His feathers are falling out all around his neck and on his chest. What can I do to help him?
2007-03-26 09:31:14 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
His feathers were already falling out when the previous owner gave him to me. We have no vet in our area that knows anything about birds. He's such an awesome bird, I don't want to lose him!
2007-03-26 09:41:03 · update #1
It could be as minor as moulting, which happens twice a year in most conures. Unfortunately, it could also be plucking. Plucking is caused by any number of reasons from breeding stress to nutritional problems. Sometimes even a bad wing clip will cause a parrot to pluck.
I wouldn't worry about your guy too much, whether plucking or moulting. Bathing helps in both cases, as does a good well balanced diet. Green cheeks are real water babies! My guys will bathe in their water dish if no other water is present.
Regarding a diet, the usual advice applies - veggies, fruit, pellets with seeds in moderation. You may even want to add a mineral block to your conure's cage. That will help any new feathers coming in.
Good luck! Update us when you can ^.^
2007-03-26 10:49:41 · answer #1 · answered by white_ravens_white_crows 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
His feathers are falling out or he's pulling them out? And, are there bare spots there, or is it still covered in fluff?
It's the beginning of a new molt. So...it's natural for them to lose feathers and get new ones in. But, if he's pulling them, that is something else entirely.
If it's plucking, then you should have him looked at by a vet. That being said, there are a bunch of contributors to plucking.
Environment, smoking, Vitamin A defficiencies...lack of stimulation, OCD...there's all sorts of factors.
Provide him with new toys, puzzle toys, other things to preen that would take his mind off the compulsion to chew on his feathers.
If it's not bare and the feathers are on the bottom of the cage, it's a molt. If it is bare, you need to have him looked at.
Since you don't have a vet, email me if you want more help. I can help you work on the problem, and help you treat it homeopathically. sdkramer76 @ yahoo.com
2007-03-26 16:39:43 · answer #2 · answered by sdkramer76 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Conures are GREAT. He may have been a plucker before you got him and he is still doing it, have you seen him pull the feathers out or do the fall out on their own { molting } ? Birds can become pluckers because of stress, no toys, cage too small or the wrong shape { round cages are a NO;NO } Do you handle him alot ? They love and need alot of inter action with their owner/family. The problem may be diet, some seed ok but the need pelleted food, fresh veggies, fruit..they will eat nearly everything you eat but never give avacado, or the seeds in apples. My conure loved cooked chicken, turkey, pasta, peas & corn, saurkraut, and dill pickles. Also a no-no is chocolate, caffine, or alcohol. Also be sure he gets plenty of baths 2 or 3 a week, mine use to sit on my head when I took a shower and bath in the spray. A great magazine for info is Companion Parrot/ Sally Blanchard. Good luck.
2007-03-26 17:17:07 · answer #3 · answered by pet lover 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like feather plucking which in most cases is caused by stress. change causes stress in birds. but you need to see an avian vet as there is a disease that will cause a bird to pluck feathers and it is serious
2007-03-26 16:59:14 · answer #4 · answered by tsawasi333 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like he could be plucking. This could be a result of stress (new home, new human, etc.) However, it could be a host of other avian diseases. Do you have an avian vet in your area? If so, I would suggest you bring him asap. If not avian vet a regular vet may be of some help as well.
2007-03-26 16:35:03 · answer #5 · answered by starrynights79 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
vet
2007-03-26 16:34:27 · answer #6 · answered by David S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋