We just got two new parakeets just last night and I noticed a bald spot on th back of the female parakeet's head. I know that they can loose feathers out of stress. They are a male and female mates. My husband bought them while he was in the different part of the country and since he was nervious about bringing them home on a plane so we waited for a month and a half for someone to bring them up. The travel was 8 hours long or more. By the time that they reached our house the female was so exhausted, it looked like she was going to fall off the perch. They are both a year old. My concern is with the bald spot on the female's back of the head. They are still adjusting and I'm talking to them and playing music for them and they are really improving. The female is perfectly healthy despite the bald spot. What could be the problem that she has that bald spot? Could it just be stress from the travelling? I haven't seen her peck at herself or ripping feathers off of herself.
2007-02-27 01:22:42 · 5 answers · asked by JourneyToTheHeart 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
THe bald spot on the back of the head is usually down to the male pulling feathers out while mating. He hangs on to he back of her head whilst mating and some times pulls feathers as well.
Sounds like you should be investing in a nesting box and waiting for an imanent arrival. Care sheets are free on my web site.
http://www.artsaquaticsandanimals.co.uk
2007-02-27 01:34:43 · answer #1 · answered by stevehart53 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Plucking on the head is usually the result of a mate's overpreening, and since she isn't missing feathers anywhere else, you can probably be sure that this is the case; since it isn't lice, or French moult, or any of those other nasty things that would make her suspiciously unattractive all over.
This nervous mate overplucking is usually not of any concern. Just watch to make sure that she accepts it, and that she isn't fighting back. If she is, she could easily tear her skin and open it up to a lethal infection.
If you want to quell some of the overpreening and you're not trying to have babies right now, you can put them on a winter lighting schedule (13-dark/11-daylight) instead of the spring or summer (13-daylight/11-dark or 12-daylight/12-dark), and see how much that helps.
A vet check is always a nice idea, too. If you don't want to run all the way to the vet, Avian Biotech will do disease and DNA sexing from a few plucked feathers or some blood from an overclipped toenail (I use the feathers). Follow their instructions carefully. The kits are free, the tests cost a modest fee, and the results are back 24-48 hours after they get the kits. You can order the free kits by filling out this form. If you're breeding, order 20 or so, just to keep them on hand. If you use bands, you can even match the sample bar codes to the bands, send in their dry shells and sex the babies for $20 a piece, for their new parents: http://www.avianbiotech.com/OrderCenter.htm
2007-02-27 04:24:04 · answer #2 · answered by Em 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well... It can be several things. It could be from the male pulling them out, either from breeding or simply abusing her... I would observe them closely and see how they interact. If it was from stress, she would be pulling them out, it wouldn't be from them just falling out and it wouldn't be on the back of her head, birds can't reach there and when they have a feather picking problem, the head will be the one place they do have feathers. It could also be a feather disease, such as beak and feather... It could be mites. The fact they come from another country would make me a little nervous, many countries don't have the same standards and regulations we do. I would suggest a vet check-up, not only because they're new and come from another country but because you also have some concerns and this would be a good time to discuss general care, health concerns, typical health problems with Parakeets, breeding, egg laying and all that good stuff that comes with owning a bird. It's also good to get that first check-up out of the way and establishing a good relationship with your avian vet, that way, when you have a serious problem or emergency, you can quickly get care and your vet has already met them and won't have to ask the obvious questions. It's also good to get a healthy check-up so your vet knows what your birds look like when they're not sick. I'd also like to state the fact that a bird should NEVER have a bald spot when they're molting... If they do, it's not a normal molt and you need to consult your vet. Good luck to you and congrats on your new family additions.
2007-02-27 04:01:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It could be several things, stress being one of them. The male might be over preening her or she could be molting. If she is molting you will see small pin feathers. I would just keep and eye out and give it some time.
2007-02-27 02:44:58 · answer #4 · answered by Talon Treasures 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it might be dying.or cancer?
2007-02-27 01:29:45 · answer #5 · answered by forest lover 2 · 0⤊ 6⤋