assume all of your others COULD be carrying it or infected as well (even if they seem fine). At the same time, don't throw caution to the wind between handling them/washing up etc--- they may have been exposed, but if some have not been exposed, you don't want to amplify the odds by reducing precautions between birds.

Hi all, thanks for all your replies.
We just got back - 5 hours all up for return trip and vet visit!
So bloods were taken for biochemistry (check liver and kidneys etc) as well as for PBFD. Vet also did crop check and deworming.
As expected vet said it could be liver, kidneys, PBFD or trauma to the follicle.
Results for liver and kidney will be back tomorrow.
Results for PBFD take 4-6 weeks.
Will update as the results come through.
Other than the above bet was really happy with her weight, plumage, general diet etc.
Nervously waiting.

Hang in there-- You did the right thing and I know it's hell, but at least now it's done.

Oh I REALLY hate waiting for test results, I'm nervously waiting right along with you!

If it helps, I have been through some of what you are experiencing, and like I said, mine was negative, but it was very scary not knowing (and knowing is very important when you have a potentially symptomatic bird). I just want you to know that, while testing was really the only option you had, just because your bird is having weird feathers doesn't mean that is the cause. I'm going to bank on it not being PBFD based on those pictures and the feathers I saw on Noodles over the years, but that's just a guess (and yes-- again, I support your having gotten her tested--again, if you hadn't gotten your bird tested, I'd still be telling you to do that BBBBBUUUUUTTTTT, at least you know you tested at a good time based on symptoms etc)


A deformed follicle or injury to the shaft can cause weird feathers, as can other things, but PBFD can also produce this type of feather, which is why you were very smart to investigate...I am not downplaying what you have posted in those images- again, definitely worth investigating BUT I hope you take some solace in the fact that birds can have that without PBFD.

Thanks Noodles, it is encouraging to know there is a chance it could be nothing. I am glad we have undertaken the test.
I will keep everyone posted on the results.

Vet just called... I am in a bit of shock and processing the news... apparently the biochemistry (blood test) showed a seriously elevated kidney level (over 2000). Her glucose levels are also too high. She is going in tomorrow for a 3 day treatment to have her blood flushed (like dialysis).
The vet will also be drawing more blood to check for lead poisoning - although she says is unlikely to be lead poisoning because none of our other birds have it and we haven’t moved etc. I am not sure if she could still have elevated levels from lead poisoning as a chick at her breeders place?
Vet also said the cause could be an infection or virus (so likely culprit would be PBFD), diabetes or kidney issues from birth.
The hope is the one off treatment flushed her system out and that will be end of it. There is chance she will require weekly ongoing treatments. We live 2 hours from the vet and both work full time.
My mind is spinning.
Three weeks after the first round of treatments we will recheck the bloods to see if kidney load is elevated again.
I am off to Google all things kidney in conures.
Will keep you updated.

Awwwwwwwwww nuts. Thank you for the update, even though it was most certainly the news you or we were hoping for. At the very least now you have a diagnosis and a plan of action but, oh wow, that poor baby, and poor you!! I’m so sorry it turned out this way but what a strong and resilient baby she is, to have all that going on and shown nothing but a wonky feather, and what a fantastic parront you are to have taken the action that you have - she will get all the love and attention and that she needs because she is in your care. Sending feathered hugs to you and that dear sweet baby of yours!

wow, unexpectedly news, that's a lot to take in.

I'm so glad you got her in to be checked out. And I'm glad the vet has a plan of action. Metal poisoning is way more common than people think, chronic zinc toxicity, abd other metals, birds find this stuff..

If you don't have a digital kitchen scale, you need to get one, and start tracking weight weekly, daily when she is going through health issues. Weigh first thing in the morning after morning poop fir most accurate weight.

You might want to have baby bird formula on hand in case she needs support feeding. Talk about diet, the vet may have you lower protein or make changes.

I use the sweeter heater found on Amazon. Its a radiant or infrared heater for birds. Its marketed for chickens, so yiu hsve to get small size and adjust how far back you set from cage. But I really love mine and credit it to helping me save my sick burds. Added warmth support really important in birds. Im against heat lamps as to many creatures get burns.

Can you take a picture of her poop and share?

Keep us updated, wishing you the best

Oh goodness. I'm sorry to hear this. I hope all goes well. I wonder how many owners would have missed the slightly strange feather or just been pleased it fell out and not thought any more about it, especially with everything that is going on with the World at the moment! You are incredible to have acted so quickly on just one piece of the puzzle.

Best wishes to you all x

Rooting for you! I am amazed at the described treatment, such a tiny bird after all. Yes, prayers being said.

Could de-worming be the cause of the high kidney levels? I doubt it, as it sounds like blood was drawn at or around the same time, but just thought about that...