Is Kiki plucking?!

[ToriJo]

I've noticed more than the usual amount of fluff feathers in and around Kiki's cage, along with some smaller green ones in the past couple days. But I haven't noticed her aggressively grooming or acting any differently.

She was just recently at a parrot sitters and we did have a rocky New Years (I had to move her from my ex's house at 3am) but besides that she's been on her normal sleep routine and if anything has had more time out of her cage.

She was just finishing molting when I got her in November and its not her larger feathers I'm finding. Is this normal for her to be loosing so many down feathers? What can I do to help if this is plucking? Very sympathetic mother, this will be just as stressful for me =[ Please help!

 

[ToriJo]

I just had her sitting next to me with her toys while I was working on my laptop and wihtin an hour there was this pile =/ Again, no aggressive or different actions from her, just a pile of fluff!! She has all her tail feathers, just looks weird in the photo.

 

[Allee]

It's hard to say, there are many reasons for plucking and a plethora of underlying causes. The down feathers in your hand do look like they were bitten off rather than molted off, but again that's a guess. Sometimes molts continue for several weeks and they do lose a lot of feathers. My first thought is, she's stressed after the move or possibly from staying with a sitter and being away from you. Parrots pick up on our stress levels. It usually takes them a while to adjust to a brand new environment.

I would keep her off the carpet, if the carpet has been cleaned or treated recently she may be reacting to the chemicals. You could also check the humidity, it may be a matter of dry, itchy skin.

I would keep an eye on her and give her a few days and if she is still losing a large number of feathers an exam by an avian veterinarian may be in order.

Good luck, I hope it isn't anything serious. Please let us know.

 

[Kiwibird]

Is she a DNA female? Many times females "lightly pluck" during breeding season because they would be using those down feathers for nesting in nature, and it is not a behavioral problem per se. You may see her plumage a bit "thin" in the chest and under the wings (but no bare patches) if it's "broody" plucking, and within a few weeks it would stop.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Ive seen stress cause a bunch of little feather loss. My Gws mate died last year and their were PILES of little red feathers she lost . I thought she had started plucking but never saw her do it. It turned out she wasn't [and is fine now]. Hopefully its the same for your girl . Needs her little confidence built back up

 

[ToriJo]

Thanks for the input! I'll keep watching her and do what I can to help her feel more secure and less stressed