Cockatiels feathers falling!!!?

Question

I have 6 cockatiels in 2 different cages...Recently I saw fallen feathes from all of them...Now it has become every day!

What could be the cause of all this? I don't want their beautiful feathers to fall anymore...

Is it maybe poor nutrition? If so, what should I give them?

Also what is the reason that a cockatiel plucking the other one's feathers?

Answer 1

Your birds are molting.  It happens when they are young (6-9 months), and again every year.   They have a heavy molt in the spring.  I believe molting can occur 2-3 times per year depending on climate (not entirely sure), and each molt lasts about 6 weeks.  

Molting is no different than other animals who shed their winter and summer coats, except they are feathers, and the process is no doubt far more uncomfortable for birds.

New feathers develop and push out the old feathers.  The new pin feathers are sheathed in a coating, which must be groomed away, and very dusty.  It's a mess that has to be cleaned daily, but it's worth it.  

Personally, I think molting is wonderful.  It's like getting a new paint job.  Fresh feathers.  They look gorgeous when they are done.

Hang in there, it'll be over....eventually.   Don't forget to provide your birds with frequent bird baths, or misting.  There are conditioning sprays made specifically for molting.  Really helps to keep the dust from flying around, and keeps their skin moisturized.

As for the plucking bird, I recommend you separate them.  I had a female who plucked her mate near bald. The feathers were missing from his head and back, in places that he couldn't reach.

I thought he had a genetic disorder, after all disease, parasite and other possibilities were tested for and ruled out.  I thought my poor little guy was dying and the vets were stumped.



As it turned out, his mate was plucking his feathers, in the night, in the dark.

You could put no-chew spray on the bird who is getting plucked, but I wouldn't recommend it.  I recommend that you separate them.

There may be a nutritional deficiency in the bird who is plucking, but not neccessarily.  In the case of my birds it was just a bad habit.  Since the male tolerated it, she kept doing it.

When I put her in a cage with other tiels, they did not tolerate her nonsense, and the problem stopped.  

Make sure that you are providing a complete diet, with high quality pellets (Zupreem, Harrisons, Roudybush)  fresh veggies and foods, and a small amount of seed.  Keep a fresh cuttlebone in the cage at all times.

Best of luck to you and your birds!

Answer 2

They are just molting. Their feathers will be twice as nice when they get done. You might want to give them some soaked Safflower seed. Safflower is heavy in oil content. It along with some extra protein while they are molting would be very beneficial. I would suggest a little egg food to supplement their regular diet. Not to much or they will be wanting to nest. Give plenty of fruits and veggies during the molt also.

The bird that is doing the picking has just  developed a bad habit. The only cure I know is to separate the perpetrator. He is neurotically sick.  I could have been his up bringing. It could have started with something as simple as pecking formula off of a nest mate. They are not the neatest eaters or feeders. The baby gets in the habit of picking food off of his nest mates. Then when weaning time comes he is hungry. So he pecks on the feathers of his nest mates looking for those bits. He will keep this up while  he is hungry. Eventually he pulls a feather out. Now he has a temporary distraction from his hunger, he chews the feather. As soon as he drops that feather (or what ever he does with it) , he knows where to look for another one.  Soon the bird will find a submissive nest mate that will let him pick on him. Later when he is older her will find another friend to pick on or the bird might just start  picking on himself. The bird is neurotic.  This could have been avoided if someone would have observed their baby birds a little bit. This is just one reason that makes a bird pick.

This is why you need a book. All of what I am telling you I got from a book. I can't tell you which one. You read something in the  book and then it happens with your bird or aviary. Then your remember it.  I have a Fallow Lutino that I paid $100 for as a young breeder. When we got ready to go they picked up this w/fpearl hen that had no feathers on her neck. They told us she would breed and raise babies. They said that she had a friend in the aviary that liked to pick on her. What they didn't tell me was that the Fallow I paid the C note for, was the friend. (BEWARE! Not all bird sellers are ethical!) The only bird I have that is picked out of 50 is this one pearl hen. When I put him up with another hen the w/fpearl hen grows back in perfectly. Then when I put him back in the aviary he goes and sits next to here and starts chewing here feather and pulling them out.

Do you own six cockatiels and not have a Cockatiel Hand book? I can't believe that you have

that many birds and don't know what the molt is? Is this the first time they have lost feathers like this? How long have you had these birds? How big is the cages that you have these birds in?

I feel like the first thing anyone considering a animal for a pet, is that they purchase a book that is focused on that animal. In this case it is a Cockatiel. I have 50 cockatiels and 10 cockatiel books. Sure some of the information is redundant.

There is tons of information in TFH books. There is much more on the Internet. I also suggest joining a specialty club.  Most of these have a monthly or bi-monthly bulletin or booklet. The dues are negligible for what you get in information.

The only cure for this bird is isolation. Give him plenty of toys that have strips of leather with knots in it for him to chew on. Maybe if he was to go a year of so with no other bird you could divert him on to leather strings with knots. They love to untie those knots. Maybe that will be his new habit and he will forget the other one? I think you need to give him a chance to redeem himself. What's one more cage to feed, water and clean?

Answer 3

Your birds are molting, it's completely natural

Answer 4

As we all know bird shed and grow back to new feathers ur cockatiels re sheeding and soon they will have new feather back its nothing about poor nutrition .

Peace <3

xox Radha Patel xox

Hope This Helps.