Tail feathers

[Parrot Parent]

Hey there everyone, I was wondering if someone could help me with my conure. You see, lately his tail feathers have been looking a little uncared for. He doesn't seem to preen a lot, and when he does it is only the chest/wing area. He also tends to stick his tail feathers outside the bars of the cage when he sleeps, but they have never looked this uncared for. Can anyone give me some tips on how to improve the condition of his feathers, or is it ok for him to have his tail feathers like that. My instincts tell me it isnt but I want some help please.

Linius my sun

 

[gopack041]

My GCC had some rough looking tail feathers when I got him. I just gave him regular baths and they look much better now. But he also preens them regularly, so I don't know if an increase in baths would help in your situation.

 

[Parrot Parent]

My GCC had some rough looking tail feathers when I got him. I just gave him regular baths and they look much better now. But he also preens them regularly, so I don't know if an increase in baths would help in your situation.

Well then I'll try giving him more baths and see if that helps. Thanks

 

[MikeyTN]

Baths will help unless he's just dragging his tail against the bottom grill or the sides of the cage which can ruffle up their tail feathers....

 

[Von1983]

Sunnies are SO active that it is very rare to have a tail feathers all sleek! They clamber all over the cage and get into mischief during out of cage time.... feathers get put places they shouldn't all the time lol.

Cal's are perpetually "mashy" but right now, she is moulting her large feathers and we've had 2 new tail ones. These are a lot smoother than her old ones! Feathers DO age and no amount of preening will sort them out when they are so old they're due to come out lol.

 

[dragonlady2]

My CrimsonBellied Conure has always had ratty looking tail feathers. He scrapes them along the bars of his cage whenever he moves from one area to another. The rest of him looks fine. Check to see if your bird does the same.

 

[Parrot Parent]

Hey guys, I was looking at Linius and noticed his sleeping hut is terribly close to the back of the cage. As a result his feathers stick out of the bars while he sleeps. While I dont plan to wake him up now just to move his hut, I do plan to move it in the morning. We'll see if that helps. Thanks a lot for all the advice everyone!

 

[samanthabe1]

Both of my suns have ratty looking tail feathers. Sittles actually only has one small one left She looks so silly with it lol.

 

[Pedro]

Don't worry guys when they go through a molt they will look all brand new. Normally by the time they are going to molt their tail feathers do look a bit ratty. This condition is normal with young clumsy parrots, especially when they are forever hanging from the side of the cage.

But on the other feather condition can tell us a lot about our birds health.

 

[Parrot Parent]

Both of my suns have ratty looking tail feathers. Sittles actually only has one small one left She looks so silly with it lol.

Oh I would love to see a pic of skittles. She sounds so cute with her one tail feather lol

 

[MooCowing]

I'm not sure if this will help you at all but here's my two cents. My sun used to have ratty looking tail feathers when he was in a smaller cage with 1/2" bar spacing. After I upgraded him to a large cage with 3/4" bar spacing the ratty feather problem went away.

I've been told sun conures are really active, and my boy is extremely mellow and lazy... it could be his low activity that keeps his feathers looking so clean.

But hey, if all else fails it's worth keeping in mind, right? Good luck.

 

[samanthabe1]

Both of my suns have ratty looking tail feathers. Sittles actually only has one small one left She looks so silly with it lol.

Oh I would love to see a pic of skittles. She sounds so cute with her one tail feather lol

I'll have to take one or find a newish one