Losing feathers prematurely?

[Anniele27]

I have a congo african grey, Ava, that just turned 10 months old yesterday. These past 2 weeks I've been finding more and more feathers. More than just the usual white downy feathers. Its been a 2 small grey top-of-the-wing feathers and two regular long wing feathers. Today I also noticed that her tail is looking really ragged like its missing a few feathers.

Isn't ten months a little young for her to start molting? I'm with her all but probably 3 hours a day and haven't noticed any plucking or anything so far. She was just at the vet at the end of january and he said everything looked normal.

She has been trying to fly more lately though. Her wings were clipped (4 on each side) when we got her but she's always still been a powerful flier. She's not good at landing though and usually kinda crashes into the ground but never hard and its onto carpet or pillows.

Ive read a lot of forums and none seemed specific to my case really. Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

[weco]

Just like each bird is an individual, personality wise and like we humans, each bird develops on different schedules.....the molting/moulting schedules you read about are really only observations & compiled information.....

From your post, it sounds like Ava is beginning her first molt/moult.....I don't know how often Ava showers/bathes, but it's often easier on a molting/moulting bird as the moisture helps them rid themselves of the feather sheaths on emerging feathers.....using a misting bottle every day or two, can help also, especially if Ava is not prone to bathing.....

Good luck.....

 

[Anniele27]

Thank you! That's good news I was beginning to worry about her health! They seem to be falling out pretty even on both sides so I bet she's just molting early!! She gets a bath everyday via spray bottle, sometimes twice if she asks for it (she makes the sound of the bottle spraying when she wants a bath). Thanks again for the help!