do younger cockatiels have thinner feathers than older cockatiels (i.e. before their 1st molt)? I read somewhere that a cockatiel in good feather will be almost impossible to get wet. The water beads off. I have 2 cockatiels one is over a year old and it is impossible to get her wet. While my other cockatiel that is only about 4 and half months has very thin feathers and she becomes soaked when given a bath. The older tiels feathers are very thick while the younger tiels feathers aren't as think. when giving scritches you can see her bare neck. is this normal?
2007-01-21 14:59:40 · 3 answers · asked by stop_staring_please 4 in Pets ➔ Birds
Yeah, that's normal. I have Macaws, and Rio, my almost 6 year old Military has a hard time getting soaked (though, not without lack of trying...LOL). My baby Greenwing is only 20 weeks old, and she gets REALLY soaked.
By the time your baby is a year or so old, her feathers will be nice and thick. I doubt your worrying about malnourishment because if you're taking time to give baths, it's obvious that you are taking good care of them.
You'll be able to tell when your first real molt happens, though for Katie, I must say that she's been molting pretty much since she was born. She always has new pinfeathers coming in. With the wierd weather we've been having, nothing would surprise me at this point.
2007-01-21 15:27:08 · answer #1 · answered by sdkramer76 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cockatiel feathers have different stages from chick to adult. It sounds like the bird is molting.
If you find that the feathers are easily broken etc it could also mean it is malnourished.
2007-01-21 15:12:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes that normal it will go into its first moult and all its dowl and pin feathers will moult out
2007-01-21 17:13:27 · answer #3 · answered by graham c 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋