Is my tiel molting or feather plucking?

[Lynettii]

Hello! My cockatiel Rico has a weird patch under his wings, its not his skin but rather just a patch of fluff? My thought are its either new feathers coming from his first molt or the beginning of feather picking.

 

[Lynettii]

heres a photo

 

[Flboy]

Hi! Check the bottom pan for chewed feathers!

 

[Rozalka]

As aboth - check the tips of chewed feathers. If there is visible blood it is plucking

 

[Laurasea]

I can't determine from the photo. This is usually an area that has less feather, and it's a rare place to start plucking....so i think yiu are ok.
But its good to discuss diet. What does he eat? How long have you had him? What's a typical day like for him? Other birds or pets in the house?
Welcome to the forum, i hope you eull stick around and join topics. .

This starts with normal bird behavior then later in article talks about behavior issues
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-behavior/

 

[noodles123]

The chest is a really common area for cockatoos to over-preen. Under the wings can also be a problem area.

I know yours is a tiel, but that doesn't look like molting to me (although I am not sure it is plucking).

In a molt, you shouldn't see bald patches of skin really. Disease, allergies etc can also cause this.

Have you had a blood panel to check kidney/liver function? There are also fungal and bacterial infections of the skin that can cause similar conditions.

 

[smbrds]

Being a first molt indicates that he seems young and hasn't molted out yet. They can have heavy molts. Mine used to. Cockatiels can also pick and pluck but not as bad as their bigger cousins unless by diet, environment and other factors. When molting they can get very itchy and while preening feathers "fall" out. Are there little feathers around?