Gray feathers on a Goffin Cockatoo

[marysummers1950]

I am looking for answers to why a goffin cockatoo will have gray on their feathers my alex has had gray on her face feathers lately all the time I tried to clean them, but they won’t get real clean, but can I do is it dust that has settled on the oil of her feathers? It looks like oil from my hand or dust on them .

 

[DonnaBudgie]

How long has it been like this? Facial feathers are replaced more often than flight or tail feathers so they should molt out and regrow at least 2x a year.
Just like white clothes and pillowcases white feathers can get soiled. If you touch his head and face any grease and grime would get on his feathers.

 

[marysummers1950]

The feathers on her face top head feathers have been like this for a few months now I tried to wash them off but she doesn’t like water in her face so she fights me trying to clean it. I wash my hands before I hold her and after but I am not sure where the gray dusty feathers come about maybe it’s dust?

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Can you take a picture?
Is it possible she's been running her head on something dirty? Even something not obviously dirty could soil a white bird's feathers. Maybe the bars of her cage or a toy.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I had a Goffin years ago that chewed on a pen and it broke on her face. She had blue ink around her beak and face for a long time. She loved being handled but had the attitude of a typical two year old child when I tried to wash her face.

 

[marysummers1950]

Can you take a picture?
Is it possible she's been running her head on something dirty? Even something not obviously dirty could soil a white bird's feathers. Maybe the bars of her cage or a toy.

 

[marysummers1950]

This picture I took a day or so ago it could be from rubbing on her cage but it all metal that’s why I think it could be dust

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Metal can get pretty dusty/dirty if ypu don't wash it often. If my budgies rubbed their white heads on the bars a lot they'd get dirty for sure. That's what I think this is.