Is my cockatiel sick?

Question

Hello. My cockatiel is just over one year old and I think she may be sick. Lately she has been losing an abnormal amount of feathers. She isn't plucking them, they are just falling out. What got me worried the most is that she even lost a couple head crest feathers which she has never done before. I don't know if this is normal in the summer or is she just sick? Please let me know.

Answer 1

take her to a vet to check her out

good luck

Answer 2

Well there's a number of answers for this and some of them are

disease

mites

allergies

or he could have been terrorized.

the best thing to do is take him for a checkup with the vet.

good luck:)

Answer 3

I have 4 cockatiets, and we occasionally give them a shower, get a sproy bottle and fill with warm water. Take the bird and cage outside and spray her. Ours hated it at 1st. 1 way 2 tell if ur bird is sick is if it sits in the corner of the cage and keep their head under their wing.

Answer 4

He could be malnourished. Make sure you give him good quality seed and vegetables.

Answer 5

well, you could try washing it first. If it keeps doing that take it to a vet.

Answer 6

DON'T WORRY YOUR BIRDS IN THE MOLTING PROCESS.

Despite knowing in theory that their birds will molt new owners are often shocked and startled by suddenly finding the cage floor covered in feathers. The fact that their cockatiel may be lethargic, grumpy, and out of sorts during the molt may either worry the owner into thinking that the bird is ill or cover up an actual illness. A molting bird is not ill, though it needs a bit of supportive care. You will want to mist it a bit more frequently, add some extra protein to its diet (feathers are almost pure protein), and respect its need for extra rest. Bean mix and hard cooked egg are both good sources of protein. You should watch a molting bird carefully though. The stress of the molt can cause a latent illness to flare up. Don’t hesitate to call the vet if you think you have reason to suspect illness.

A young cockatiel molts at about 6 month, at about a year, and then about once a year thereafter. The molt usually lasts between 4 and 6 weeks. Sometimes environmental conditions cause variations in the pattern of molting. Tiels kept in warm climates with little seasonal variation may have a subtle molt where they drop a few feathers at a time throughout the year. Birds in more temperate areas with more pronounced seasons usually have a more pronounced molt. Sometimes a molt doesn’t seem to go right. There are several diseases that affect feather growth and birds experiencing an abnormal molt should see the vet.

The quality and condition of the feathers is strongly influenced by several factors. Diet is probably paramount. My rescued tiel, Rocky, came to me pale-colored, ratty-looking, with feathers that were crossed with stress bars (improperly developed areas due to stress, malnutrition, etc.), and broke easily. After three years of a good diet with plenty of protein during molts and lots of vitamin A sources he wouldn't be recognized as the same bird. His grey is dark and velvety, the pale top of his central tail feathers is a lovely silver, the yellow of his face and the underlying yellows beneath the grey elsewhere are rich and bright, and the orange cheek patches are deep pumpkin orange (in fact the high levels of carotene in his diet are betrayed by the bleeding of his cheek patch feathers into other parts of his face -- a bit too much of a good thing which will be corrected next molt). The feathers are strong and flexible, he hasn't broken a single feather in 2 years.

Another critical factor for feathers is access to either natural sunlight or full spectrum lighting. Birds kept only under ordinary artificial lights become dull-feathered and pale. This may be due to the production of vitamin D by the interaction of sunlight and the preening oil on the surface of the feathers. Since birds inevitably ingest some of this oil as they preen they supply their own Vitamin D in exactly the correct form and amount. (Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that can build up to toxic levels in the body when supplements are overused. I would NOT recommend giving a bird vitamin D supplements unless proscribed by a vet).

Finally, bird need regular baths to keep their feathers at their best. I mist my birds daily with plain water and often offer a bath dish in the cage. Tiels have definite preferences about there baths. Some like misting (use a clean plant sprayer that has never held any chemical), either a soft fall from above or a firmer spray from the sides or below while others only enjoy still water. A soaking from the dish sprayer will delight some and terrify others. Many enjoy a lukewarm shower with their human friends. Water temperature is a matter of individual preferences. Some like lukewarm, others like quite warm. Never use truly hot water -- even if it doesn't actually burn the bird will strip the natural oils from the feathers. My Dandi actually prefers truly cold water (not ice water, but as cold as a New England well will run in early summer. I either have to give her mate his own warm dish or he will wait until the water warms up. Bath dishes run the gamut from glass loaf pans to metal pie plates to terra cotta plant saucers (disinfect carefully since they are porous), to Dandi's favorite -- a crisp outer cabbage leaf set concave side up with about a quarter cup puddle of water in it. Anything big enough, safe, and not too slippery or hard to clean will do.

Answer 7

Sounds like she is molting to me. Is she acting ok otherwise. they do get a little cranky during the molt. Also might want to mist her with warm water to help the process and add moisture to her. make sure she has no lice or mites. Bald patches? if still in doubt or acts sick take to vet. Good luck

Answer 8

Wash it

Answer 9

Your bird has started the molting process.

All of the feathers she is losing will be replaced with new ones.

Theses new feathers will look like "spikes" growing out of the skin. Eventually your bird will preen this covering off, revealing a new feather.

Unfortunately, birds cannot preen of the sheath on the feathers growing on their head. To help them, you can take your fingers and gently rub her the opposite way of feather growth to help remove the sheath.

Molting is a stressful time for birds so supply them with lots of fruits and vegetables (which you should be doing anyway) and allow her to bath every other day or so in fresh water.