Post by pingo2011 on Jun 16, 2015 20:44:17 GMT -5
OK, so I've read other posts about Quakers plucking but I can't tell if Pingo is plucking or molting. A few weeks ago, I bought him... Actually, I bought HER (I just found out not to long ago, since the beak incident!) a big rope boing for her cage. She used to sit on a perch on the front right corner of her cage. It was her favorite spot. There were always feathers over there, but I never really paid attention to how many there were, as most fell on the bottom of her cage... I only change the paper every 5 days or so (yes, I know I could do better, but that's all beside the point) and it always had some feathers. BUT, now, her favorite spot is on the boing hanging in the center of the cage, near her big container of water. I had to change her water twice today because it had 5 feathers floating in it the first time (the small ones, not the big ones), and about the same amount the second time, maybe just 3, and some millet husk--I always give her a piece every time she goes back to her cage. It's not close enough to her water for her to poop in it. So, I want to know where all of these feathers are coming from. This just started a few days ago. She's only claimed it her favorite spot since last week.
She doesn't have any bald spots; but, I don't want this to be the beginnings of a bad habit.
How can I tell if they've been plucked rather than molted?! Something about the ends of the feathers? What do they look like when they've been plucked?
OR, am I just crazy and noticing the feathers more since they're in her water and not on the bottom of the cage? On average, how many feathers are they supposed to lose a day?
She's never had more than 1 or 2 feathers in there at a time, for the whole day, even after baths. She just turned 4 years old last week and I've never seen so many feathers in her water before.
What do you guys think?
Should I be concerned?
I haven't caught her in the act of plucking.
She doesn't have any bald spots; but, I don't want this to be the beginnings of a bad habit.
How can I tell if they've been plucked rather than molted?! Something about the ends of the feathers? What do they look like when they've been plucked?
OR, am I just crazy and noticing the feathers more since they're in her water and not on the bottom of the cage? On average, how many feathers are they supposed to lose a day?
She's never had more than 1 or 2 feathers in there at a time, for the whole day, even after baths. She just turned 4 years old last week and I've never seen so many feathers in her water before.
What do you guys think?
Should I be concerned?
I haven't caught her in the act of plucking.
If Pingo were plucking, you'd likely notice the outer (colored) feathers being lost, and would probably see the beginnings of bald patches. If there appear to be more of the down feathers being shed, it may signal the beginning of a molt, and you'll probably see some of the other feathers begin falling out too, but probably only one or two at a time. 
They are cute, though.
). And they seem to find their way into every corner of the apartment, even the rooms where Ralph doesn't spend any time. Of course, the silverware drawer and kitchen cupboards are decorated with them.