Is my Indian Ringneck sick? His head feathers look damaged

[rosering]

Hello,
My 20 year old indian ringneck has problems with his head feathers. It's been going on for 3 days now and it seem to get worse. He's on a steady diet of fruit, nuts and sunflowerseeds. Is he sick? Should I take him to a doctor? Any help is appreciated

 

[LaManuka]

Have you had your ringneck for all of his 20 years? If he's not eating like he usually does or his poop or his behaviour has changed you may need to take him to his doctor. You may also want to cut back on the sunflower seeds. Otherwise the feathers just look like fairly normal new growth/pin feathers to me, and they're in the one place he cannot preen them for himself. If you are able to preen them for him I'm sure he would appreciate it!

 

[Laurasea]

That doesn't sound like the best diet... You need veggies, rarely fruit, and very few sunflower seeds, try pumpkin or squash seeds, fresh or lightly roasted. And other type of seeds. Offer baths, abd misting. You can feed oat grouts, cooked oatmeal, leafy romain, bok choy, occasionally some scrambled eggs, chili peppers. I don't know if you have access to pellets?

 

[noodles123]

It looks like he lost feathers and they are growing back in. Was there a span of time previously in which he was quite stressed or itchy?

 

[texsize]

looks like a bunch of pin feathers.
I don't thinks it's anything to worried about. My Luna went through this just a week ago.

 

[ChristaNL]

Just pinfeathers ( intense molt), Sunny looked about the same a few days ago.

To join the choir here: I know it is traditional parrotfood, but sunflowerseeds are not the healthiest food. We know now it is not realy good for them and actually many parrots die as young adults because of it.
It is like fast-food for them: lots of fat, not enough nutrients, try to feed the foodstuffs that do it the other way around (if you can).


Great pictures btw

 

[EllenD]

I'll also chime-in here and tell you that #1) His head looks like he lost a bunch of feathers at one time, and these are simply a bunch of pin-feathers, or immature feathers, growing back in, and is completely normal...and then #2) His diet is absolutely horrible and is going to result in him developing Fatty Liver Disease, if he hasn't already, it's likely he already is suffering from it, and will eventually end his life young.

A "steady diet of sunflower seeds, nuts, and fruit" is made-up of exactly the 3 worst things you could feed him as his regular diet, and all 3 of these should only be given to your bird as occasional treats...Both Sunflower Seeds and Nuts contain massive amounts of fats, and this fat in captive birds just accumulates in his liver, causing liver disease quickly...And fresh fruit is unfortunately full of sugar, which is converted to fat and also just stored in his liver...If you don't change his diet soon, he's going to become seriously ill and his lifespan will be severely shortened.

The good news is that Fatty Liver Disease/Liver Disease in-general is reversible if you change his regular, daily diet to one that is low in fat, low in sugar, and high in healthy protein, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, whole-grains, healthy legumes, etc.

His regular, daily diet needs to consist of a "staple", or main-component, of either a Natural-flavored Pellet, preferably that's what he will eventually transition to having be his main diet, or a healthy, low-fat, low-sugar Parrot Seed-mix that contains NO Sunflower Seeds, NO Peanuts or other Nuts, and No Corn Kernels or Cracked Corn, but that contains a mix of healthy, low-fat seeds, grains, legumes, etc. I would start by ditching the Sunflower Seeds and the Nuts completely, and just giving him a healthy, low-fat Seed-Mix with NO Sunflower Seeds, No Nuts of any kind, and No Corn, and then slowly start transitioning him over to a Natural-flavored Pellet as the main staple of his daily diet, with only a very small amount of the healthy seed-mix each day...

In addition, he should be getting fresh Veggies every single day; any type of Veggies and Dark, Leafy Greens are great for him EXCEPT for Onions or Leeks, which are toxic to birds, and any of the "Iceberg" or watery Lettuces. He should be getting fresh Veggies every single day along with his staple of Natural Pellets and a healthy, low-fat Seed-Mix...

Fresh Fruit should only be given 3-4 times a week as a treat, in small quantities, as it contains too much sugar to be given every day. And then please only give him the occasional Sunflower Seed or Nut as treats, and only a few a day.

***The other thing you need to realize is that not only is a "steady daily diet of Sunflower Seeds, Nuts, and Fruit" causing him Liver Disease, but it is also causing Nutritional Deficiencies for sure, as it is not providing him with the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, healthy proteins, etc. that he needs to be eating every single day...It can also cause Diabetes, as well as eventually causing him to become Overweight/Obese, and this commonly causes the formation of multiple Lipomas, or Fatty Tumors, all over their bodies...

 

[Scott]

I respectfully agree your IRN's diet needs an overhaul. Not an easy task, but there are techniques to ease into a better regimen.

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/49831-chop-day-recipe.html

While parrots are generally resistant to change, you can ease healthier foods and act as a guide by eating such items in front of your bird. A good idea to prepare an identical bowl for yourself and begin eating. Be demonstrative by bobbing your head, making "mmmm" sounds. They are flock-eaters and you are part of the flock!

If he has not had a recent exam with a certified avian vet, now would be a good time for a baseline, including basic labs. I do agree the feathers you highlighted are an intensive moult.