Balding?

[Cobuscus87]

I have a sun conure I have had for about a month now and in the last 3 days she has developed a balding spot on the top of her head. I know she should be starting her first molt in about a month (hatch date 3/20/13) but has anyone had an 'early bloomer'?

She acts fine, isn't lethargic, stays alert and isn't screaming like crazy. She hasn't become nippy, or aggressive with me or my Green cheek. I just thought it strange to see this.

 

[bob1]

She might be excessively rubbing her head against something, might not.

 

[Kalidasa]

Check to see if the other parrot in the home is grooming her head, I've seen birds to that to other birds, grooming gone wild. Also, she looks wet in the pic, and if so it could be the way they're parted.

 

[Cobuscus87]

She grooms him more than the other way around, but I have separated them just to make sure.

Yes, she is wet in the photo. That is when the spot is most noticeable (what made me see it) but it truly is a bald spot. Although it looks like there are some dark 'blackhead' looking things, maybe the start of new feathers?

 

[MikeyTN]

Sometimes the older ones will pick at the younger one's heads so you must watch that or they'll pluck their heads bald. It does look like the feathers are coming in but I would keep them separated unless you can sit there to observe them playing together.

 

[Cobuscus87]

Ok! Just caught her lol...

It seems more likely due to rubbing on the cage... I quietly walked in the room and she was in her cage and was rubbing between the bars of the cage and her little happy hut. Any ideas on how to prevent this?

 

[MonicaMc]

Change things around?

Charlie rubbed the feathers off between his beak and eyes because that's the area that would rest between his cage bars... needless to say, I sold that cage and downgraded him to one that he couldn't stick his beak so far through the bars! Solved the issue!