Long/Neverending Molt

[nailsrglue]

My green cheek conure, Ducki, has been molting for what seems like forever. I am aware that birds should molt once or twice a year and sometimes it can last months, but I am pretty sure she has not gone out of a molt in years. She molts her tail and wings on a more usual schedule but her head always has pin feathers.

I am afraid it may be a diet issue or perhaps stress? She is about 4-5 years old, and I cannot remember the last time she was not molting. She has a good UV light on her cage, which is on a daily timer. She is very healthy from what I can tell, so Im thinking maybe lack of vitamins or something?

I feed her Zupreem pellets that contain dried veggies or fruits depending on the flavor. I try to give her fresh fruits, but admit I dont give them as often as I should. Maybe once a week or less. She does get this greenery mix that my mom gives her canaries and finches, which my bird loves. Its like crushed up leaves and herbs from australia. She has very little seed in her diet - probably less than 5% ends up in treats. She gets water in a bottle and I try to give her bath water several times a week.

I used to take her out more often, like twice a day, but in the last year its been less and less. I got a dog and for a while my bird was not coming out often while they got used to each other. I do believe she can start coming out pretty often now because the dog just ignors her for the most part. She has a large aviary type cage with toys and perches and stuff.

So any advice to help her get on a better molting schedule? Is she stressed from not being out of the cage or is it most likely a lack of food variety? I want to help her be healthier. Other than changing the diet, what other advice can you give to help her?

Thanks

 

[kendrafitz]

I am very curious to hear advice as well. Rosie has been molting since before she came home with us, so for about a year now. Keep thinking maybe she is just a slow molter?

 

[suebee]

my nut seems to do it in 2 phases, start of the yr around march, and then i come across another set of pins june/july

either way it just means alot of careful head scritches an preening

 

[nailsrglue]

Yes, every time I bring Ducki out almost the entire interaction is scratching her head and pinching those pin feathers. She loves it, but id like to see her without pin feathers at least some time of the year.

 

[cnyguy]

A friend has a Severe Macaw who molts little by little, all year long, and has done for the 17 years she's had him. He is the only one of her 13 parrots who has a year-round molt; some of the others molt twice a year, some just once. My Quaker parrot Ralph has one slow and gradual molt that lasts for several months; my Amazon George was a twice-a-year molter.