Is Indy really 11 weeks old?

[Steph]

The breeder told me she was hatched April 10, 2011, which makes her 11 weeks old. However, she is going through a molt and has way more yellow feathers than the 4-month-old baby at the pet store. I read on a website that conure normally go through a molt at 8-10 months, and that they replace feathers in a way so that they don't have bald spots, but my baby has a bald spot on her head. There is an area where I don't see any pores; it could just be that they're small because feathers aren't pushing through yet, but I really hope it grows over. But anyhow, do you really think my baby is 11 weeks old? She does act like one. She's not as coordinated, like she slips sometimes, but she loves climbing on her cage bars. She doesn't seem as mature as the 4-month-old at the pet store, so that leads me to believe she is 11 weeks old, but the molting is confusing me.

 

[Steph]

Forgot to mention, she also does the head bobbing thing that babies do.

 

[andrea.faerie]

My conure's hatch date is April 12th, and she's got lots of feathers so it's very very likely

 

[Conurekidd]

Sun conures can be born with yellow but not much. There born with green and moot out to a yellow. Some orange. I can Garentee he's not 11 weeks if he's in a full molt. Babies don't molt that young.

 

[Bobioden]

Did they not give you any paperwork with the hatch date on it?

 

[Steph]

My conure's hatch date is April 12th, and she's got lots of feathers so it's very very likely

Is she going through a molt though? I feel like it a little early since she's only a couple months old. Indy has pinnies all over her. Also, her feathers that come out of her pinnies aren't very feather-like. They look kind of piecey and...as not fluffy. Almost rectangular? I'll take a picture when she dries of. I gave her a bath in the sink to try and soften up her pinnies. Thanks for your input!!

 

[andrea.faerie]

Um, Lucy has lots of pins, she's not in a molt but just doesn't have all her feathers in yet. is indy losing feathers??

 

[Steph]

Sun conures can be born with yellow but not much. There born with green and moot out to a yellow. Some orange. I can Garentee he's not 11 weeks if he's in a full molt. Babies don't molt that young.

That's what I thought too.. she does have a lot of green still. This is what she looks like:

I'll try to find a better camera .

Did they not give you any paperwork with the hatch date on it?

Nope, I didn't get any paperwork.

Um, Lucy has lots of pins, she's not in a molt but just doesn't have all her feathers in yet. is indy losing feathers??

I think she is losing some feathers . I'm finding little ones everywhere. She has quite a bit of pinnies too.

 

[andrea.faerie]

hmm, it could be that she's not that young. Lucy is losing some of her downy feathers, the little soft ones and they're being replaced with little green ones (she's a black cap conure) I think Indy is still young personally. I just recently saw a sun with some more yellow than that and oranges already that wasn't even weaned yet

 

[Steph]

hmm, it could be that she's not that young. Lucy is losing some of her downy feathers, the little soft ones and they're being replaced with little green ones (she's a black cap conure) I think Indy is still young personally. I just recently saw a sun with some more yellow than that and oranges already that wasn't even weaned yet

Hmm.. I think she's young too. And it could be that she's still growing feathers. I don't know why she's also losing some feathers though..

She makes the same sound at 0:08-0:09

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE2k_nhPkag&feature=relmfu]YouTube - ‪7 week old Jenday Conures playing‬‏[/ame]

But she also has a pretty big voice already lol!

 

[darkling]

Pi was born in February and her little head is covered in pin feathers right now. She has more green than Indy does but I see lots of new feathers coming in all the time. Maybe she's not really molting but rather, growing in more grown up feathers as she grows.

 

[Steph]

Pi was born in February and her little head is covered in pin feathers right now. She has more green than Indy does but I see lots of new feathers coming in all the time. Maybe she's not really molting but rather, growing in more grown up feathers as she grows.

Yeah, it was either a molt or that. Most likely that since she's so young, but why are feathers falling out too? Pi is sooooo cute!!!! My mom would adore a quiet conure lol .

 

[Steph]

Another feather just fell out .

A little cheek feather.

 

[andrea.faerie]

Hmm, I'd call whoever you got her from and be sure. Have you done a vet check yet?? I wouldn't be too concerned. Lucy shed one of her beautiful tail feathers 2 days after I brought her home, I was so scared, but a new prettier feather has taken it's place already ^^ I was worried too but seeing that both Indy and Pi are also covered in pins makes me feel better I'm sure that Indy is fine and all our little lady birds are just becoming more beautiful! haha

 

[Steph]

Hmm, I'd call whoever you got her from and be sure. Have you done a vet check yet?? I wouldn't be too concerned. Lucy shed one of her beautiful tail feathers 2 days after I brought her home, I was so scared, but a new prettier feather has taken it's place already ^^ I was worried too but seeing that both Indy and Pi are also covered in pins makes me feel better I'm sure that Indy is fine and all our little lady birds are just becoming more beautiful! haha

Yeah the vet said she was fine, but I was just a little worried. I'll give her some more baths to try and soften up her pinnies. When all the pinnies are gone and her feathers look normal and her bald spot grows over, I'll stop worrying .

 

[andrea.faerie]

haha i feel you there. Lucy's got pins all over her neck. i crack them a bit with my nails when she lets me

 

[Steph]

haha i feel you there. Lucy's got pins all over her neck. i crack them a bit with my nails when she lets me

Hahah sometimes when I'm trying to preen Indy's pins, she flaps her wings (without opening them) and makes the dolphin sound lol! It's so cute and she does it all the time. Idk if it's a baby conure thing or an Indy thing haha.

 

[andrea.faerie]

haha I have no idea! LOL Lucy fluffs up and goes into a trance when i scritch her neck and head lol it's so funny. If she wants attention she'll start making kissing sounds lol

 

[Conurekidd]

Haha. Your fine. Some babies damage and lose lots of feathers. Perfectly normal. I'd say she was 11 weeks when you got her. Her plumage looks 11 weeks. DEFINITLY baby plumage. Feathers will fall feathers will grow. It's a birds life. Your fine.

 

[Steph]

haha I have no idea! LOL Lucy fluffs up and goes into a trance when i scritch her neck and head lol it's so funny. If she wants attention she'll start making kissing sounds lol

LOL awwwww!!! That is so cute!! My cockatiel walks over to my hand and lowers his head right next to my fingers, doesn't matter if I'm typing on the computer or eating or doing my homework, he wants what he wants, when he wants it lol!!

I think I might change Indy's name. It's kind of awkward to call (for me) and I don't think it really fits her now that her personality is showing through more. The first day she was still getting acclimated , and now her name doesn't seem fitting. Updates once I decide!