Is my parrot molting or being plucked?

[Kouken]

My green cheek conure is starting to bald on his head. I don't know if he is being plucked or not. It's been like this for about 3-4 weeks, but I never really thought into it until now, because I thought it was just molting. On closer inspection it seems as though the feathers he has there are thinning. I don't see any feathers growing back in there and I know that they have little shafts when they grow back in. I am not sure if my other conure is plucking him or not, because they've been together for a year and he has only balded as of recent.

Also, I've noticed that sometimes his feathers on his lower head feel hard and rough. Should I separate my parrots for now? Also, if he was being plucked, will they grow back?

I'll try to upload pics if I can.

 

[happycat]

My parrot is balding in some spots on his head too. He doesn't pluck and my breeder and vet said its okay. He is going through a very rough molt.

 

[Dinosrawr]

If you pet your parrot and the feathers feel hard and rough, it could be pin feathers that are growing in or have not been completely removed. When Avery molts, I don't often notice that her head goes sparse looking, even after she's had a heavy molt, but every bird is different.

Generally when I see a bird when a bald spot on the back of his head it's because he's been bullied by another bird. I would monitor their interactions and see if it is indeed your other bird plucking him or of it's just a heavy molt. Either way, so long as the feathers are not continuously plucked, they will grow back just fine.

 

[MonicaMc]

Pictures would help.... although it sounds like one bird is over-preening the other bird.


If you separate them and the feather follicles haven't been damaged, then the feathers should grow back just fine.