How do you tell the difference between quaker parrot feather-pulling, and molting?

Question

thanks! I'm pretty sure he's just molting, since he/she's gradually shedding completely random feathers (big and tiny) :)

Answer 1

They typically will pluck feathers out of a specific location - like their breast, around their neck, and underside of the belly.

If they are moulting - they will look scraggly all over and it will happen in a matter of weeks out of the blue; but you'll also see pin feathers starting to replace the feathers which have fallen out.

With a bird that is plucking itself, you typically do not see regrowth in the form of pin feathers - you just see bare patches of skin.

The other thing, is most moulting birds will not moult to the point of bald spots; they'll mostly just look haggard/raggedy in appearance.

Answer 2

just to let you knpw alot of birds are molting right now. All of my quakers, and most of my other birds. Alot of people on my bird groups are talking about their birds going through molts...so your bird is probably not plucking. I think since it's nearing the middle of their normal breeding season, everyone is trying to gain fresh beautiful feathers (rather they have mates or not). If your quaker was plucking you would notice big patches of bald or just downy spots. Usually quakers will pluck leg or chest feathers first.

Answer 3

With feather picking you will notice a lot of feathers missing in one place.  In molting, this does not happen.  Feather picking causes bald spots.