I have 7 month old cockatiel who startles veeeery easily. He doesn't really fly but falls to the ground, and in the process usually breaks his tail feathers which i then have to cut off. He only has like 2 left and they're looking pretty bad. Is this a big problem?
2006-11-07 10:38:21 · 11 answers · asked by karma_kougar 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
It is normal for birds to go through stages where they lose some feathers but probably not that much. I would suggest taking him to a vet to get checked out by a professional.
2006-11-07 10:44:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, because the less tail feathers he has the harder it will be for him to fly and eventually he wont be able to fly. He is probably falling on the floor when spooked because he is trying to fly away but can't because he has no tail. the feathers will grow back eventually when he moults, but when he does try and keep him in an environment with as little stress as possible. there is a process used in falconry called imping, this is where we use old moulted feathers in good condition, either from the bird from the previous year, another birds moult or a dead bird to replace the old feathers, a bit like hair extensions. but it would be very difficult with a bird as small as a cockatiel.
2006-11-08 06:28:03 · answer #2 · answered by Aquila 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quit letting him fly around. If he startles and doesn't trust you, let him stay in the cage until he is more comfortable.
Remember that birds are very slow to learn. If one person in the family is teasing him, he will always be fearful.
Build trust with him in his own territory. He feels safe in his cage, so that's where you need to tame him.
The cage needs to be big enough so he doesn't brush his tail feathers on anthing.
If they break off, it's not a big deal, they will come back when he moults.
Good luck
2006-11-07 10:53:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like your cockatiel is helluv stressed. birds often lose feathers...and they lose even more when they are stressed out.
caged birds also "try" to fly occasionally, though most pet birds are clipped. its a good idea to let your cockatiel attempt to fly and do his/her own thing. it may be a playtime activity, or it may just want to stretch out, or it may just want a little exercise.
by grabbing your cockatiel and clipping its semi broken tail feathers, you may be causing additional stress. if its feathers are broken or tattered, your bird surely is aware of it, and by "capturing" it from the comforts of its caged environment, you may be causing it unnecessary stress and anxiety...which could cause it to inadvertantly break or tatter more feathers.
let your cockatiel chill out for awhile. keep a close eye on its behaviour and demeanor as well as its outward appearance (such as its feathers). but leave it be...
if the bird continues to maim its feathers even after no human contact or influence, then i would suggest a visit to the vet.
other than that...let your bird play on its own and "misbehave" or get ruffled the way it chooses to.
2006-11-07 10:58:19 · answer #4 · answered by normal_cody 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is a problem...not a huge problem but A problem. this is bad because it can cause stress. I have a 5 month cocktail too and he get scared very easily the best way to stop the feathers to stop falling buy him some vitamins(i suggest "eight in one".
2006-11-07 10:48:14 · answer #5 · answered by Homi7 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be like some sort of "Not enough Vitamin " thing I think that you might want to check that out with a vet.
Does the tail feather start bleeding when it breaks off??
Because if they are.... Well Birds have a VERY low blood supply, and if they lose to much for them(Hardly any to us) the could die instantly
So please be careful. with him. Maybe try keeping him in his cage for a while.
Good luck!!
2006-11-07 10:51:18 · answer #6 · answered by Choir~Geek 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not really, but don`t let it slip either. If he`s not passing through the cycle feather regeneration, the cause must be bad nutrition. Or you could take him to the vet.
2006-11-07 10:56:40 · answer #7 · answered by Cloud 9 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably not ok. Especially since the bird prefers to fall to the ground, as opposed to using its wings. I would seek veterinarian expertise.
2006-11-07 10:51:22 · answer #8 · answered by Super G 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He will be ok. He will get his feathers back once he molts....
2006-11-07 11:35:13 · answer #9 · answered by Jusme 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it is ok. As long as he dosent pull them out they will grow back.
2006-11-07 10:56:31 · answer #10 · answered by sarah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋