Lost feathers! Need advice!

Zoe456

New member
Feb 11, 2023
1
2
Parrots
African grey
Hi Guys!
Someone I know who keeps an African grey has started loosing feathers. Iā€™ve said that this sounds and looks like self mutilation probably from stress. Iā€™m here asking for advice of what others think this is as my knowledge isnā€™t great.
An image is attached below, this is the best I can get at this time.
Thank you in advance
image.jpg
 

ravvlet

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2019
2,349
7,085
Seattle WA
Parrots
Kirby - OWA, 33yrs old (2019-)
Broccoli - Dusky Conure - 3?mo old (July 2023 -)
~~~
(Rehomed) Sammy - YNA, 45 yrs old (2022-2023)
(RIP) Cricket - Cockatiel (2019-2022)
That looks like it could be from plucking, but is that a sandpaper perch? Is that feces on it? Iā€™d be worried about exposed skin and feces creating a ripe environment for infections, especially since it looks like an abrasive perch.

I can see some pin feathers on the exposed skin. The first thing to do in any case of suspected plucking or mutilation is to see a vet to rule out any other underlying causes. The skin looks clean, but his ankle joint at that angle looks a little bigger than Iā€™m used to seeing in birds of a similar size. Thatā€™s kind of a tough spot for them to reach to be plucking. Is that the only bald spot he has?

Thereā€™s a great thread for resources to find an avian vet no matter where you are:

 

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