my blue and gold parrots feathers do not form properly the tail feathers stay in their cover?

Question

if I help to get the feather out it is often split or deformed somtimes they just curl up

Answer 1

At the zoo I used to work at we had this happen to a young blue and gold macaw (I assume you're talking about a macaw here). We done some research and asking around and found out that a lack of humidity causes this to happen. Increase the humidity in the room your bird is in and see if this helps. Remember, they are from tropical areas where the humidity is pretty high.

Answer 2

If you're sure you are waiting long enough to help, and not pulling the shaft off too soon, then there is a disease called PBFD (Psittacine beak and feather disease) that can cause deformed feathers.It's a virus that causes deformed beaks and/or feathers, but usually affects younger birds. It will run it's course and there is no medication that will help since it is a virus. However, you should get advice and possibly meds from a vet to ward off secondary infections, while your bird is fighting off the virus. Their immune system is weak while fighting a virus, so it's easier for another infection or disease to take hold. Keep in mind that this virus (if thats what your bird has) is infectious, so if you have other birds you need to separate them until the problem is resolved. Hope this helped a bit, but I still recommend a vet to be sure.

Answer 3

PBFD is a possibility, as another person suggested, but there are other symptoms of that disease you need to watch for:

Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) Symptoms: Pneumonia, diarrhea, rapid weight loss and death. Acute depression followed by broken feather shafts, bending,bleeding or premature shedding of developing feathers. Chronic- progressive appearance of abnormally developed feathers with each molt.

Feather changes can include; retention or bleeding in feather shaft, short clubbed feathers, and deformed curled feathers. Beak changes can also be present- progressive elongation of beak with crosswise and lengthwise breaks, rotting appearance of beak and sores in the mouth.

Diagnosis: Virus detected with DNA probe in blood sent to lab Blood feather examined in lab for virus
Transmission: Direct exposure to contaminated droppings, crop excretions, feather dust, and respiratory secretions. Contact with virus contaminated materials or surfaces Affected hen may pass virus to the developing chick
Prevention: No vaccine!Establishing and maintaining flocks that test negative to DNA probe testing. Avoid direct or indirect contact with infected birds
Control: Virus in droppings and feather dust are very hard to inactivate Stabilized chlorine dioxide (Oxifresh ,), sodium hypochlorite or glutaraldehyde are probably best disinfectants Aviary contamination can be determined with DNA probe testing
Treatment: No known cure has been reported! Supportive care and antibiotics may improve overall condition Affected birds must be isolated from all other birds Virus is not contagious to humans
http://www.realmacaw.com/pages/comdisease.html


If the tail feather problem is the only symptom you are noticing, it may be the humidity not being high enough, or it may be a nutritional problem. The best thing to do is take your bird to an experienced avian vet and have some tests done.

Answer 4

your bird seems not to have enough moisture ... They need baths frequently .. I bath mine everyday or at least mist them with a spray bottle... They need humidity. It keeps their feathers healthy and also their skin....