Ekkie feather coloring

[Boysmom]

Can anyone help me with feather coloring ? My female has dark on her feathers. I initially thought she may have fatty liver disease from the all white seed diet she was on when I got her. But then I thought maybe this is normal. I will post some pix of her feathers this afternoon. They are bright red or blue on the ends but have a dark grey on them also. This is only on wing feathers. Is this normal ?

 

[kc_y0]

They could be stress bands. Are they old feathers or new ones?

 

[kc_y0]

Sorry this picture is tiny, but its one of Audrey's stress bands. Do they look similar to this? (That is if you can even make out the picture lol)

 

[Boysmom]

No they dont look anything like that. it is like they are grey close to the body then become colored closer to the ends. The dark only shows in lost feathers, you cant see them on her body unless you spread her wings out . The feathers just arent colored all the way from body to tip. Thats why im not sure if it is stress or liver disease or just normal. Its also on old and new feathers. Ive had her for 6 months and seen no changes in the feathers coloring even after putting her on a healthy fruit/ veggie diet void of any seeds.

 

[Adinafloyd]

My Scarlets feathers are similar to what you are describing. Her down feathers underneath are grey. she is 4 months and has never been on anything other than a fruit and veggie fresh diet. I have also never noted her to be stressed except when she doesn't get her way..lol.

 

[kc_y0]

Oh, I see what you mean. My eccys feathers are like that too. Not all of them, but a lot of them. I'll try and get a photo lol

 

[kc_y0]

Here is a photo of some moulted eccy feathers

 

[Boysmom]

Yes kc_y0 that is exactly what Ruby's look like. So it's normal ? Thanks so much, great photo shows great color and detail.

 

[kc_y0]

Yep, its normal. No probs!

 

[Boysmom]

Thank you so much ! Hugs and kisses to you, as I can quit worrying that she has fatty liver disease.

 

[MonicaMc]

At first, I was thinking feather bronzing, but the more it was described, the more normal it sounded. Feather bronzing is occasionally mistaken for stress bars, but they are completely separate issues and result in different ways. Since it's not, I'm just bringing up this article for future reference.

WellVet.com - FeatherGroomingDisorders


kc_y0, that's a great photo!