Pluck vs Molting

[QuackQuack]

Do feathers look different if they are plucked vs molted? I'm finding some feathers, but I don't know if plucked feathers look different than molted feathers...

 

[QuackQuack]

Speaking of feathers, here is one of his pretty tail feathers. This one looks a little threadbare from age, but his whole tail is made up of these identical feathers - each with a green spot in the middle! It makes for a NEATO display

 

[Printer bird]

Beautiful feather! If the bird has bald or noticable fuzzy grey patches (or bare to skin patches), the feathers have blood on the end or are missing the shaft (when they clip them off rather than pluck) then you might have a feather plucking/chewing problem. If they just look a bit shabby, are losing feathers from all over without any major difference in their overall plumage then they are likely just moulting.

 

[QuackQuack]

I'm pretty sure what is going on is molting, but he is looking a little sparse over all - no bare patches just not as full. He was flapping in the kitchen an a few feathers fell off, so I had the thought if he were plucking that probably wouldn't happen?

 

[brianlinkles]

Kiwi is losing alot of feathers as well. When she flaps feathers come off. However the other day I walked in and she was holding a large feather in her foot and was chewing on the end. What does this mean? I am kind of freaking out that she is plucking now. It looked like a kid out in the country chewing on a piece of grass.

 

[QuackQuack]

Man ALIVE is quack losing a ton of feathers!!! I can't believe he has any on him! How long does a molt last!? I'm getting tired of feather detail!