Conure molting. .

[Elliesgramps]

We have a 5 month old female pineapple green cheek conure. She is full of beans, loves coming out of her cage and has quite a funny character. At present she is molting but it seems to be taking forever for her head and neck feathers to molt. Lots of little spike type feathers. Is this normal and are they sensitive areas during molting.

 

[LaManuka]

We have a 5 month old female pineapple green cheek conure. She is full of beans, loves coming out of her cage and has quite a funny character. At present she is molting but it seems to be taking forever for her head and neck feathers to molt. Lots of little spike type feathers. Is this normal and are they sensitive areas during molting.

Yes, totally normal. You can help the moulting process by gently squeezing the dried sheath of the longer new feathers between your fingers so that it crumbles away. Be careful of the very newest feathers though, the shaft will be full of blood that nourishes them while they grow and they are very sensitive - your bird will let you know if you hit a sensitive spot!

Other than that, welcome to the forums @Elliesgramps! Please post some pics of your girl when you can cos we love baby photos around here, and don't forget to tell us her name

 

[Jexnell]

Yes perfectly normal. Those spikes are the new feathers. You can help her by opening those new feathers up. Normally a mate.or flockmate would do this so it now falls to us to help get the ones she can't reach. I would pinch off the tip then gently roll the rest between two fingers. The remaining casing will fall apart.
Here is my guy with the spikes

And this is what it looks like after a good pruning session opening up them feathers