quaker parrot lose feathers?

Question

Do quaker parrots lose their feathers?
I am new to owning two and one feather on a bird is hanging to the side outward. Should i leave it alone and let nature take its course?

Answer 1

It's just about the end of molting season for some birds and the beginning for other birds. It doesn't really sound like a problem. Just let the bird preen the feather and pull it out if it's ready to come out. If the bird is pulling out feathers until it starts to look bald, then you should worry. If feathers fall out on their own and you can see the new pin feathers (the hard pin-shaped things) that means it's just losing feathers to make room for new ones! The bird will preen and put the feather back in place if it's just not where it's supposed to be. Good luck with your new birds!

Answer 2

Just leave the feather alone. The Quaker will take care of it. Trust me. Mine does for every feather. :)

Mine sits on my knee and grooms, then places the feathers on my leg or hand.

The birds molt the feathers and to an extent, they will shed feathers all year long.

What you want to watch out for is large numbers of feathers in the cage or around it. Or feathers that are bloody, or bald patches on the bird. (Large number of feathers is relative, since 10 might be a large number if the bird hasn't shed any in a while.)

What I do with mine, is every morning when I uncover his cage, I take a quick look at the bird and the cage. What I am looking for is this:
1) Bird - Sitting on a perch, awake.
2) Bird - feathers are healthy looking; not broken, not bald, not bloody.
3) Bird - eye is bright and he is making noises at me
4) cage - large number of feathers that were not there the night before
5) cage - blood anywhere, like in fecals or on feathers
6) cage - anything that looks out of place, toys that aren't where they were the night before, food/water containers still in place, all door locks in place (yes, mine is a little Houdini who get get out of his cage with no issues, so all the doors get locked while I am at work. Otherwise he chases the cats and gives them complexes.)

Don't pull out the feathers! Never pull OUT the feathers. That can serious injure the bird. It can also encourage the bird to become a feather-plucker. And there is little in the world that is sadder looking than a feather plucking bird.

Answer 3

The bird will probably pull it own on his own. All parrots molt (loose their feathers and grow a new set) and this could just be a molting feather hanging on. I wouldn't pull it out as this could damage the skin. If the bird doesn't pull it out and it doesn't come out with just a light tough from you (not a tug, but a stroke) then call your vet or an experienced bird groomer.

If your bird starts to pull lots of feathers out, call your vet- quakers can be feather pluckers/ mutilators

Answer 4

YEs they do lose feathers when they molt...but sometimes a feather will break...
this may be what is called a "blood feather"
you can pull it out if you go down to the base of the feather and pull it out...just be careful...You might get bit.
email me if you need help

Answer 5

to no longer hardship, 'tis the season for moulting. They do get "patchy" at situations, however the feathers will advance decrease back. I heavily doubt that your lip balm has brought about any issues. :)