Moulting or plucking?

GlitchTown · Jul 31, 2017

Ive found stray feathers around my ~4-5 month old Sun conure's cage. I'm worried whether or not this is plucking or simply moulting. I've only been finding these since I've gotten back from a one week long camp- but there was someone watching him. Here's what a few of them look like in various sizes. I've added a picture of his torso as well just to see if there's any distinguishing factors on him himself.

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SailBoat · Jul 31, 2017

Likely molting. If your region has been experiencing the effects of this Summer's heat in North America, your Parrot could also be adjusting to the heat. But at 4 to 5 months more than likely a combination of Molting and adjusting to the heat.

The wide cross-section of feather types tend to rule away from plucking.

GlitchTown · Jul 31, 2017

SailBoat said:
Likely molting. If your region has been experiencing the effects of this Summer's heat in North America, your Parrot could also be adjusting to the heat. But at 4 to 5 months more than likely a combination of Molting and adjusting to the heat.

The wide cross-section of feather types tend to rule away from plucking.

Ah, thank god. I live in Southern ish New York, so the heat definitely has been there. I figured the variety was weird.

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FlyBirdiesFly · Jul 31, 2017

Yup, looks like a molt to me.

DRB · Aug 1, 2017

They look like clean white shafts, I'd say molting. Usually plucking or chewing of any kind results in a feather that will show signs of such.

Cas27 · Aug 2, 2017

Yes that looks like mounting too me.

LordTriggs · Aug 2, 2017

molting time!

Prepare for grumpy birdy!

Scott · Aug 2, 2017

Count me in the moulting camp! Feathers look as if they naturally detached and Sammy's chest looks great.

Allee · Aug 2, 2017

I agree, the very handsome Sammy is merely moulting.

GlitchTown · Aug 2, 2017

Thanks all! Lol now that I think about it plucking does seem pretty far fetched [emoji39] recently I've seen so A LOT of feathers on the bottom of his cage. He's also been pretty angry towards my sister for some reason LOL

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GlitchTown · Aug 3, 2017

WOW he's definitely in the midst of molting... I've never seen this many feathers in one place at once! He's also really bossy and picky now... time to change to daily showers!!!

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clark_conure · Aug 4, 2017

It could be molting, the other possibility could be plucking....

I'm being factious, put me in the molting camp on this one.

arielscongo · Aug 8, 2017

I think the same is happening to me I have a five year old CAG, what should I look for when it comes to early sings of feather plucking?
In the past three weeks I have seen three small red tail father on the bottom of the cage, and 2 larger fathers that I believe are from the wing area, the fathers over all looked in good condition to me, do parrots get rid of fathers that seem to them that are not good for the sake of letting new ones to come out.
And where can I read some info about feather growth in parrots?

arielscongo · Aug 8, 2017

After reading all the comments here, I think CAG is molting as well, the feathers I have seen are in good condition at the base of them.

arielscongo · Aug 10, 2017

For how long on average the molting process is?

Moulting or plucking?

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