African grey feathers (need help)

[africangrey222333444555]

My African grey after laying a couple eggs in a four month period started having bald patches under her wings and her wings look a lot more tattered. I also noticed she doesn’t pick her feathers but rather preens and tatters them. She has pin feathers coming under her wings in slight bald patches and her back and her neck. Is this a molt or her damaging her feathers?

 

[Laurasea]

Welcome to the forum. Beautiful grey!:

I would add different type of perches. And add some on the outside of the cage. Offer more easy to destroy stuff, shredders, birdie bagels, yucca chips.
Start her on foraging.

What is her diet?,
https://blogpamelaclarkonline.com/2019/09/26/the-african-grey-parrot-data-and-deliberations/

https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/

 

[chris-md]

What a cutie!

Sounds like hormonal barbering if she’s been laying lately. They do that becuase they line the nest with the feathers. Nothing big, should pass once you get a handle on the hormones. Research hormonal controls: low sugar diet (reduce fruits) make sure she gets 12-14 hours of sleep (start with 14), etc.

 

[africangrey222333444555]

Id also like to add that she hasn’t layed eggs in about 2-3 months and she seems a little itchy. I give her good feed, veggies, eggs, pellets, fruits. She’s also very talkative and active and not aggressive. She also itches her head very often lately.

 

[Cycletim]

Our grey itches more in the winter because of dryer weather here in Southern California. It has been getting better with a shower every other day and a humidifier.

Greys can be prone to over preening and feather picking when they are bored. Maybe introduce more toys, and get your grey outside. Our birds spend most of their day outside, we started putting them in our aviary about 2 weeks ago. Our grey especially is much happier now, it is very noticeable. Hopefully it helps with his over preening problems from his past life before we adopted him. I hope that helps.

 

[noodles123]

How is the humidity and have you had blood-work run?

 

[Littleredbeak]

I don’t have any useful input. Your AG is gorgeous!!!

 

[africangrey222333444555]

She’s completely healthy, we’ve had everything from her blood to ovaries checked a couple weeks ago and she’s in perfect health and is not showing any unusual behavior. I have noticed when I give her showers she doesn’t preen. Could it just be a molt considering her pin feathers are coming out in multiple spots?