Extremely Long and Difficult Molt?

[EllenD]

I have one cockatiel, named Duff, she's a girl and is about 7 months old. I've had birds all my life and I'm at a loss as to what to do to help her right now, as I have never seen anything like what she is going through right now, and I'm looking for suggestions. She is typically the sweetest, gentlest bird I've ever had, she wants nothing but to snuggle, cuddle, get head scritches, etc. all the time. I've never had such a touchy-feely bird in my 31 years of owning them, and now she is horribly uncomfortable and so sad!

At the beginning of December or so Duff started molting on the back of her neck. She is constantly putting her head down because she wants scritches (to the point it gets annoying), and this is when I first saw all of the pin feathers coming in, it was literally every feather on the back of her head and neck. So I increased her showers and tried my best to help her with the pin feathers, though they weren't ready at that point to break apart. Around Christmas I realized something was really wrong with her, as she became increasingly squawky (she's very quiet generally) and she was constantly preening...Well eventually I took a look and she is now covered with pin feathers, big and small, all over her body! I'm not exaggerating, it's under her wings, on her wings, her head, chest, belly, legs, neck, tail, vent area, you name it. And it breaks my heart because she wants my help and keeps putting her head down, but it hurts her when I try to break them up. It looks like she herself has broken a bunch of them off and so those broken ones hurt her when I accidentally touch them. She just sits on her cage and preens, pucks, scratches with her feet, and sleeps. She flies to me constantly and puts her head down, and then she screams when I touch them .

I'm giving her a shower at least every other day, I don't want to dry her skin out too on top of this, and I have tried using Ecotrition Molt-ease spray, which she hates. She hates showers too, but I think she knows it helps her because she has been looking forward to them lately. I'm going to get some aloe-vera spray right now, but I'm out of ideas except a visit to her avian vet for maybe some Metacam? I don't know if he'll prescribe it for pin feathers, but if he sees how bad she is I think he'll understand.

Any ideas are appreciated, I've just never seen every feather on a bird be pin feathers at one time, she is so uncomfortable! I feel like a bad mother because I can't seem to find anything to help her, that's why I'm thinking Metacam. I hope the vet doesn't think I'm overreacting, it's just awful for her!

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[Anansi]

Metacam has potential side-effects that would make me hold off on using it unless absolutely necessary.

But that said, I've never heard of a full body molting, either. That has to be just awful for her. Do you ever try working her pins right after her shower? When the sheaths would be at their softest?

Be careful with the aloe spray. Too much applied can actually cause more irritation rather than less. But as long as you don't overdo it, the aloe can be a good thing.

And don't think you are being a bad mother. You're in a tough situation with her, and at least you've been watching over her enough to recognize her issue for what it is. I do think taking her to an avian vet might be for the best, though. Not necessarily for the metacam, but just because there might be something else going on. Pinning everywhere is unusual.

 

[Scott]

Do you know anything of Duff's genetics? Might her parents and/or siblings be prone to similar molts? I would heavily rely on the recommendations of an experienced AV.

 

[SailBoat]

As stated above, at seven months old, it is very unusual for a Tiel to be having a full body moth more commonly see as the first molt of a chick.

For this to be happening, you should have seen a major drop of feathers in early -mid December and continuing from then.

A lost and replacement of this volume places your Tiel under heavy energy demands to replace all those feathers. You should have seen a up tick in the amount she is eating. At this point, a high quality, well balanced diet is critical in supporting feather replacement at this level.

Is this just body feathers or does it also include flight feathers of the Wings and Tail?

Something is out of wack here and truly requires the attention of an Avian Vet to define what is in fact happening. The status of your Tiels Chems - to see if something is way out of normal, plus the effects of this level of demand of body stores to support it.

 

[SailBoat]

As stated above, at seven months old, it is very unusual for a Tiel to be have a full body moth more commonly see as the first molt of a chick.

For this to be happening, you should have seen a major drop of feathers in early -mid December and continuing from then.

A lost and replacement of this volume places your Tiel under heavy energy demands to replace all those feathers. You should have seen a up tick in the amount she is eating. At this point, a high quality, well balanced diet is critical in supporting feather replacement at this level.

Is this just body feathers or does it also include flight feathers of the Wings and Tail?

Something is out of wack here and truly requires the attention of an Avian Vet to define what is in fact happening. Like the status of your Tiels Chems - to see if something is way out of normal, plus the effects of this level of demand of body stores to support it.

 

[EllenD]

Yeah, agreed...It's definitely a full body molt-wings, under wings, head, neck, chest, belly, legs, tail...She's just absolutely coated in pin feathers. It started last month on her neck, no big deal, but it's everywhere now, just a long continuation. I have helped her after a shower with the pins, I just finished her shower and helped a little, the poor thing just keeps putting her head down constantly, like "mama please help me, this hurts!"..It's breaking my heart.

I made an appointment for tomorrow afternoon, I wanted to go today but my avian vet didn't seem too worried, although I agree that it's a very weird time for this. She was born in July, the 21st. Her breeder called me back earlier and said she had never experienced this either, so no luck there either. The vet just seemed to think she's having her first big molt at an odd time. He asked me if she had any areas that are done, and I told him yes, the back of her neck, which started first. I managed to work the rest of them out yesterday, and it done. I will say that the new feathers look great, they almost look like she got her "pretty, big bird feathers", for lack of anything better to say. The ones that have finished on her belly went from full gray to a light cinnamon with white tips, they're gorgeous. But not worth her being this miserable.

We'll see what he says tomorrow. I wish she'd stop chewing on them, I think part of the problem is that she's chewing them in half, so she has a bunch of broken ones that hurt when you touch them...

I'm going to try to get some pics tomorrow to show you guys, I'm totally at a loss. There is not one area on her body not molting, I've never seen anything like it. Hopefully the vet can at least get her some relief.

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[Tropical]

Is it possible for you to post a quick picture of her?

 

[GaleriaGila]

I just want to say that I'm following this and impressed with your openness and determination.
I'm glad you're here.