Continuous molting?

[Hawkmaid]

Hi guys, I'm back! Cricket and I have been having quite a time together, and it's been great. However, he started molting nearly a month ago - lost all the flight feathers and tail feathers and such - and while they all grew back, it's almost like he's still molting. He's got the feather casings on his face and neck, even though he already went through that stage, and his back and wings seem oddly downy. Any ideas? ACK NOW HE'S EATING MY MOUSE. Ah well, gotta love him anyway. Computer mouses can survive. I think.

 

[SilverSage]

That does not sound at all like a normal molt. Please get him to an avian certified vet ASAP and specifically have him tested for PBFD.


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[EllenD]

I agree, and I just went through something similar with my female cockatiel of only 8 months. She just suddenly had pin feathers everywhere, her head, neck, back, wings, under wings, belly, and chest. Now she didn't have feathers fall out though, just some down, and she did not molt her tail, face, or legs. But she was basically one big pin feather and was miserable. And I was worried horribly about a congenital disease like PBFD. So off to her avian vet we immediately went. He said that he's seen birds just get a ton of pin feathers at once and that she had probably actually started molting before I had noticed it, but he ran blood work to rule out serious illnesses, diseases, etc. PBFD was at the top of the list, and she was negative for everything, and is fine now.

I'd absolutely get your bird to your avian vet ASAP to get checked for PBFD and anything else the avian vet might suspect. The fact that her primary flight feathers and her tail feathers completely fell out is very alarming and something I've never heard of unless there was a problem.

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[Hawkmaid]

Thank you to you both; I should mention that Cricket's wing feathers and tail feathers did come out, but not all at once - heck, rarely it was two at once. They're all back and beautiful now; it's just the odd pin feathers (like four or five) on his head and neck, and occasional downy ones fluffing up from his back and wings. Does that change the diagnosis any?

 

[SailBoat]

Hi guys, I'm back! Cricket and I have been having quite a time together, and it's been great. However, he started molting nearly a month ago - lost all the flight feathers and tail feathers and such - and while they all grew back, it's almost like he's still molting. He's got the feather casings on his face and neck, even though he already went through that stage, and his back and wings seem oddly downy. Any ideas? ACK NOW HE'S EATING MY MOUSE. Ah well, gotta love him anyway. Computer mouses can survive. I think.

There are very few species of Birds that loss all of their flight feathers at one time. Those that do live in areas that are free of any other Birds or Animals that would eat them, which is rare.

A very young Parrot must have a full set of flight feathers to begin fledging and after fledging the flight feathers are shed in very specific order as to assure the ability to fly. This commonality among Parrots is the reason my fellow members are concerned regarding a medical issue that maybe driving this odd even.

If your Parrot has not yet fledged, than this would be your parrots flight set coming in. So that brings the question, how old is your baby? If your Parrot is older and is (was) a flier, the above supports why seeing your Avian Vet has merit.

Regarding body feathers, those Parrots along the Southern Board of the USA have begun their Spring lighten of their Winter coat of downy feathers, but a heavy Spring molt is still a few weeks away.

 

[EllenD]

Agreed. I believe your green cheek is young but fledged long ago. I would most definitely take him to an avian vet ASAP for testing, because whether they all "fell out at once" or they did it one at a time, to molt all primary flight feathers and tail feathers is not normal.

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[Hawkmaid]

Thank you, guys! Luckily, I have an avian vet really close by; I'll keep ya'll posted!

 

[snowflake311]

Hi guys, I'm back! Cricket and I have been having quite a time together, and it's been great. However, he started molting nearly a month ago - lost all the flight feathers and tail feathers and such - and while they all grew back, it's almost like he's still molting. He's got the feather casings on his face and neck, even though he already went through that stage, and his back and wings seem oddly downy. Any ideas? ACK NOW HE'S EATING MY MOUSE. Ah well, gotta love him anyway. Computer mouses can survive. I think.

My sprinkles had a big long molt this fall. It lasted a little over 2 months. He lost all his body feathers and most of his head feathers. Not all at once it took over 2 months. He lost 2 tail feathers but NO WING Feathers yet. So he still can not fly. I was bummed about that.

Some molts can last a few months. A bird should never lose all it's flight feathers at one time what do you mean by this? They should lose the same feathers on each side only one at a time maybe 2 once they grow back than they might lose another set. but not all at once.