My cockatiel has a bald spot?

Question

I recently got a light coloured male cockatiel from my father. He wasn't used to being handled and he rarely makes any noise. for the longest time he kept the "hair" on his head down. Hs cage was filthy when I got it and he didn't have any of the proper supplements. found this odd because my dad had him for a very long time.

Anyway, he is friendly now, and has all the things (I hope) that he needs. He imitates my cats a lot. well, when he started picking up hs feathers I noticed that underneith them he had absolutely zero regular feathers, only skin. he has now 2 tiny feathers growing there but still mostly skin. I am now addng multi vitemins to his water. What could have caused this. Was my bird deppressed?

Answer 1

Many cockatiels have bald spots under their crests.  It's almost always genetic.  If this is the only problem with his feathers I wouldn't worry about it.  

It sounds like you've done a wonderful job with your little guy.  Congratulations!  I would discuss the necessity of vitamins in the water with your avian vet though.  Generally they can encourage the growth of bacteria in the water (and supplements can actually make a bird ill if overdone).

Colette

Answer 2

i ve had cockatails and it sounds like your bird , has bird lice take you bird to the vet or go to walmart and in the pet section they sell, something for bird lace but id take him to the vet to be sure it could be an allergy

Answer 3

He could have been depressed or he could have been moulting and his feathers had yet to grow back.

Answer 4

maybe when you left him alone and got scared of the sounds he heard when a bird is alone with no other bird he conciders u as his family so when he is alone he thinks you left him

Answer 5

I think that the bald spot you are referring to is where the crop is.  The crop expands when fed so if it has food in it it will appear to be bald but it is just the skin stretched out.

Since the bird was in such a bad situation I would take it to an Avian vet to have it tested for psittacosis which is a form of Chlamydia and you can get it from the bird.

Good Luck!!  Those rescues are special birdies!!

Answer 6

If the only place that the feathers are missing is under his crest, I don't think they do have them there. I have a cockatiel now and just checked under his...he has a bald spot, one I had owned before had one and all the ones we treated while I worked (for 10 years) at the small animal  practice  had them. I just never thought about it til you mentioned it! If He seems ok other wise and he is not pulling out feathers I wouldn't worry too much.