Lenny

[Peeps]

My daughter moved out a few months ago. She took her brown headed parrot with her, but after a week, he had to come back, he was pulling out all kind of little tiny white feathers. Once he was back home, he quit, but 2 different times we woke up to a multitude of little white feathers all over his water bowl. It happened again last night.
He has been to the vet and had a clean checkup, right before he moved out. I know he should go back to the vet, but does anyone have an idea as to what this might be? Is he upset?
Thank you,
Peeps

 

[zarafia]

It sounds like he is doing a mild form of plucking, but might he be moulting? Does he have any new bare patches? Piocephalus parrots can be sensitive like their grey cousins, so it is quite possible he feels more secure at your house. Moving can be very stressful.

 

[TexDot33]

It sounds like he is doing a mild form of plucking ...

I don't know about this, it sounds like your little guys is loosing down feathers ... if he was plucking would he isolate just down feathers like that? Wouldn't he be pulling out all feathers?

My opinion, he's moulting (the natural replacement of old and ineffective feathers with new ones) and what you are seeing is him preening out the down feathers (which if you've never seen it looks like plucking) and all the feathers around the cage area and water bowl are normal ...

I know around here when it's time to moult it looks like I have been invaded by thousands of birds ... these two little guys of mine make a mess.

 

[zarafia]

Yeah, I wasn't sure. Thats why I asked about new bare patches. Its really hard for me to make a good guess without actually seeing the bird. I only cared for one pair of brown-headed parrots and they were very sensitive, as were most of our wild-caught senegal pairs. I did know a pet grey who would tear out her down feathers and then move to the ends of her clipped wing feathers.

 

[Peeps]

He does not have any bare spots, just little down feathers all over. Since we are not used to caring for him, I know this is terrible, but we have forgotten about bathing him. My husband (the only one he trusts) is going to take him into the shower with him tomorrow. I guess I get the other two now!
Thank you for all of your help. If he is not better by next week, he is going to the vet, but he was just there a couple months ago for his check and got flying colors. Literally! hehe

 

[Peeps]

He does not have any bare spots, just little down feathers all over. Since we are not used to caring for him, I know this is terrible, but we have forgotten about bathing him. My husband (the only one he trusts) is going to take him into the shower with him tomorrow. I guess I get the other two now!
Thank you for all of your help. If he is not better by next week, he is going to the vet, but he was just there a couple months ago for his check and got flying colors. Literally! hehe

 

[TexDot33]

Showers/misting/baths are so important for feather health, my guys go into the shower with me everyday during the winter (just because the air is so dry) the steam itself is enough to help skin and feathers ~ but luckily my two are water babies and love to splash around in the stream.