Terribly Balding 9 year old Female Eclectus!! Please Reply!

[LauraLea]

Hi everyone....joined today to hopefully get some input on a truly troubling situation with my 9 year old Eclectus Hen Ruby. She began her normal head molt in November but it has now continued through February and has become much worse to include her neck and legs. She is not plucking, although she scratches much more frequently. I have been to the vet twice with no change in blood or any parasites. We have relocated from Florida, where she was born, to Arizona. The humidity is completely different as is the water. The temperatures are comparable. I have completely stopped her baths and apply Ecotrition spray several times a week for the past 2 weeks with minimal improvement. She has also rubbed the feathers off of her left nostril. I am at home with her all day and she spends most of her time out and about. Her appetite is fine. Her sister - a 9 year old Red Crested Lorey Amazon- has not suffered plumage problems. I am at a loss for what to do for my beautiful girl. Any advice is welcome. Thanks in advance! :red:

 

[SailBoat]

What is the humidity level in your home and the temperature. It is very important to understand that Temperature and its 'relative' Humidity are always provided as a pair. You want to target something like 45% Humidity at 70 degrees of temperature.

To provide this information, you will need a digital temperature and humidity set that can be placed near your Parrots.

Regarding the molt: At this point, she would have clear signs of new feathers coming in.

Was the Vet an Avian Vet and did your Vet provide you will a findings report from the visit(s)! Anytime a Blood or other tests are taken, you should be requiring a findings report for your records. Remember that Blood tests are a moving test and a single test only tells you of the results today, but provide nothing regarding a week ago or a week from now, hence the need to have a findings report.

Some Parrots love to move, others are greatly affected by the move.

 

[LauraLea]

Hi...thanks so much for the reply. She is a heavily traveled bird as she is the mascot for our food trucks. The humidity is a very valid point. Their room is a constant 74 but the humidity has decreased from 60-80% to less than 15%. I will certainly be investing in a humidifier. I see only avian vets for my girls and have a trailing report of all tests that we have had done. She has some - very little- but some growth and scattered pin feathers. I will give a humidifier an immediate try. Thank you again!!

 

[SailBoat]

Most good humidifiers have a readout on them. But, that is a measurement at the unit not where your Parrots will be. It is very important to have a separate unit that is portable and can be used to determine temperature and humidity near your Parrots.

Look very closely at your use of the Parrot as a Mascot for your food trucks. The extreme high temperatures and low humidity of summer and the cool to colder temperatures and low humidity of winter outside makes for a difficult World for Both of your Parrots.

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums, thanks for joining and seeking answers to a vexing problem.

I assume the feathering problem was roughly coincidental with your move, or slightly afterwards? Seems a variety of issues may be responsible, it will be important to isolate each and take corrective measures.

My late Vos Eclectus had a period of poor feathering that lasted roughly 3 years. It occurred during a molt and defied rational explanation. Her avian vet performed multiple tests including thyroid and never arrived at an explanation. For the rest of her life feathering was beautiful. Hopefully lengthy period will not be the case for yours.

 

[LauraLea]

How kind to reply Scott. She has had thyroid bloodwork done as well. She has always been such a beautiful girl so this is unnerving. Purchased a cool mist humidifier and will keep our fingers crossed. I am almost certain that it's a climate issue. She is truly the love of my life so I will continue to monitor endlessly

 

[Scott]

Seems you've taken the appropriate steps to identify the cause and provide climate relief! Might suggest taking a photo every so often, perhaps weekly and compare as time goes on. Hopefully the improvements will be subtle and steady!

Does Ruby enjoy showering or misting with water? Many birds hate this, but the added moisture is helpful, especially when warm enough to evaporate fairly quickly.