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Post by siobhan on Aug 20, 2016 10:29:57 GMT -5
Some time ago, I noticed Clyde was plucking his neck area in front. It took a while to notice because the rest of his feathers kept it concealed for a long time. He has a spot about the size of a quarter that's been completely bald for a while now. I've been keeping a close eye on it since I noticed, and trying to get him to take more baths (ha, good luck) and wondering what to do and worrying that he'd pluck his whole front. He won't let me examine it too closely so I have to steal peeks when he's preening or looking the other way.
In the last couple of days, I've noticed a ton of fluffy downy feathers in that same area, and last night I saw some new feather pins poking through. I wonder if he had a really bad molt, or whatever caused him to pluck is resolved, or what?
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Post by easttex on Aug 20, 2016 10:37:56 GMT -5
I don't know, but after Jan's experience with Shah, I'd be especially watchful. Plucking in one particular spot would make me more suspicious of a physical cause, but that is just gut feel.
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Post by siobhan on Aug 20, 2016 11:32:21 GMT -5
That was my first concern, which is why I've been watching his food intake and his poops and feather condition and so on, too. I've even felt his crop (and got a nasty bite for doing it, LOL) to see if there might be something going on there. He eats and poops fine, he hasn't lost or gained weight, and having Jade for comparison helps, too. She's certainly the picture of perfect Quaker health, and there is no real difference in their behavior or appearance.
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Post by julianna on Aug 20, 2016 13:31:14 GMT -5
Oscar is moulting as well.. and I am finding that his feathers (in some areas) come out in little clumps. I have not noticed him pulling them out rather.. there they are on the floor.
I feel so bad for them when they go through this as I don't think it is very comfortable for them. Oscar used to watch his head and neck scratched in the mornings but lately... he would rather not.
Then of course come those nasty pin feathers... poor little guys... those hurt.
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Post by cnyguy on Aug 20, 2016 19:40:13 GMT -5
Since Clyde seems to be his usual self otherwise, it may indeed have been an unusually concentrated molt-- or, as you say, if there was some other condition, it's likely been cleared up. Growing new feathers is always a good sign.
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Post by julianna on Aug 21, 2016 16:33:35 GMT -5
Boy I find Oscar's personality changes a lot when he moults. For the past two days he barely wants to spend time on me. He always went to his Condo around 2:30 p.m. till 6:00 but now he does not even ask to go there.
He started building his house again and he has not done that for most of the year. He spends all his time (when I am here) going up and down the rope with his tie wraps... building his house.
He doesn't even scream as much. Just a little squack here and there... nothing much at all.
Can't wait until he gets back to normal... however... I guess I should appreciate the break a little.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Aug 22, 2016 4:52:38 GMT -5
If it is only around the crop area then I would suggest that you check to see if he is getting any nuts in his feed. If so, remove them as it could be reflux.
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Post by maxsmom on Aug 25, 2016 10:36:41 GMT -5
Max has been molting for a while. But this year it's really weird. I was finding the little fluffy feathers on the bottom of the cage for a while. I thought he might be pulling them out under his wings because I saw no other places missing feathers. Finally I picked him up the other day and I felt pin feathers coming in. That's when I knew he was in molt. Now I'm seeing his long main feathers on the bottom of the cage. I never see him pulling them out, they just appear. He's putting off a lot of dander too. I live in Louisiana. Our summer has been very unusual this year. I'm wondering if this weather has something to do with this weird molt. |
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Post by julianna on Aug 26, 2016 13:37:14 GMT -5
Hi maxmom.... From what you have described I find that quite normal. My Quaker looses his feathers just the same as yours and is very dusty as well. There are times I find his tail feathers in the bottom of the cage and other times he actually will pull them out while sitting with me. It is like a tooth I guess... It gets loose and they want it out.. One little tug.. and there it is.
The funny thing is that after his feather is out... he wants nothing to do with it. Like it does not even belong to him. I keep the nice ones and give them to children when they visit. They think it is awesome.
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Post by siobhan on Aug 26, 2016 14:20:15 GMT -5
Both of my Quakers are molting and dropping feathers left and right. I cleaned Jade's cage last night -- well, I cleaned everybody's, LOL -- and UNDER her paper, which is UNDER her grate because that's what she prefers, I found a ton of shed feathers. How did she get them under the paper, which is under the grate?  I put everyone else's paper on top of the grate because it's less work than having to scrub the grates all the time, but Jade won't have that. If I put hers on top of the grate, she tosses it out into the floor. Clyde was sitting on me preening last night and dropped loose feathers and several fluffy downy feathers all over me. |
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Post by maxsmom on Aug 26, 2016 15:01:37 GMT -5
I'm so glad y'all told me your experience. Max never has molted like that. I'm not going to worry anymore. I knew he wasn't plucking bald spot because he has none. I'm glad to know he is normal. ( or as normal as they can be lol.) Siobhan, I put paper on top of the grate also. It makes for easy cleaning. Jade has a little magic up her wing. That's how she's hiding her feathers!  |
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Post by cnyguy on Aug 26, 2016 20:02:03 GMT -5
Jade does seem to be able to do some things that most parrots can't (tying knots comes to mind). Exactly how she get the feathers under the paper, under the grate, is a mystery to me though.
Ralph's molt has picked up speed now and he's losing several feathers every day, instead of just one or two every other day. Lots of pin feathers coming in too. Scooter isn't molting, but new feathers are trying to grow in on her neck and breast, where they've been chewed or plucked. Hope she'll give them a fair chance.
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I put everyone else's paper on top of the grate because it's less work than having to scrub the grates all the time, but Jade won't have that. If I put hers on top of the grate, she tosses it out into the floor. Clyde was sitting on me preening last night and dropped loose feathers and several fluffy downy feathers all over me. 